- 1. Fight infections
- 2. Prevents cancer
- 3. Decrease pain
- 4. Keep away mosquitoes and other insects
- 5. Stimulates sexual desire
- 6. Fight bad breath
- 7. Facilitates digestion
- 8. Improves healing
- 9. Relaxes your muscles and fights tiredness
- How to use cloves
- Special cares
The clove or clove, scientifically called Syzygium aromaticus , has medicinal action being useful in combating pain, infections, and even helps to increase the sexual appetite, being easily found in supermarkets and drugstores in small packages, with price between 4 and 20 reais. In addition, its essential oil can still be found in health food stores.
Cloves, in addition to having medicinal properties, are also an important source of nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin E and beta-carotene. It can be used in its natural form to enrich food, or in the form of creams and oils, which select some properties, for use in cosmetics, for example.
The main health benefits of cloves are:
1. Fight infections
Due to its antimicrobial action, cloves can be used to fight infections caused by some types of bacteria, especially staphylococci and E. coli , or by fungi, for their antifungal action. This action seems to be linked to the presence of eugenol, methyl salicylate, kaempferol, gallic acid and oleanolic acid in its composition.
These components appear to denature the proteins that react with the bacterial cell membrane, changing their permeability and preventing them from continuing to develop and multiply.
2. Prevents cancer
The clove also has a high concentration of phenolic compounds, which gives it a potent antioxidant action, protecting the body from serious chronic diseases, such as cancer, as it fights free radicals that cause the aging of body tissues.
3. Decrease pain
Eugenol is one of the most recognized components of cloves, which, because it has been very well studied, has been used in dentistry for several years to reduce pain and inflammation caused by dental treatments.
According to several studies, this effect occurs due to the suppression of prostaglandins and other inflammation mediators, as well as the depression of the sensitive receptors involved in the sensation of pain.
4. Keep away mosquitoes and other insects
Clove oil contains an aroma that repels insects, because its characteristic smell is unpleasant to them. Just crush some cloves and leave them on a plate on the table to keep the fruit flies away, for example. Sticking some cloves into an orange or a lemon is also a good way to keep out flies and mosquitoes.
Another simple way to use this natural power is to buy products based on clove oil, like candles, for example.
5. Stimulates sexual desire
Clove extract is a great home remedy against sexual impotence because it increases libido, due to its aphrodisiac properties.
6. Fight bad breath
Because it has good natural antiseptic and aromatic properties, cloves can be used as a natural option to improve bad breath. To do this, just chew 1 clove to notice its aromatic effects in the mouth. Rinsing clove tea is also a good solution to fight bad smell.
7. Facilitates digestion
It also improves digestion and helps control diarrhea by activating enzymes that help the stomach and intestines. In addition, it also fights flatulence, being especially indicated to be consumed in the form of tea after a meal containing black beans, broccoli or cauliflower, for example.
8. Improves healing
When used directly on the skin, clove oil or a clove-based herbal product still facilitates healing, reduces inflammation and irritation, due to its antiseptic action. This is a good option to combat small anal fissures, for example.
9. Relaxes your muscles and fights tiredness
Clove oil helps to relax the muscles and can be used in massage oils. Due to its characteristic aroma it is also a good option to combat fatigue and melancholy, improving the disposition for day-to-day activities.
A clove-based herbal gel is a great pain reliever to be used on muscles in case of bruises, for example.
How to use cloves
Cloves can be consumed in cakes, breads, desserts and broths, but their properties are best used in the form of teas, which are great when made together with cinnamon, lemon or ginger.
- For tea: Place 10g of cloves in a pan with 1 liter of water and bring to the boil for about 15 minutes. Then let it cool, strain and take up to 3 times a day. Powder: Take 200 to 500 mg diluted in water, 2 or 3 times a day; Essential oil: Apply 2 or 3 drops to a cotton ball and apply to the desired areas.
Herbal preparations such as creams or gels containing cloves can be found in health food stores and handling pharmacies.
Check out a natural deodorant recipe with clove for the body.
Special cares
Cloves are contraindicated in pregnancy, breastfeeding and for children under 6 years old, as there are no studies of their effects in these groups. It is also not recommended in case of gastritis or ulcer.
Cloves can cause irritation of the skin and digestive mucosa of some more sensitive people, so it should be used, preferably, with the indication of the herbalist.
Cloves have a substance called eugenol that slows blood clotting, so clove tea and its dry extract should not be used 2 weeks before scheduled surgery.
