Clove is not only used in cooking. In health, it can promote digestion, fight against dental pain… What other benefits? How to use it ? In essential oil? In infusion?
Clovefrequently used in cooking, also has health benefits. It promotes digestion and fight against dental infections. How to use it for teeth ? How to make a infusion clove? How to use essential oil clove?
What are the benefits of cloves?
The clove is considered by European herbal medicine as :
► Antiseptic, anti-infective and antibacterial with broad spectrum of action. Cloves are for example used against urinary tract infections such as cystitis and kidney stones.
► Antifungal And pest controlthe clove has in particular a vermifuge action on the tapeworm.
Stomachic: the flavor of cloves promotes digestion. Its aromatic compounds make it possible to fight against stomach ailments (bloating, aerophagia, gastric genes).
► Analgesic : this action is fast on the dental pains.
“Clove derives all these benefits from its concentration of eugenol, which is particularly powerful in its essential oil”, specifies Christelle Deloges, naturopath. Its properties also make it a very good ally in the fight against certain viral diseases. Clove helps fight against cough, notably. The spice also has interesting anti-inflammatory qualities to relieve the rheumatismTHE muscle aches. This action is mainly due to its high content of flavonoids. To benefit from its benefits, it is possible to add cloves in small quantities – its taste is strong – in daily dishes. Her essential oil (EO of cloves) is very powerful. It is an effective anesthetic in case of localized pain and a perfect antiseptic to fight viruses and fungi. This HE has also long been considered anti-inflammatory.
Clove is ideal for fighting dental and oral infections. Thanks to its antiseptic, disinfectant and local anesthetic propertiesclove helps relieve toothache in general, and more specifically in case of caries, canker sores, or to fight against gingivitis and periodontitis.
►Relieve toothache and painful gums: lightly crush a clove and place it where it hurts. This little recipe helps to calm the pain while waiting for consultation. In case of acute dental pain: chew a clove for a few minutes while waiting to consult.
►For regular oral hygiene, make your own clove-based mouthwash: bring the equivalent of a cup of water to a simmer and remove from the heat. Add 5-6 cloves and steep while the mixture cools. Remove the cloves, it’s ready. In addition to cleansing the oral cavity, this preparation freshens the breath.
Renowned aphrodisiac, clove joins ginger and saffron to the rank of mythical foods of sexual stimulation. In truth, the action of the clove – like that of ginger and saffron – is stimulating and warming. It would cause blood flow – allowing a better erection – and would give tone. Its reputation as an aphrodisiac is therefore a bit overrated.
Clove applied as a lotion on the scalp and hair is an excellent remedy to soothe inflammation of the skin, reduce dandruff and stimulate blood circulation. There hair regrowth is stimulated and its vitality is enhanced. Make your own hair lotion by adding about ten ground cloves (the equivalent of 1 teaspoon) to lukewarm water in a bottle, before using it in massage on the scalp. Leave on before rinsing or shampooing.
Infusion of cloves is used both for internal and external use. The recipe: place between 3 and 8 cloves in a cup. Pour boiling water over it. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Remove the nails and add a spoonful of liquid honey or a pinch of cinnamon to sweeten the preparation. Christelle Deloges also recommends the use of decoction “more concentrated” which consists “to simmer 3 cloves in a little more than a cup of water for 5 to 10 minutes, then to infuse for a few minutes off the heat”. Leave to cool, filter and use:
► For internal use in the case of intestinal parasites and to relieve nausea, digestion and intestinal disorders. In addition to facilitating digestion, this infusion or decoction helps prevent and fight against the flu and other infectious diseases common in winter. To drink 2 to 3 times a day for a short time, a week maximum. Mouthwash can be done daily.
► For external use: the infusion or decoction can be applied to the skin using compresses in the event of fungal infections of the skin and mucous membranes, but also to disinfect and promote the healing of wounds.
Essential oil should be used with caution,
Clove essential oil is very powerful, it is imperative to use it carefully, in low doses and for a limited time (7 days max orally), or to avoid it according to the personal case.
► In local application: in case of dental pain, caries, abscess, mouth ulcer: apply 1 drop of pure clove EO with the fingertip or using a stick on the painful area, while waiting to consult a dentist without delay. Clove EO can also be applied locally to skin mycosis (athlete’s foot), ideally combined with tea tree and rosat geranium EO, diluted in vegetable oil (Nigella for example).
► Internally : in case of urinary tract infection, cystitis, prepare a mixture of 2 complementary HE: in a glass bottle with dropper, pour 20 drops of clove HE and 20 drops of savory HE. Place 2 drops of this mixture in an empty capsule and complete with an edible vegetable oil, and swallow, 3 times a day, for a maximum of 5 days.
► In massage : in case of nervous and sexual fatigue, massage along the spine 1 drop of clove HE mixed with a teaspoon of vegetable oil (hazelnut for example). Do not apply pure HE on the skin.
► In the kitchen: clove EO can be incorporated into a culinary preparation by respecting the dosage: 1 drop no more, after cooking the dish or sauce. Don’t cook it.
► On broadcast : Use diluted (maximum 5 to 10%) in other softer essential oils such as sweet orange, bergamot or lemon essence, for a stimulating effect.
What are the dangers of cloves?
“Even if cloves have been used for hundreds of years, especially in the kitchen (gingerbread, broth, tea, etc.), precautions are useful” warn the naturopath.
► Clove herbal teas, although much less concentrated than essential oil, should not be used over a long period or on a regular basis (toxic to the liver in overdose). It is advisable to take 2 to 3 cups a day for a maximum of one week. in case of a cold For example.
► Essential oil should not be used in the bath because it is dermocaustic, and it does not dissolve in water since it is an oil! ” warns the naturopath
On the other hand, mouthwashes (with a decoction of a few cloves in simmering water), even when used regularly, do not pose a problem, even at a low dilution.
Can it be used to treat children?
“Clove infusion mouthwashes can be used in children over a period of time (provided the child knows how to spit the solution !)”, specifies the naturopath. In the context of orthodontic treatments, they are very effective in reducing pain (anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect).
Can we use cloves when pregnant?
Clove essential oil is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Except during childbirth, clove being a uterine tonic, it is possible to use the infusion a few days before and on D-Day.
What are the contraindications of clove?
People prone to high blood pressure and/or suffering from liver problems must imperatively avoid using cloves, or consult a specialist, specifies the naturopath. The clove EO is dermocaustic (irritates and burns the skin). Do not use it pure on the skin or mucous membranes, but always dilute it well in a vegetable oil, at a maximum of 20% for localized cutaneous use (excluding very localized dental use). There diffusion of clove EO is not recommended. HE is prohibited for pregnant and breastfeeding women and prohibited for children under 12, recalls the naturopath.
Thanks to Christelle Deloges, naturopath, in Villemoisson-sur-Orge (91).