Oil of Cloves Medicinal Remedies

Oil of cloves, or clove oil, is extracted from an evergreen tree (Eugenia aromaticum) from the Myrtaceae (Myrtle) family, native to the North Molucca (Maluku) Islands in Indonesia, once referred to as the Spice Islands. Oil of cloves comes in three forms: clove-bud oil, from the dried unopened buds; clove-leaf oil, extracted from the leaves; and clove-stem oil, extracted from the stems.

Properties and Health Benefits

• The main component of clove oil is eugenol, a powerful, effective antibacterial, antifungal, germicidal and anaesthetic phenol. Cloves and clove oil have been used by alternative medicine practitioners in China and India for thousands of years as cure-alls for all types of ailments: diarrhea, intestinal parasites and other digestive problems, respiratory, bacterial and skin infections, and muscle aches and pains. In Europe, it is used to treat colitis, hepatitis, high blood pressure and thyroid problems. But in the West, it is mainly used in mouthwashes, toothpastes and in topical tooth-pain-relieving gels such as Orajel.

Medicinal Remedies

• Mix 5 drops clove oil with 1 tablespoon organic honey and 1/4 tsp. organic garlic juice or garlic powder, and take it before going to bed. This blend helps relieve painful coughing due to asthma, bronchitis and tuberculosis.
  Mix 2 to 3 drops clove oil and 2 to 3 drops tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon coconut or jojoba oil. Use for athlete's foot or toenail or fingernail infections.
  Add 2 to 3 cloves, 1 to 3 drops clove oil or 1/8 tsp. ground cloves to 1 cup of ginger tea to help relieve motion sickness and nausea. Adding this amount of cloves or clove oil to a mug of regular tea can relieve wisdom tooth pain or other mouth pain or headaches due to tooth pain.
  Add 3 to 4 drops clove oil to 1 teaspoon coconut or jojoba oil. Dip a cotton swab in this blend and apply to an aching tooth and/or gum or to the roof of your mouth to relieve a headache. Or, place on a clean cloth and apply it to your head or other muscle aches and pains. You can also place it in your diffuser/evaporator to fill the room with a lovely scent that will lift your spirits.

Tips and Warnings

• Buy only certified organic clove oil or cloves. Commercially grown cloves have usually been exposed to radiation to kill bacteria.
  Never use undiluted clove oil on skin, as it can cause contact dermatitis. Because of this, it is not recommended that you use full-strength clove oil on a toothache, even though several other sources recommend this. To play it safe, always mix clove oil with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil.
  Don't use clove oil on pain resulting from dental root canal work, as it can inflame the area.
  Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under two should avoid clove oil.
  Clove oil is also a blood thinner and must be avoided if you're taking any blood-thinning medications.