Clove essential oil offers a log list of impressive benefits.
Clove bud essential oil has a whole host of benefits for you and your family. To be sure it makes a great addition to you essential oil medicine cabinet, not to mention blending nicely with other essential oils for diffusing in your home.
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are the aromatic flower buds of a tropical woody evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae tree family. Commonly used as a spice, they are native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. You’ll find cloves commercially harvested primarily in Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Madagascar, Tanzania, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Fortunately cloves are available throughout the year due to different harvest seasons in different countries.
Clove bud essential oil contains Eugenol which composes 72–90% of the extracted essential oil and the compound that is responsible for the distinctive clove aroma.
Clove buds are hand picked in late summer and again in winter. Once the buds are dried they are steam-distilled to produce clove bud essential oil.
Clove can be traced back to as early as 200 B.C. when the Han Dynasty brought the spice to China from Indonesia. (1) Cloves became very popular in Europe in the 8th century when the Dutch retained control of the clove spice trade, from the early 1600s until the late 18th century. At this time the Myrtaceae clove tree began being grown in other areas of the world. However the attraction wore off about this time but clove still remains a very popular and beneficial spice today.
This essential oil has many uses being beneficial as a natural treatment of the common cold, influenza, high blood pressure, tooth pain, acne and to ease digestive complaints. You can use it in your homemade skin care and oral care recipes and diffuse it in your home.
The oil of cloves is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the precursor of almost all disease and keeping healthy depends on keeping inflammation at bay. Most importantly the eugenol in clove is responsible for its impressive anti-inflammatory properties. A promising study done on rats shows that low doses of eugenol may have the ability to protect the liver. (2)
Antioxidants slow aging and protect the body from viruses and bacterial infections by reversing damage caused by free radicals. Additionally antioxidants are very important for our bodies to protect our cells and prevent cancer. With an antioxidant ORAC value of 290,283 it has one of the highest antioxidant counts of any substance. Being a very protective herb the essential oil of the clove bud is one of the main ingredients in Theives Oil Blend.
Uses & Benefits of Clove Bud Essential Oil
With its impressive antiviral and anti bacterial agents clove bud essential oil is a must have for flu and cold season. Therefore it’s a top tier natural remedy for protecting our systems from the onslaught of viral and bacterial infections.
I like to keep a roller bottle of Thieves Oil Blend in my bag for travel and especially during cold and flu season.
Easy to make… just get a roller bottle, add several drops of Thieves Oil Blend to a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil or sweet almond oil and pop the top back on. To use roll a bit onto your palms and cup over your face to inhale or roll a little close to your ears. A friend of mine used it as a lip gloss…. However…. it may be a little strong for you to use as a lip gloss because the cinnamon can burn. But hey, I just think about it plumping my lips and protecting me from germs.
Clove bud essential oil has powerful antibacterial properties. With the rise in antibiotic restart bacteria it’s reassuring to know that clove is effective in wiping out disease inducing bacteria and yeast. Clove essential oil is considered to be a potential antimicrobial agent for external use. (3) It has been show to be effective at combating E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes pneumonia and is helpful for treatment of Staph aureus which causes acne.
Clove has traditionally been used as a treatment for common digestive troubles. Reason being, it helps provide relief from bloating, flatulence, motion sickness and indigestion.
Clove has the ability to protect the gastrointestinal tract. A study done in 2011 stated findings that the essential oil of clove bud and eugenol (a component of clove bud) has the ability to stimulate the synthesis of mucus which is important as a gastro-protector. (4) While the Jurys still out on the treatment of gastric ulcer the research looks promising.
Clove oil has been shown to significantly decrease decalcification and it has been observed to actually remineralize teeth. As a matter of fact, clove oil has been recognized for centuries as a safe and effective remedy for toothaches. (5).
An article written for Colgate states that:
“When you use clove oil for toothache pain, it’s the eugenol (an ingredient within clove oil) that provides relief. Eugenol is a natural anesthetic and antibacterial, and it works well at reducing inflammation in the mouth. In fact, a study by the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons showed that eugenol is much more effective than using another analgesic and doing nothing else. Researchers examined the symptoms of 270 patients who had a tooth extracted, and found that patients who had received a eugenol-based paste suffered the least pain, inflammation and related aftereffects.”
Surprisingly fluoride in our water supply and in some store bought toothpastes can have adverse affects on our health. Therefore, clove essential oil offers a promising alternative that is safe and effective.
Among others, a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus or S. aureus is responsible for acne breakouts. Clove bud essential oil has the ability to wipe out this particular bacteria improving the skins health and appearance.
The eugenol in clove may have the ability to dilate major arteries in the body while also reducing systemic blood pressure. (6) This is promising as a natural solution to lowering hypertension. Additionally clove is a natural blood thinner which may help to reduce clumping of platelets in the blood. Remember to always be cautious if you are taking prescription blood thinners and consult with your doctor before using clove in this instance.
Clove Essential Oil comes from the clove tree.
From boosting gum health to protecting you from during cold and flu season, clove has a wide range of uses including improving blood circulation, soothing digestive distress, alleviating acne and reducing inflammation. Therefore, clove essential oil is a must have for your essential oil medicine cabinet.
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The use of essential oils is a time-honored approach to bolstering and strengthening the body and as a natural, chemical free way to treat disease. Always keep in mind that essential oils can trigger side effects and skin irritations.
I am not a doctor and do not claim to be. I am a seeker of pure, healthful living. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of these statements are intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always consult with your medical practitioner or other qualified healthcare provider.
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