The many health benefits of clove leaf essential oil is attributed to its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, aphrodisiac and stimulating properties. This essential oil is used for treating a variety of health issues that include skin issues, toothaches, indigestion, cough, asthma, headache, stress, and blood impurities. The most common use of clove essential oil is in dental care. Several toothpastes, mouthwashes, and oral care medications contain clove essential oil as an important ingredient.
Clove is an evergreen tree, which produces a flower bud that has numerous medicinal properties. It is often referred to as clove bud. It has a shaft and a head and hence, has the Latin name clavus, meaning nail. Clove was extensively used in ancient Indian and Chinese civilizations and it spread to other parts of the world, including Europe, during the seventh and eighth centuries. Even now, clove is used widely in several Indian and Chinese cuisines.
Clove is rich in minerals such as calcium, hydrochloric acid, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and vitamin A and vitamin C.
Health Benefits of Clove Essential Oil
Although it is known primarily for remedying dental issues, the benefits of clove oil are not limited to oral hygiene. Clove essential oil can do wonders for you in multiple ways listed below.
Treats Infections
Due to its antiseptic properties, clove essential oil is useful for wound, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, scabies, and other types of injuries. It can also be used for treating insect bites and stings. It is very strong in nature and should always be used in diluted form, but should be carefully used by people with sensitive skin.
Dental Care
The most prominent use of clove essential oil is in dental care. The germicidal properties of the oil make it very effective for relieving dental pain, toothache, sore gums and mouth ulcers. It contains eugenol, which has been used in dentistry for many years. Gargling with diluted clove essential oil helps in easing throat pain and irritation. The characteristic smell of clove essential oil also helps to eliminate bad breath. Clove essential oil is also effective against cavities, and traditionally, in India, every day before going to sleep, clove oil was added to a small cotton ball and put at the end of the tooth which has a cavity. The cavity would vanish in a few days. As a result, clove essential oil is added to numerous dental products and medications, including mouthwash and toothpaste. Dentists also mix clove essential oil with zinc oxide to prepare a white, filling material as a temporary alternative to a root canal. But be careful, it is very strong and can cause burns in your mouth if used incorrectly.
Skin Care
Clove essential oil is often recommended for skin care, especially for acne patients. The effects are best achieved when the oil is used in liquid form and spread on a clean, dry rag. You will find it in many products for lessening the effects of aging, like wrinkles, sagging skin, and facial rejuvenation for the eyes because of its rejuvenating and stimulating properties, which can increase blood flow under the unhealthy skin and make it look young again.
Boosts Immune System
Both clove and clove essential oil are useful for boosting the immune system. Its antiviral properties and ability to purify the blood, increase resistance to a multitude of diseases, because the antioxidants in clove essential oil scavenge the body of dangerous free radicals that cause a multitude of diseases like heart problems and certain types of cancer.
Lowers Stress
Clove essential oil is an aphrodisiac in nature and therefore serves as an excellent stress reliever. It has a stimulating effect on the mind and removes mental exhaustion and fatigue. When ingested in appropriate amounts, it refreshes the mind and stimulates brain function. It also induces sleep and is helpful to patients suffering from insomnia. It is also useful for treating neural disorders such as memory loss, depression, and anxiety.
Eliminates Headache
Clove essential oil, when mixed with salt and applied on the forehead, gives a cooling effect and helps in getting relief from headaches. Clove essential oil has many flavonoids within it, which are anti-inflammatory agents. When topically applied to the temples or neck, the anti-inflammatory quality will ease the inflammation or tension that often brings about headaches. For the same reason, clove essential oil is used as a pain reliever on other parts of the body, like joints and overworked muscles, to provide some relief from painful inflammation or swelling.
Treats Respiratory problems
Clove essential oil has a cooling and anti-inflammatory effect, and is frequently used to clear the nasal passage. This expectorant is a useful treatment for various respiratory disorders including coughs, colds, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, and tuberculosis. Chewing a clove bud is recommended to soothe sore throats.
