© Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen · Public domain · Commons
Clove
CautionGewürznelkenbaum · (Syzygium aromaticum)
Myrtle family (Myrtaceae)
Description
The dried, nail-shaped flower buds of this myrtle-family tree are among the world's oldest spices and best known as a home remedy for toothache: a diluted drop of clove oil on the sore gum acts as both a local anaesthetic and an antiseptic, a use recognised by Germany's Kommission E. This comes from eugenol, which makes up as much as 90 percent of the essential oil and also forms the basis of dental zinc-oxide-eugenol cement. Diluted as a mouth rinse, clove oil soothes inflammation of the mouth and throat, while the whole spice has long been used in cooking to support digestion and ease bloating – complemented by flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol and the triterpenic acid oleanolic acid, which add antioxidant activity. Undiluted oil strongly irritates skin and mucous membranes and should always be mixed with a carrier oil; caution is needed with known eugenol sensitivity, such as after contact with Peru balsam, and with blood-thinning medication, since eugenol inhibits platelet aggregation.
Clove oil (1–2 drops on a cotton swab) acts as a local analgesic and antiseptic for toothache. The main active compound eugenol inhibits pain receptors and shows antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens. Apply externally to the affected gum or tooth only — do not apply undiluted to mucous membranes.
Preparation & dosage
Dilute 1–2 drops of clove oil with carrier oil (e.g. olive oil) 1:1; apply with cotton swab. Do not swallow. Not for children under 12 years.
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — Do not use undiluted clove oil in children under 12 years.
A 1–5% mouthwash with clove oil (in water or alcohol) acts antiseptically and anti-inflammatorily in mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. Rinse several times daily; spit out solution afterwards. Eugenol inhibits plaque biofilm formation.
Preparation & dosage
Dissolve 1–5 drops clove oil in 100 ml lukewarm water or a mouthwash base. Rinse 30 seconds several times daily and spit out.
As a culinary spice (whole or ground), cloves promote digestion, act carminatively (anti-flatulence), and stimulate gastric secretion. Traditionally used for nausea, bloating, and digestive weakness. Used in desserts, meat dishes, mulled wine, and chai.
Preparation & dosage
1–3 whole cloves or a pinch of powder per dish or drink. Culinary amounts used daily are considered safe.
Clove tea (2–3 whole cloves per 250 ml hot water, steeped 10 min) acts warming, expectorant, and mildly antiseptic in colds with cough and digestive complaints. Traditional use in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.
Preparation & dosage
Lightly crush 2–3 whole cloves and pour 250 ml boiling water over them. Steep 10 minutes, strain. Up to 3 cups daily.
- Dry amount
- 0.5–1 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
Diluted clove oil (3–5% in carrier oil) is used in folk medicine to relieve muscle and joint pain through massage. β-caryophyllene, the second most abundant active compound alongside eugenol, shows local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Preparation & dosage
Dilute 3–5 drops clove oil in 10 ml carrier oil (jojoba, almond). Gently massage into affected area. Do not apply to open wounds.
Cloves rank among the most antioxidant-rich foods. In addition to essential oil, the flower buds contain flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol), phenolic acids, and oleanolic acid. As a spice in usual amounts, cloves contribute to an antioxidant-rich diet.
Preparation & dosage
Use as a spice in daily cooking (whole cloves, ground, or food-grade essential oil).
Undiluted clove oil can irritate mucous membranes and skin. Always dilute with carrier oil (at least 1:1). Keep away from eyes. Contraindicated in eugenol hypersensitivity (cross-reactivity with Peru balsam possible).
Concentrated clove oil not recommended during pregnancy — possible uterus-stimulating effect. Usual culinary amounts as a spice are considered safe.
Insufficient data for concentrated clove oil during lactation. Culinary spice amounts considered unproblematic.
Do not use undiluted clove oil in children under 12 years. Observe age recommendations on finished medicinal products (e.g. dental gels).
Drug interactions
Antikoagulantien (z. B. Warfarin)
Eugenol inhibits platelet aggregation; concurrent use with anticoagulants may increase bleeding risk.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to eugenol or isoeugenol (cross-reactivity with Peru balsam possible)
- Direct contact of undiluted oil with mucous membranes or sensitive skin
Harvested part: dried flower buds
- Time of day:
- Morning, before buds open (buds should still be green to pale pink)
- Drying:
- Dry flower buds 4–7 days in the sun or at 40–50°C in a dryer until dark brown and the stem snaps when bent. Weight reduces by approximately two thirds.
- Storage:
- 24 months — Whole dried cloves in airtight glass jar, cool, dry, and protected from light. Ground cloves lose aroma faster (max. 6 months).
- Drying:
- Ripe fruits (mother cloves) are harvested after flowering and also dried. More aromatic than the flower buds but less documented in pharmacopoeias.
- Storage:
- 18 months — Cool, dry, and light-protected in airtight containers.
- EugenolEssential oilContent: 70-90 % des ätherischen ÖlsFlower
Main active compound of the essential oil. Local anaesthetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Basis for dental eugenol preparations (ZnO-eugenol cement).
- Eugenylacetat (Acetyleugenol)Essential oilContent: 5-15 % des ätherischen ÖlsFlower
Ester form of eugenol, contributes to the characteristic aroma of cloves.
- β-CaryophyllenSesquiterpeneContent: 5-12 % des ätherischen ÖlsFlower
Sesquiterpene with local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Activates cannabinoid receptor CB2.
- OleanolsäureOtherContent: ca. 2 %Flower
Triterpenic acid with hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.
- QuercetinFlavonoidFlower
Flavonol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Present in flower buds as a glycoside.
- KaempferolFlavonoidFlower
Flavonol with antioxidant properties; present in cloves alongside quercetin.
- Tannine (Gerbstoffe)TanninFlower
Phenolic compounds with astringent effect; present in smaller amounts than in the bark of other medicinal plants.
- GallussäurePhenolic acidFlower
Phenolic carboxylic acid with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
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