Explore The Benefits and Side-Effects of Clove

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Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Cloves are available throughout the year owing to different harvest seasons in different countries. Clove oils, dried flower buds, leaves, and stems are used to make medicine. Clove oil contains a chemical called eugenol that might help decrease pain and fight infections. Clove is also a popular ingredient in cigarettes.

Clove oil is used to kill parasites and repel insects as it contains eugenol, a powerful germicide, as well as caryophyllene, which has antimicrobial properties. Cloves are best known as a sweet and aromatic spice, but they have also been used in traditional medicine. People commonly use clove for toothache, pain during dental work, dental plaque, hangover, indigestion, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Today we will try to explore the both most impressive health benefits of eating cloves and its side effects.

Health Benefits of Clove

Clove is most commonly recognized as a spice used for cooking, but it has also been used for centuries to treat various health concerns. Some of these potential benefits have been evidenced by research.

Important Nutrients

Cloves contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so using whole or ground cloves to add flavor to your food can provide some important nutrients. One teaspoon (2 grams) of ground cloves contains (4Trusted Source):

Calories: 6
Carbs: 1 gram
Fiber: 1 gram
Manganese: 55% of the Daily Value (DV)
Vitamin K: 2% of the DV

Manganese is an essential mineral for maintaining brain function and building strong bones. Apart from being a rich source of manganese, cloves are only used in small amounts and do not provide significant amounts of nutrients. In addition to containing several important vitamins and minerals, cloves are rich in antioxidants . Antioxidants are compounds that reduce oxidative stress, which can contribute to the development of chronic disease .

Cloves also contain a compound called eugenol, which has been shown to act as a natural antioxidant. In fact, a test-tube study found that eugenol stopped oxidative damage caused by free radicals five times more effectively than vitamin E, another potent antioxidant . Including cloves in your diet along with other antioxidant-rich foods can help improve your overall health.

May help protect against cancer

Some research suggests that the compounds found in cloves might help protect against cancer. One test-tube study found that clove extract helped stop the growth of tumors and promoted cell death in cancer cells Another test-tube study observed similar results, showing that concentrated amounts of clove oil caused cell death in 80% of esophageal cancer cells The eugenol found in cloves has also been shown to have anticancer properties.

A test-tube study found that eugenol promoted cell death in cervical cancer cells However, keep in mind that these test-tube studies used very concentrated amounts of clove extract, clove oil, and eugenol. Eugenol is toxic in high amounts and overdosing on clove oil may cause liver damage, especially in children. Further research is needed to determine how lower amounts may affect humans.

Clove Helps in weight loss

Cloves stimulate metabolism thereby helping in losing weight. The spice also has anticholesteremic and anti-lipid properties. When this powerful spice is combined with pepper, cinnamon and cumin seeds, it helps in increasing our metabolic rate, which ultimately helps us lose weight.

Cloves tea can help to improve your digestion. The compound present in the clove and spices used in the tea can improve your digestion process, which in turn can help you lose weight as both the processes are closely linked to each other. Spices are also known to improve your metabolic rate, which speeds up the fat-burning process.

Best for Dental Health

Clove oil is the most popular home remedy. It contains a natural anesthetic called eugenol, which numbs whatever it comes in contact with. Today, Clove is widely accepted as a reliable solution for dry socket and for relieving the pain and discomfort associated with various dental disorders. Use a drop of Clove oil and mix it with two drops of olive oil and apply to the aching tooth. Application of Clove oil numbs the affected area temporarily and there is a short-term relief which might last from a few minutes to hours depending on the extent of infection. Clove oil at times can make pain worse if it comes in contact with mucosa, tongue or other sensitive areas of your mouth, as it can cause a ‘burn’ of the mucosa.

Dark Side of Clove

Even small amounts of clove oil can cause severe side effects such as seizures, liver damage, and fluid imbalances. Bleeding disorders: Clove oil contains a chemical called eugenol that seems to slow blood clotting. Taking clove oil might cause bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Excess Bleeding by use of Cloves

Clove can affect blood-clotting and may increase your risk of bleeding. If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, stop taking clove at least 2 weeks ahead of time. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

You should not use this product if you are allergic to clove. Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to take clove by mouth or use it on the skin if you have:

liver disease;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
a weak immune system; or
plant or food allergies.

The use of clove as a flavoring agent in foods is considered safe during pregnancy. However, it is not known whether clove used as medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant. It is not known whether clove passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Might Lower Blood Sugar Way Too Much

Cloves help lower blood sugar . In a study, clove was found to sustain antihyperglycemic activity for a long time. This is good news, especially for individuals dealing with diabetes. But there is a possibility that the spice can lower your blood sugar levels way too much, especially if you are on diabetes medications. There is no data available to determine if cloves can lower blood sugar levels way too much. But if you are on diabetes medications, please talk to your doctor before taking cloves.

Can Cause Allergies

The eugenol in cloves can cause allergies. The compound reacts directly with body proteins and causes contact dermatitis. It can also cause localized irritation. Cloves may also cause respiratory allergies in a few individuals. This was especially true in the case of workers involved in the spice (clove) processing factories, who inhaled the spice dust. Irritation of the upper and lower respiratory tracts and impaired lung functioning were two of the major symptoms. The eugenol in cloves might also irritate the oral cavity. Individuals consuming too much of it can experience sensations of warmth and pain in the mouth.

Clove (or the oil) toxicity has been documented in some instances. The oil was found to cause coma, fits, and acute liver damage . In the study, a 2-year-old boy administered with 5 and 10 ml of clove oil had slipped into a deep coma in 3 hours. Though more research is being done on the toxicity of clove oil, there is information on essential oils in general – a group clove oil also belongs to. Essential oils, as a group, may cause fits, coma, renal failure, and even hypoglycemia when used in excess.