From Digestion to Pain Relief: Try These Home Remedies Using Clove

Clove has many health benefits. It aids in oral health, skin health, digestion, cough relief and pain relief.

Few spices can claim to be as versatile as the clove (laung), having several uses in food, medicine, beauty and at home. With a symmetric appearance and intense aroma, this is one spice that everyone in the world is familiar with.

The characteristic smell and flavour is due to the chemical named eugenol. The flavour is so intense that a small quantity of the spice can offer a large impact. Cloves are actually flower buds, and other parts of the plant are also used in various ways.

Due to their easy availability, cloves are widely used in cuisines across the world, particularly South East Asian, Middle Eastern, African and South American countries. Besides cooking, the strong aroma of this spice makes it a common ingredient in insect repellents and in aromatherapy.

Cloves are also used in the manufacture of perfumes, soaps, and toothpaste. It is also an important part of traditional medicine like Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Thai and Kampo medicine, due to its various health benefits.

Health Benefits of Clove

1. Soothes Digestive Troubles

Cloves contain compounds that help to relax the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which provides relief from common digestive troubles like vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence and stomach aches.

2. Prevents Stomach Ulcers

Cloves are known to increase the production of gastric mucus, which protects the stomach by acting as a barrier. This barrier prevents the deterioration of the stomach lining which can end up causing painful ulcers.

3. Improves Oral Health

Cloves are well known for their dental benefits and this is one of their main roles in all forms of traditional medicine. Many major toothpaste brands include cloves as their main ingredient.

Unlike commercial mouthwashes that kill all bacteria in the mouth, cloves attack disease-causing bacteria, while leaving the good bacteria unaffected promoting a balanced oral biome.

4. Relieves Cough

The eugenol in cloves also helps in soothing symptoms of respiratory distress. Brewed into tea, cloves act as an expectorant, drawing up phlegm from the chest. Massaging clove oil also relieves congestion and opens up the breathing passages.

5. Offers Pain Relief

Eugenol, the main ingredient in cloves, is quite effective in relieving all kinds of pain.

Toothaches can be soothed by dampening a cotton ball with a little clove oil and placing it on the affected area.

Clove oil also helps treat dry socket, a painful condition that arises after a tooth extraction. Studies also show that applying ground cloves 5 minutes before inserting a needle can reduce the pain.

6. Promotes Skin Health

Cloves have antibacterial properties which are beneficial when it comes to skin health. Bacteria and dirt are the main causes of pimples and acne, which can be tackled by cloves. The rich antioxidant content of cloves also fight premature signs of ageing like wrinkles and fine lines.

Tips to Buy and Store Cloves

Fresh and potent cloves can be identified by pushing a finger nail into the head and checking if it releases a strong aroma. Cloves are usually available either whole or ground. Whole cloves last longer, for about a year, while ground cloves stay good for up to six months.

The best way to store whole or ground cloves is in glass or steel jars in a cool and dry place.

To know if stored cloves are still good, they can be tested by dropping them in a cup of water. Good quality or fresh cloves will float vertically, while the rest will sink or float horizontally.

5 Home Remedies with Cloves

Note: While cloves have several benefits, they can be quite potent and must be used sparingly. Consuming too much can harm people with blood clotting diseases or immune system disorders, which is why it’s not recommended to have cloves at least a week before and after surgery.

(Pratibha spent her childhood in idyllic places only fauji kids would have heard of. When she's not rooting for eco-living or whipping up some DIY recipes to share with her readers, Pratibha is creating magic with social media. You can view her blog atwww.pratsmusings.com or reach to her on Twitter at @myepica.)