Clove Oil Facts
Clove oil has been used medicinally for centuries by many different cultures, such as the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine has always included clove oil for its many benefits. Uses for clove oil have been passed down for generations as an effective option in treating or soothing a number of ailments.
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Identification
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Clove oil is an evergreen plant that is native to Indonesia and the Malacca Islands. It is a large plant that grows about 30 feet in height with green leaves and pink flower buds. Clove oil is extracted from the bud leaves and stem of the plant. There are a number of ways to extract the oil from the clove plant. However, the two most commonly used methods would be distillation or pressing/smearing the oils out.
Features
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Clove has many nutritional benefits, but most people use it sparingly in food because it has a strong spicy taste. Clove is rich in nutrients like potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium. It also has phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, selenium, zinc and manganese. Clove oil is a good source of vitamins A, C, E and choline. It also has decent levels of vitamins like riboflavin niacin, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin K, betaine and folate.
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Topical Benefits
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Clove oil has been used for a variety of different topical ailments over the years. Topically, it can be used for a variety of skin infections, it can also be used to treat fungal infections, acne, warts, scabies, lice and as a insect repellent. The primary reason it works for these purposes is because it has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. It is also a wonderful pain reliever when applied topically.
Internal Significance
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There are also a few uses for clove oil that require consumption. Many people add clove oil to food to relieve stomach problems like hiccups, indigestion, motion sickness and flatulence. Clove oil may also help relieve nausea and vomiting.
Function
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Some of the most common uses for clove oil are dental. It has pain relieving properties so it can help ease the pain of a toothache. It may also kill bacteria because it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It can also be used to ease sore gums or the pain from mouth sores. Plus, it helps freshen breath.
Effects
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Clove oil is used quite often in aromatherapy preparations. Many find that the scent of clove oil relieves stress, fatigue and exhaustion. When used for aromatherapy clove oil blends well with a variety of essential oils including basil, rose, cinnamon, rosemary, grapefruit, lemon peppermint, orange, nutmeg, geranium and lavender.
Miscellaneous Uses
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There are many other uses for clove oil that are not medicinal. It can be used to disinfect surfaces when added to cleaner or to disinfect the air when added to an aromatherapy air diffuser. It can also be used in the garden as a weed killer.
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