Cloves are definitely one of the most distinct herbs around but ironically enough, cloves have been around forever and are not finished doing business just yet. Usually if you can not get your hands on some cloves, Allspice can be a substitute. Cloves have some preservative properties to them but they work well as an antiseptic, expectorant, anesthetic, or an emmenogogue, working well on the kidneys, the spleen and the stomach.
Some make a combination of cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, and marjoram for a hot tea that helps bronchitis, asthma, coughs, a tendency to infection, tuberculosis, altitude sickness, nervous stomach, nausea, diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, the side effects of lobelia, and depression. Sometimes people mix cloves with hot water, again making a tea and claim that it helps them get a good night's sleep.
Cloves and ginger is a sure way to settle the stomach and stop vomiting. If you combine equal parts of cloves and basil it is supposed to detox meals from the body. Cloves have been used for failing eyesight and tooth problems. It was used for earaches very often throughout history as putting a little warmed oil of clove on a piece of cotton and in your ear was certain to rid any earache. Mostly, cloves are known for being warm and spicy but also have a strong relationship with pain relief, easing nausea and vomiting, and improving digestion. Cloves also kill intestinal parasites and act as an antimicrobial agent against fungi and bacteria. It has also been suggested that cloves have antihistamine properties as well.
Do not be too quick to pass off the possibilities of cloves and aromatherapy as the two have a very strong bond between them. Since cloves have such a positive and stimulating effect on the mind they pair up great with other oils for aromatherapy purposes. In the 16th and 17th centuries cloves were worth their weight in gold however it is the clove oil that is most essential. In Indonesia many people smoke clove cigarettes and that did spill over into the United States for a while but lost most of its vigor when it was found that clove cigarettes could cause adult respiratory distress syndrome.
The word clove comes from the Latin word "clavus" which means nail. If you have ever looked at a clove you will notice that it does resemble a nail. Many people use whole cloves when they cook ham by sticking the spiky part around the outer edges of the ham for extra flavor. Indian curries can not do without cloves but it is also used in pickles, sauces, Worcestershire sauce, and even spice cakes that are baked from scratch.
Throughout history cloves has never been forgotten but has lost some of its popularity. Some still use it as a spice and some for minor dentistry and even still more for the purpose of aromatherapy. People still look at cloves as an "old fashioned" herb. For some families it has been passed down through generations and in the pantry still sits a jar of whole cloves for that special ham dinner.
Below is a list of the top clove benefits.
1. Toothache:
Cloves provide relief from toothache (1) and this is one of the main reasons why you will see them listed as an Ingredient in 99% of toothpastes.
2. Nausea and vomiting:
Cloves and clove oil when taken together can provide relief from Nausea (2).
3. Cough and breath:
Cough and bad breath can be cured by consuming cloves. These are very common problems that we all face and can be very well treated by the consumption of cloves on a daily basis. You can do this by including them in your dishes and also as refreshments at any time of the day (3).
4. Seasoning abilities:
Its seasoning capabilities make it very easy to blend in many dishes, beverages and desserts. It helps to provide strong flavour and aroma to the food (4).
5. Sinusitis:
Other benefits include overcoming sinusitis. This can be done by taking the powder of grounded cloves into your nose. This action must be done with a straw of adequate size.
6. Morning sickness:
It is a good remedy for treating morning sickness. Take around ten grains of cloves, mix them with tamarind and palm sugar and make it into a nice mixture using water. Drink this solution twice a day as an effective treatment.
7. Flatulence:
Clove is mixed with water and used in the preparation of tea to overcome flatulence.
8. Cold:
Common cold can be treated effectively by drinking a lukewarm mixture made with ten drops of clove oil and honey. Drink it twice or thrice a day..
9. Aphrodisiac:
Clove is also an aphrodisiac and its fragrance eliminates exhaustion and fatigue related thoughts.
10. Stress:
It thus soothes the senses and relieves stress in the body. Mix cloves with basil, mint and cardamom in water to make a flavoured tea. Take this along with honey to provide you relief from stress.
[ Read: Health Benefits Of Almonds ]
Skin Benefits of Cloves:
Clove oil is strong in nature and should be carefully applied. It should be diluted to as low as 1 percent before application, because direct application can burn or affect the skin. Clove oil is used by naturopaths and beauticians to treat skin conditions. Let’s have a look at the skin benefits of clove:
11. Treats and Removes Acne:
Clove oil has been found very potent for acne removal. It is to be applied topically to the affected areas. It is often blended with face packs or massage creams for application on the skin. It gives a tingling sensation when applied to the skin. The reason behind the sensation is the potent nature of clove oil. The possibility of acne spreading over the unaffected areas can be eliminated by killing off the bacteria with the help of the antimicrobial properties of the oil. Skin conditions, such as blackheads, whiteheads, scarring, pimples and scaly skin are the signs that characterize the skin ailment known as acne. Patches and blemishes can be formed due to acne. Acne commonly happens during the adolescent stage due to hormonal imbalance. The essential oil obtained from the clove plant flower has great purifying properties. It helps to eliminate the inflammation caused due to painful pimples. It also helps get rid of the bacteria that increase the chance of skin breakouts. Due to its anesthetic properties, it acts as a numbing agent. To use clove essential oil for the treatment of acne, it must be added to carrier oil in the ratio 1:10, where one part is clove oil and ten parts are of the carrier oil. The reason for diluting is that clove oil irritates the skin when used in the pure form. The mixture made, as explained above, can be directly applied with a cotton swab or clean finger tip to the acne, zit or pimple. Leave the mixture till dry. It acts really fast.
