The essential oil of clove is derived from the clove tree which has pink flower buds that are commonly referred to as the clove buds. Its scientific name is known as Eugenia caryophyllata and the oil has proven to be remarkably versatile!

Clove has a long historical record as it is being used extensively in various parts of the world. For example, ancient Greeks and the Romans used the oil to relieve toothaches and to ward off bad breaths. The Chinese have also used the plant for more than 2000 years as a form of fragrance and spice. It is also highly prized and valuable in the Ayurvedic world.

From the Western world to the Asian world, why is clove and its essential oil so popularly used in these parts? Surely it must contain potent medicinal properties and compounds that can be used to address a variety of health complaints and ailments. Read on to find out more!

Health Benefits of Clove Leaf Essential Oil:

1. To Promote Oral Health

One of the most popular uses of clove leaf oil is that it serves as a good remedy for toothaches and other oral-related problems, thanks to its antibacterial and anodyne properties. Furthermore, it is analgesic in nature, meaning it offers pain relief and comfort from such dental problems, even from throat pains.

For example, a 2012 study published in the Brazilian Journal of Microbiology found that clove essential oil, when used as an antiseptic in oral infection, inhibits Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as yeast bacterial strains. The experiment tested clove oil’s efficacy on 3 bacterial strains that can lead to oral infections - Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and they found that the essential oil exerted a satisfactory action in all 3 cases.

Not only that, a 2010 study published in Natural Product Communications notes how eugenol, the major constituent of clove leaf oil possesses significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic and anaesthetic actions in dental and oral care issues.

As such, this reaffirms clove oil’s nature as a potent antiseptic and anaesthetic agent in treating various oral problems, as it gets rid of bacteria causing toothaches, ulcers and other problems as well as alleviates pain arising from such conditions. Moreover, its fresh scent and fragrance helps to ward off bad breath and kills the bacteria causing it in the first place.

How to Use it: Simply add 2 drops of clove leaf oil into a glass of water and use it as a gargle mixture. However, be careful not to ingest the mixture. Alternatively, you can add 1 drop of the oil on a small cotton ball and gently press it onto the painful area, if you have a toothache. To be safer, dilute it with a drop of coconut oil as well. This helps to reduce pain and induce numbness to the area. However, take note that it alleviates the pain by inducing numbness, so it should only be used as a temporary measure.

2. To Promote Skin Health

Clove leaf oil is also great for alleviating skin conditions like acne. Acne is a common skin problem as millions are affected by it. It can be extremely frustrating and annoying. Luckily, clove leaf oil, with its bactericidal and anti-inflammatory qualities, helps to eradicate the bacteria that may lead to acne.

This thus helps to inhibit pimple growth and the spread of acne to other parts of the face. It also helps to soothe red and inflamed skin.

A 2009 study published in JAMA Dermatology found that clove essential oil exerted a significant antibacterial activity towards the P. acnes bacterial strain as it induced cell death and damaged the cell walls and membranes of bacteria. This hence demonstrates clove oil’s efficacy in treating acne.

Besides acne, it also contains antifungal properties which are perfect for treating a range of skin fungal infections like athlete’s foot and ringworms.

How to Use it: You can mix 3 drops of the oil with 2 tablespoons of raw honey for acne. Apply it onto your face and then wash it away after a few minutes. Alternatively, add 1 drop of clove oil into a tablespoon of coconut or jojoba oil and apply it onto affected areas. The oil will penetrate deep into the skin pores to kill off the bacteria and infection. For skin fungal infections, you can blend 2 drops of clove leaf oil and 1 drop of lavender oil with 2 ml of sweet almond oil and apply onto the affected areas.

3. To Promote Digestive Health

Clove leaf oil is also widely used to treat a range of stomach-related and digestion-related problems, such as indigestion, flatulence, acid reflux, excess gas and bloating. It promotes the timely and regular secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and induces regular peristaltic movements of the stomach and intestines, thus facilitating the proper breakdown of food to be absorbed later into the bloodstream.

Also, clove oil is great for eliminating candida and other fungal infections or intestinal parasites that can invade your digestive system. For example, a 2005 study published in Oral Microbiology and Immunology found that clove essential oil exhibited great fungicidal activity towards the C. albicans bacterial strain. As such, they are potent antifungal agents to treat candida and intestinal infections!

How to Use it: You can take clove essential oil internally by adding one drop of it into a glass of water or into a cup of tea. Ensure proper dilution by stirring completely before drinking the mixture.

