Clove
Parts Usually Used
Flower buds, dried
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
The clove is an evergreen tree, 15-30 feet tall; it has opposite, ovate leaves more than 5 inches long; and its flowers, when allowed to develop, are red and white, bell-shaped, and grow in terminal clusters. The familiar clove used in the kitchen is the dried flower bud. The fruit is a one-or two-seeded berry.
Where Found
Native to the Spice Islands and the Philippines but also grown in Sumatra, Jamaica, the West Indies, Brazil, and other tropical areas.
Medicinal Properties
Anodyne, antiemetic, antiseptic, anti-nauseous, aphrodisiac, carminative, stimulant
Biochemical Information
Clove oil is comprised of eugenol, caryophyllene, acetyl eugenol, tannin, wax and fat.
Legends, Myths and Stories
Cloves are actually the dried buds of the clove tree. Used in China for more than 2,000 years, legend has it that cloves are an aphrodisiac. Although there isn’t any evidence to back up this claim, we do know that oil of clove is a time-honored remedy for toothache.
Uses
Historically, herbalists applied clove oil to cavities to manage toothache pain, and administered the oil diluted in water to address nausea and vomiting. Clove tea was also traditionally prepared to settle nausea and digestive complaints, including flatulence and hiccoughs. In various folk traditions, the spice was regarded as an aphrodisiac and was utilized for impotence. Practitioners further recommended cloves for respiratory complaints such as colds, coughs, asthma, laryngitis, and pharyngitis, as well as for low blood pressure.
Beyond medicinal applications, traditional cooks utilized the whole dried flower buds in stewed fruits, spiced beverages, pickling liquids, and marinades, while incorporating the ground spice into breads, cakes, pastries, curries, and meat dishes.
How Sold
Oil of Clove[amazon_link asins=’B00PM7S5R6′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’medherinf-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’553ac498-ece5-11e7-93e5-b35d6a37c173′] Ground or [amazon_link asins=’B00269T9JQ’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’medherinf-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’688238fd-ece5-11e7-aede-cff28df0a1cf’]powdered cloves Whole cloves[amazon_link asins=’B076KCYSMR’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’medherinf-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’8067c706-ece5-11e7-a86f-ffb66c350a69′]
Warning
Avoid cloves in cases of hypertension and inflammatory conditions.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. The Complete Medicinal Herbal , by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993 Indian Herbalogy of North America , by Alma R. , Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973 Chinese Medicinal Herbs , compiled by Shih-Chen Li, Georgetown Press, San Francisco, California, 1973.
, Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living , by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988). The Herbalist Almanac , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1988, fifth printing, 1994 The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr.
Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. , 1974