Cloves
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the Syzygium aromaticum plant. They are native to Indonesia’s Maluku Islands and are now grown in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania, and other warm regions.
Cloves contain a powerful compound called eugenol, which is primarily responsible for their aromatic smell, pungent taste, and use as a spice. The natural compounds in cloves also provide several health benefits.
Health Benefits of Cloves
1. Cloves Can Help Kill Parasites
The phenylpropanoids in cloves, including carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde, are effective in killing parasites.[1][2][3]
Use ground cloves rather than clove oil when using cloves for parasites in the digestive tract. Clove oil enters the bloodstream, while ground cloves move through the digestive tract with their fiber. This allows the phytonutrients in ground cloves to travel through the intestines and reach the colon, where parasites primarily make their home.
2. Cloves Can Aid Digestion and Help Treat an Upset Stomach
Cloves improve peristalsis in the intestines.[3] Peristalsis is the wave-like motion the muscles of the intestines use to move food through the digestive tract.
Cloves also increase the production of gastric mucus, which helps protect the stomach lining from stomach acid.[4] The same study also indicated that cloves have anti-ulcer properties. Another study supported cloves’ ability to increase peristalsis and protect against ulcers.[5]
3. Cloves Can Help Soothe Toothaches
The eugenol in cloves is the main compound responsible for their antinociceptive, analgesic, or pain-reducing properties.[6]
You can mix ground cloves with coconut oil and apply the mixture to the gums to help relieve toothache discomfort.
4. Cloves Can Support Oral Health
Cloves have antibacterial properties,[7] which is why they can support oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth with a mixture of ground cloves and coconut oil can help support a cleaner mouth.
You can also add myrrh gum to the mixture to support gum health. Chewing whole cloves can also help freshen your breath.
5. Cloves Can Support the Body Against Candida
Candida albicans is normally present in the body, but consuming a diet high in meat, dairy, and processed foods can support candida overgrowth.
The eugenol in cloves has antifungal properties and is effective in inhibiting candida.[8][9]
It is important to use ground cloves rather than clove oil because ground cloves stay in the digestive tract longer and travel through the entire digestive tract. You can also support the mouth by brushing with a combination of ground cloves and coconut oil.
6. Cloves Can Support Male Libido
Various cultures have used cloves to support and enhance sexual activity. This led researchers to study cloves, and the study supported cloves having sexual-enhancing properties in males.[10]
Small amounts were associated with increased libido, while higher amounts had the opposite effect. Periodically add a dash of ground cloves to a cup of hot spring water to make clove tea and support male libido.
7. Cloves Have Strong Antioxidant Properties
Cloves have strong antioxidant properties[11] and a very high ORAC rating of 290,283. Blueberries are known for their antioxidant properties and have an ORAC rating of 4,669.
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It measures a food’s ability to stop free radical damage and reduce oxidative stress.
Free radicals steal electrons from healthy cells, damage the cells, and contribute to premature aging. Antioxidants donate electrons to free radicals, pair their electrons, and stop them from damaging healthy cells.
8. Cloves Have Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The body uses acute inflammation to heal itself when injured or infected. Chronic inflammation is different from this health-supporting acute inflammatory process.
Chronic inflammation is harmful because it results from the acute inflammatory process staying active for too long. It can occur in response to diets high in meat, dairy, and processed foods. The body sees components in these foods as harmful, and constantly consuming them can keep the inflammatory process turned on.
This ongoing inflammatory response can then begin attacking healthy cells. You can drink clove tea made with ground cloves and use its anti-inflammatory properties[12][13] to help reduce inflammation in the body.
Learn about the foods on the Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide, which support health and vitality.
Sources:
[1] The chemical composition and biological activity of clove essential oil, Eugenia caryophyllata.
[2] Trypanosoma cruzi: Activity of essential oils from Achillea millefolium L., Syzygium aromaticum L. and Ocimum basilicum L. on epimastigotes and trypomastigotes
[3] Anti-Giardia activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil and eugenol: Effects on growth, viability, adherence and ultrastructure
[4] Molecular Targets And Therapeutic Uses Of Spices: Modern Uses For Ancient Medicine
[5] Gastroprotective activity of essential oil of the Syzygium aromaticum and its major component eugenol in different animal models.
[6] Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice.
[7] Antimicrobial Activities of Clove and Thyme Extracts.
[8] Antifungal activity of the clove essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species.
[9] Antifungal Activity of Clove Essential Oil and its Volatile Vapour Against Dermatophytic Fungi.
[10] Aphrodisiac activity of 50% ethanolic extracts of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) and Syzygium aromaticum (L).
[11] Safety assessment of Syzygium aromaticum flower bud (clove) extract with respect to testicular function in mice.
[12] Anti-inflammatory activity of clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts.
[13] In vitro and in vivo effects of clove on pro-inflammatory cytokines production by macrophages.