With holiday cooking just around the corner, you may be checking your shelves to make sure you have all the necessary spices on hand. No doubt, cloves are your list. Cloves are one of the oldest spices in existence and have a rich culinary as well as medicinal history going back thousands of years.[1]
Ancient Roman text refers to the cloves, and the spice is documented in Chinese history as early at 226 BC. At that time, the emperor commanded that anyone who wanted to speak with him chew on a clove to eliminate bad breath. In the fourth century, Arabs introduced cloves to Europe.[2]
Cloves are derived from the flower buds of an evergreen tree called Syzgium aromaticum, which was originally found in Madagascar, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. The name comes from clavus, the Latin name for nail. The French called the spice “clou.” In 1066 with the French-Norman conquest; the name eventually became clove in English.
The oil from the buds, leaves, stems of the Szygium aromaticum tree, and cloves themselves, were so popular back in 16th and 17th century Europe, it was one of the most valuable commodities on the market. [3]
While clove essential oil was used widely for cooking and to preserve food, it also had health benefits. Its warm, woody smell lifted the mood. Cloves essential oil also was used to treat aches and pains.
Health benefits
Clove is rich in many minerals, among them calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and hydrochloric acid as well as Vitamins A and C. With its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic and antiviral properties, clove essential oil is used for a variety of health issues. Among them: [4]
- To help kill bacteria
- As a pain reliever for conditions such as toothache and muscle pain
- For digestive upset
- To relieve respiratory conditions like cough and asthma
Popular uses for spa and massage treatments
Improves Skin Texture: Because of the rejuvenating and stimulating properties of clove essential oil, which can increase blood flow to aging skin, clove oil is used to lessen the effects of aging, including wrinkles, sagging skin, and facial rejuvenation for the eyes.
Relieves Stress: Clove essential oil serves as an excellent stress reliever. It stimulates the mind and alleviates mental exhaustion and fatigue. Clove essential oil blends well with many essential oils, including basil, rosemary, rose, cinnamon, grapefruit, lemon, nutmeg, peppermint, orange, lavender, and geranium. [5]
Pain Relief: A few drops of clove essential oil, when applied to joints and overworked muscles, may provide relief from soreness and swelling.
BIOTONE clove oil products
Clove Bud Essential Oil: The essential oil is 100% pure. Its common Uses are for: analgesic, expectorant, stimulant and skin conditions. Contraindications: Dilute in base, can irritate skin. Avoid during pregnancy and with Epilepsy.
Energy Aromatherapy Massage Lotion: The lotion is a 100% essential oil blend of clove, mandarin, ginger, lemongrass, cinnamon, and sweet orange. It also contains jojoba, avocado and olive oils, known for their skin soothing benefits. Shea and mango butters give a luxuriously silky feel and smooth finish. This lotion is excellent for all massage modalities. Extended glide with less reapplications. A light, natural aroma helps energize the body and sharpens the senses.
[1] MasterClass, “What are Cloves? Culinary Use of Cloves,” MasterClass, August 5, 2021. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-cloves-culinary-uses-of-cloves
[2] “Clove Essential Oil, “Sally’s Organics, Accessed September 27, 2022. http://sallysorganics.com/clove-essential/clove-history/
[3] “Clove oil: the health and aromatherapy benefits of clove essential oil,” HubPages, August 22, 2009. https://discover.hubpages.com/health/Clove-oil-the-health-and-aromatherapy-benefits-of-clove-essential-oil
[4] Seladi-Schulman, Jill Ph.D, “What You Need to Know About Clove Essential Oil,” healthline, September 19, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/clove-essential-oil
[5] Nagdeve, Meenaksi, “16 Surprising Benefits of Clove Oil, June 01, 2021, https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-clove-oil.html