4. To Promote Respiratory Health

Clove leaf essential oil is also an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent which produces a cooling effect. As such, this is perfect for those who are experiencing lung or nasal congestion brought about by coughs, cold, flu, asthma, sinusitis and other respiratory-related problems.

It helps soothe the affected areas and gets rid of the infections and bacteria causing the ailments in the first place. It seeks to provide relief and comfort as well as to produce a much freer breathing airflow so that you will feel at ease more easily.

How to Use it: You can add 2 drops of clove leaf oil, 1 drop of ginger oil and 1 drop of spearmint oil into a bowl of hot, boiling water and inhale the steam emanating out to loosen up phlegm accumulation and to clear blocked nasal and bronchial passages.

5. High Antioxidant Potential

Besides the abovementioned benefits, clove leaf oil is filled with beneficial antioxidants that serves to boost your immune system and protect your body against bacteria and viruses. This is because it helps to fight off free radicals and combat the damage done to your body by these harmful substances.

A 2012 study published in the Arabian Journal of Chemistry notes how clove essential oil has radical scavenging activities, owing to its rich antioxidant compounds. This thus helps to prevent cellular damage and potentially cancer growths too. Antioxidants slow down ageing, degeneration and instead boosts your immune system tremendously.

As such, it is commonly known as the ultimate “protective” herb due to its high antioxidant count and eugenol levels. In fact, according to a 2011 research article published in International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy, clove oil is 400 times more powerful as an antioxidant than wolfberries or blueberries!

How to Use it: You can add 4-5 drops of clove leaf oil into a tub of warm, bathing water to help curb the growth of free radicals or you can diffuse a few drops of it in your diffuser or vaporizer.

6. Offers Pain Relief

Clove leaf essential oil is also an excellent pain relief agent, thanks to the analgesic qualities abovementioned. As such, it can also be used to relieve painful muscle aches and stiff joints characterized by rheumatism and arthritis. Additionally, if you have a throbbing headache, clove oil is also great for soothing the pain and discomfort away.

This is because clove oil not only induces numbness to the area temporarily, but it also increases blood circulation and purifies the blood, ridding it of toxic substances. This is especially important for arthritis and rheumatism because these conditions are partly caused by a lack of proper blood circulation to the muscles and an accumulation of toxins in the muscles.

The ability to promote blood circulation is also great for relieving headaches because it will seek to reduce pressure to the head. Thus, you can always rely on clove leaf essential oil as a natural painkiller to nurse the pain away, without having to worry about side effects.

How to Use it: Create a massage blend by combining 5 drops of clove leaf oil with 2 drops of citronella oil and 2 drops of peppermint oil along with 50 ml of coconut oil to reduce pain and inflammation.

Safety Precautions:

• Always dilute clove leaf essential oil with carrier oils (like coconut, jojoba or sweet almond oils) before topical application onto the skin as it is highly concentrated if it is not diluted, thus it might cause skin irritations and serious skin problems.

• Perform a skin patch test prior to applying this oil on affected areas to ensure you do not have sensitive or allergic reactions and it should not be used on damaged skin.

• Keep the oil away from children.

• Pregnant and nursing women should exercise caution before using clove leaf oil.

• If you are considering taking this oil internally, please consult your doctor first for professional health advice. This is especially so if you have preexisting medical conditions and are under prescription drugs. This is because the clove leaf oil might interfere with your prescribed medication to produce unwanted side effects.

References:

Nunez L, Aquino MD, “Microbicide activity of clove essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata)”, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (2012); 43(4)

Pramod K, Ansari SH, Ali J, “Eugenol: a natural compound with versatile pharmacological actions”, Natural Product Communications (2010); 5(12)

YuJie Fu et al., “The Antibacterial Activity of Clove Essential Oil Against Propionibacterium acnes and Its Mechanism of Action”, JAMA Dermatology (2009); 145(1)

Chami N, et al., “Study of anticandidal activity of carvacrol and eugenol in vitro and in vivo”, Oral Microbiology and Immunology (2005); 20(2)

Ilhami Gulcin, Mahfuz Elmastas, Hassan Y. Aboul-Enein, “Antioxidant activity of clove oil - A powerful antioxidant source”, Arabian Journal of Chemistry (2012); 5(4)

Parle Milind and Khanna Deepa, “Clove: A Champion Spice”, International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy (2011); 2(1)