CLOVES: Latin Name Syzygium Aromaticum

Another spice with ancient history! During the Han dynasty (207 B. C. to 220 A. D.) those who addressed the Chinese emperor were required to hold cloves in their mouths to mask bad breath. Clove first arrived in Europe around the 4th century A.D. as a highly coveted luxury. Medieval German herbalists used cloves as part of anti-gout mixture.

Once clove became easily available in Europe, it was prized as a treatment for indigestion, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It was also used to treat cough, infertility, warts, worms, wounds, and toothache. Early American Eclectic physicians used clove to treat digestive complaints and added it to bitter herb- medicine preparations to make them more palatable. They were also the first to extract clove oil from the herbal buds. They used it on the gums to relieve toothache. Contemporary herbalists recommend clove for digestive complaints and its oil for toothache.

PropertiesThe clove flower buds are bitter, thermogenic, aromatic, digestive, anti flatulent, stimulant, antispasmodic, appetiser, anti pyretic, expectorant, rejuvenating and tonic.

UsesTraditional Chinese physicians have long used the herb to treat indigestion, diarrhea, hernia, and ringworm, as well as athlete's foot and other fungal infections.

India's traditional Ayurvedic healers have used clove since ancient times to treat respiratory and digestive ailments.Clove or Clove oil is an excellent remedy for toothache. It is used as an appetiser, to cure flatulence, aid digestion or increase digestive fire. Its thermogenic properties help cure cold, cough and bronchitis, fever, headaches. It is also used to reduce general debility and against tuberculosis.

Safety: Toothaches require professional care. Cloves or clove oil may provide temporary relief, but see a dentist promptly.