Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum, or Eugenia aromaticum or Eugenia caryophyllata) are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the Myrtaceae family. Cloves are native to Indonesia and are used as a spice in cuisine all over the world. The name derives from the French “clou,” (meaning “nail”) as the buds vaguely resemble small irregular nails in shape. The spice is used in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and Western herbalism and dentistry, where the essential oil is used as an anodyne (painkiller) for dental emergencies (Fig. 4). It has been reported as analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antidotal, antioxidant, antiperspirant, antiseptic, carminative, deodorant, digestive, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vermifugal. 15 Cloves are used as a carminative to increase hydrochloric acid in the stomach and to improve peristalsis.
Cloves are also said to be a natural antihelmintic. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy, especially for digestive problems. Topical application of this spice over the stomach or abdomen will warm the digestive tract.
In Chinese medicine cloves are considered acrid, warm and aromatic, entering the kidney, spleen and stomach meridians, and are notable in their ability to warm the middle, direct stomach qi (energy flow) downward, treat hiccough and fortify the kidney. Because the herb is so warming, it is contraindicated in any persons with fire symptoms. As such it is used in formulas for impotence or clear vaginal discharge, for morning sickness together with ginseng and patchouli, and for vomiting and diarrhea due to spleen and stomach coldness.
Clove oil is used in various skin disorders like acne and pimples, to treat severe burns and skin irritations, and to reduce the sensitiveness of the skin. Cloves are used for the treatment of dog and cat ear problems in British Columbia, Canada. The essential oil extracted from cloves is used as an ointment to relieve pain and promote healing in herbal medicine. Cloves are also employed as a fragrance in flavoring industries.
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