Treats Sty
Clove and clove essential oil are very effective home remedies for treating sty. Sty is an inflammation on the eyelash and can be a very irritating and painful condition. It causes difficulty in the functioning of the eye. Clove essential oil has also been shown to be a preventative of other eye infections due to its antibacterial qualities.
Relieves Earaches
A mixture of warm clove essential oil and sesame oil is a good remedy for earaches. The clove flower is a source of the beneficial additive of this already powerful essential oil.
Treats Indigestion
Clove essential oil has traditionally been effective for the treatment of stomach-related problems such as hiccups, indigestion, motion sickness, and flatulence. Therefore, clove is one of the most important spices added to many Indian dishes.
Reduces Nausea
Clove essential oil is helpful in reducing nausea and vomiting and is often used for sickness and discomfort. Using it occasionally in aromatherapy or topically applying it to pillows at night for long-term inhalation can result in positive effects.
Increases Blood Circulation
Clove essential oil increases your body’s metabolism by increasing blood circulation and reducing body temperature. An increase in blood circulation typically means a reduction in tension of the blood vessels, a problem commonly associated with tension headaches. Furthermore, increased circulation adds to the oxygenation of the blood and organ systems, which increases metabolism and raises organ efficiency. Finally, in terms of diabetes, increased blood flow can help prevent some of the most dangerous side effects of this terrible disease that can lead to major complications, amputations, and even death. Eugenol is the active ingredient in clove essential oil that causes this stimulation of blood circulation.
Purifies Blood
Clove essential oil also helps in purifying the blood; studies have shown that the aroma extracts can actually reduce toxicity in the blood and stimulate antioxidant activity throughout the body, thereby boosting the immune system as well as purifying platelets.
Treats Cholera
Studies done by many medical practitioners have suggested that clove essential oil is useful for treating cholera.
Controls Diabetes
Along with blood purification, clove essential oil helps control the level of blood sugar, making it very useful to patients suffering from diabetes. Studies have shown that the postprandial insulin and glucose response mechanisms are more regulated when clove essential oil is acting on the body’s systems. This is primarily due to the phenol concentration found in clove oil, which is one of the highest in terms of spice plants of its general type.
Other Uses of Clove Oil
Insect Repellent
Clove essential oil is commonly used as a component in bug repellant and insect-repelling candles because the vapor is very potent for the olfactory senses of many insects. Traditionally, a few drops of clove essential oil were placed on the bed sheets at night to keep bugs away.
Cosmetics
Clove essential oil is often added in cosmetic creams and lotions, and it is commonly known as a good massage oil that provides relief from pain and stress.
Flavoring Agent
Along with trying to benefit from cloves’ digestive properties, the essential oil is also added to food items due to its rich flavor. It is added in a multitude of Indian dishes, pickles, sauces, spice cakes, and many cultural foods.
Soap
Due to its powerful aroma, soothing effect and antiseptic properties, clove essential oil is often added as an active ingredient while making soaps.
Perfumes
Clove essential oil is also used in making perfumes because of its powerful and unique aroma.
Aromatherapy
Clove essential oil blends well with many essential oils including basis essential oil, rosemary essential oil, rose oil, cinnamon essential oil, grapefruit, lemon essential oil, nutmeg essential oil, peppermint essential oil, orange essential oil, lavender essential oil, geranium essential oil. This makes clove oil a popular element in aromatherapy and other herbal combinations.
Clove Oil- Risks
One should be careful while using clove essential oil because it is very strong even in small quantities and must be diluted before application or ingestion. Since eugenol (the main part of clove essential oil) is not very common, some people discover violent allergies when taking too much at once. Use small amounts of any essential oil if you have never used it before.
Furthermore, preliminary risks of clove essential oil include some intestinal discomfort, which is most common in children, and in the most serious cases, has even been connected to kidney and liver failure. Clove essential oil can cause blood sugar to drop, so diabetics should be cautious, pregnant women and those who are nursing should not use clove essential oil, as it is not clear whether this strong compound passes to the infant in the breast milk. As with any change to diet or nutritional supplement, it is best to consult a doctor before administering or adding to your daily or weekly regimen.
Article Source: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-clove-oil.html