12. Cures Blemishes and Scars:
It comes in handy for the removal of blemishes and scars from the skin. When clove oil is applied directly on the skin under professional supervision, it truly works as a mild chemical peel. It exfoliates the blemished or dead skin gently and makes the skin appear healthier and clearer.
13. Antioxidant Properties:
None of the other essential oils is found to have such high antioxidant properties as clove essential oil. We are familiar with the fact that antioxidants are very good for maintaining healthy skin and body. Clove essential oil is rich in minerals, such as potassium, sodium, phosphorus, iron and Vitamins A and C.
14. Treats Rashes, Cuts and Wounds:
Clove essential oil is also used to treat rashes, scabies, stings, cuts, wounds, bites, fungal infections and athlete’s foot.
15. Offers Relief from Anxiety:
It also contributes to provide relief from anxiety and helps to induce sleep, which is once again essential for an attractive skin and great complexion. Insomnia and anxiety are the major causes of unhealthy skin. With successful control over both these conditions, one cannot fail to achieve a soft, smooth and glowing skin. The antimicrobial, anti-fungal, aphrodisiac, antiviral, antiseptic and stimulating properties of clove essential oil make it helpful to treat a number of ailments.
Hair Benefits of Cloves:
16. Prevents Hair Loss:
Cloves or clove oil can be used to prevent hair loss. It can also be used for the purpose of thickening the hair.
17. Hair Color Refresher:
Clove tea can be used as a great hair color refresher. Apply clove tea after the coloring of the hair and shampoo is done. Always make sure to get the clove tea cold before its application on the hair. Your hair will appear full of life and fresh with just one rinse of clove tea once the shampoo is done. The clove scent also works as a perk for the refreshed hair. It makes the hair feel rejuvenated.
18. Hair Conditioner:
If one is suffering from brunette or auburn hair, the mixture of cloves with olive oil can be used as a conditioner. It assists in boosting up the fragrance and helps in color conditioning of the hair. To prepare the conditioner, mix 2 tbsp of ground cloves and 1/2 cup of olive oil. Warm the mixture in a pan and let it heat for some time. Remember not to boil the mixture. Remove the mixture from the heat and leave it to cool off for a minimum of 3 hours. Strain the mixture into a bottle or a small jar. Before going to shower, warm some of this clove-olive oil mixture by rubbing it in between the hands. Gently rub the mixture onto the scalp and apply it to cover every part of the scalp by running your comb through the hair ends. Let the mixture set for 20 minutes after wrapping it in a shower cap. Then, rinse the oil out in the shower and rub that oil in your skin. It is recommended to shampoo twice for best results.
How to Select Cloves?
Cloves are available round the year in spice stores. They are available in whole and powdered forms. The powdered form gets weaker quickly than that of the whole form. It is recommended to choose whole cloves and grind them as needed. A sweet fragrance is released by good quality clove buds when they are pressed in between the index finger and thumb. One more reason to buy whole clove buds is that the powdered form can sometimes be adulterated with some other powders. The buds should be compact with sepals and stem. Another way to find out if the clove is of good quality is by putting it in water. It is a good quality clove, if it manages to stand upright, and if it sinks or tilts horizontally, then it is not to be considered a good quality clove. The best ones can be bended even if they are dried. It is always best to pick those cloves, which are grown organically.
How to Store Cloves?
An airtight glass or plastic container is the best to store cloves, whether in the whole or powder form. The whole buds should be kept in a cool, dark and dry place. They should be hand milled, whenever required. In case of powder cloves, they should be placed inside the refrigerator. The powdered clove should be utilized as soon as possible as the flavor of the powdered form is lost quickly than that of the whole buds.
Tips to Use Cloves:
The flavor of cloves is strong. Always remember to carefully consider the amount of cloves used in the dish. To give the dish an Indian touch, add clove buds with curry powder to the garlic, sautéed onions and tofu. Cloves are appropriate for the seasoning of broths, soups and baked goods. Ground cloves can be sprinkled over the fruit compotes to give them a tasty punch. Such great benefits of clove make it a miracle spice. It is advisable to add this spice to your food and experience its goodness together with its plethora of health benefits. Leave us your comments below.
Nutrition chart of Cloves:
A table spoon of cloves which is around 6 grams contains 21 calories, with 11 calories coming from fat content.
Fat content is 1 gram which is 2% as per the daily value of consumption for a 2000 calorie intake diet chart.
Cholesterol is 0mg and sodium is about 16mg with dietary fiber contributing 2 grams or 9% of the daily value.
Vitamin A and C are also present in good amounts which are 1% and 9% in DV, with calcium and iron being 4% and 3%.
Having read about what the health benefits of cloves are, do make sure that you include them in your daily food.
Cloves
