Clove Essential Oil : Health Benefits and Precautions

Clove Essential Oil : Health Benefits and Precautions
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Clove is obtained from the dried flower buds of the clove tree which grows in the tropics. Clove is an essential ingredient in Eastern cuisine. Although it’s used to add flavor to food, it’s also well known for its medicinal properties.

Clove has been used to keep bad breath at bay in China for thousands of years. Apart from that its antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties have been well documented in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine. It was also in popular use as a natural anesthetic when addressing dental problems. Every Indian kitchen has clove which would be chewed on to alleviate toothache.

Clove which is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium and hydrochloric acid has a host of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Clove Essential Oil

Dental Care

As has been mentioned earlier, clove essential oil is excellent for dental care. Apart from relieving toothache, it also has a healing effect on sore gums and ulcers. It’s the compound called eugenol which does the trick in these conditions. Have a sore throat? Gargle with diluted clove oil or chew on a clove bud and you’ll find almost instant relief.

Today clove oil is used extensively in dental products like toothpaste and mouth wash. Dentists are also known to blend clove oil with zinc oxide for the white filling that acts a stopgap alternative to root canal.

Fights Infections

Clove oil’s antiseptic nature makes it excellent in treating cases of prickly heat, fungal infections, scabies, athlete’s foot, insect bites and stings. Care must, however, be taken in its use. As clove oil is strong in nature, it should be diluted accordingly before use.

Respiratory System

Due to the anti inflammatory nature of clove oil, it’s effective in clearing blocked nasal passages. Any problem associated with the respiratory system like coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, tuberculosis and colds could be addressed with the help of clove essential oil.

Digestive Problems

Clove oil is used to treat such digestive problems as flatulence, indigestion, hiccups and motion sickness. This is the main reason why clove is added to most Indian dishes.

Mind and Spirit

Although clove oil is strong in nature, it has a calming effect on the mind and spirit. It could be used in aromatherapy to beat mental exhaustion. It refreshes the mind and is also sleep-inducing. Insomniacs would find an answer to their problem if they regularly use clove essential oil before bedtime. Also, clove oil does a good job in problems relating to memory loss, anxiety and depression.

Precautions

On the whole, clove oil is safe for internal and external use. Caution, however, must exercise in those with bleeding disorders. Laboratory tests have shown that clove oil increases bleeding risk. Anyway, the use of clove oil must be stopped well ahead of a surgical procedure.

Clove oil may also cause local tissue damage, dental pulp damage and sore lips especially when used in the mouth in its undiluted form.

Patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia are advised to consume clove oil moderately as it has the tendency to lower blood sugar levels.

Always consult a qualified health practitioner before using clove oil internally or on sensitive parts of the body.

References

https://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-clove-oil.html - health benefits of clove

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-clove.html - clove oil precautions

Disclaimer

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