Essential Oil Spotlight : Clove

CLOVE ESSENTIAL OIL

Family Name: Myrtaceae 

Common Name: Clove 

Botanical Name: Syzgium aromaticum ( Eugenia aromatic, E. caryophyllata)

  
 Extraction method: Water distilled from the dried flower buds (buds are comminuted prior to distilling).

Odour:  A strong, sweet and spicy odour 

General Description:
The clove is an evergreen tree, up to 15m high, with glossy green leaves, fragrant red flowers and purple fruits. It is a long-lived tree and is reported to remain productive for 150 years. The modern English name of clove is from the French clou, meaning nail, derived from the Latin clavus.

The clove is indigenous to the Moluccas, now part of Indonesia

 History/Folk lore:
The first recorded use was in the Chinese Han period 220-206 BC where it was used to sweeten the breath. 

The origins of cloves became known in Europe following a publication by Marco Polo in AD 1298. Venice was the leading European source of cloves and other spices in the 13th century. Cloves were traded in Europe via the Arabs, who for centuries had a monopoly of the seaborne spice trade until it was broken by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Portuguese had a monopoly in the trade of cloves for over a century. 

Cloves were introduced to Zanzibar in the 19th century. Zanzibar, now part of Tanzania, has become the world's largest exporter of cloves. 

During the Renaissance, pomanders were made with cloves to keep epidemics and the plague at bay. Cloves are used in traditional medicine as a carminative, anti-emetic, and counterirritant. Clove tea is used to relieve nausea and the oil is well known for its ability to alleviate toothache.

Main Uses In Massage: 
Clove essential oil is commonly added to massage blends as it provides relief from muscle and joint pain. It can help to provide relief from rheumatic pain. It should only be used in small amounts though as it can be a skin irritant to some. 

Therapeutic Properties or Actions:
Analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, stomachic.

Body Systems & Therapeutic Uses: 
 Dental Care - The most prominent use of clove oil is in dental care. The germicidal properties of the oil make it very effective for relieving dental pain, tooth ache, sore gums and mouth ulcers.
Respiratory system - Clove oil has a cooling and anti inflammatory effect, and is frequently used to clear the nasal passage. This expectorant is a useful treatment for various respiratory disorders including coughs, colds, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, and tuberculosis.
Digestive system - Clove oil has traditionally been effective for the treatment of stomach related problems such as hiccups, indigestion, motion sickness, and flatulence. It can also help to relieve nausea and vomiting.
Circulatory System - Clove oil increases your body’s metabolism by increasing blood circulation and reducing body temperature.Eugenol is the active ingredient in clove essential oil that causes this stimulation of blood circulation.
Mind - Clove oil is an aphrodisiac in nature and therefore serves as an excellent stress reliever. It has a stimulating effect on the mind and removes mental exhaustion and fatigue.

 Precautions: 
Reported to be a potential skin irritant and sensitising agent.

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I will be posting more information about other essential oils on this blog so keep checking back. 

< Related articles - peppermint , rosemary , tea tree , ylang ylang & rose >

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