Clove
Scientific names: Syzygium aromaticum
Alternate names: Bourgeon Floral de Clou de Girofle, Bouton Floral de Clou de Girofle, Caryophylli Flos, Caryophyllum, Clavo de Olor, Clous de Girolfe, Clove Flower, Clove Flowerbud, Clove Leaf, Clove Oil, Clove Stem, Cloves, Cloves Bud, Ding Xiang, Feuille de Clou de Girofle, Fleur de Clou de Girofle, Flores Caryophylli, Gewurznelken Nagelein, Girofle, Giroflier, Huile de Clou de Girofle, Kreteks, Lavang, Lavanga, Oil of Clove, Tige de Clou de Girofle
Actions: Anesthetic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Anti-cancer, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antihistamine, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiparasitic, Antipyretic, Antiviral, Bone, Cardiovascular, CNS, Dermatologic, Fertility, Gastrointestinal, Hepatoprotective, Hematologic, Hormonal, Immunomodulating, Insecticidal, Musculoskeletal, Ocular, Oral, Sexual, Vascular
Background
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is a tree native to Indonesia. Its dried flower buds are a popular spice and are also used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Clove is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if taking clove in larger amounts is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: Clove oil or cream containing clove flower is possibly safe. But applying clove oil in the mouth or on the gums can sometimes cause irritation and gum damage. Applying clove oil or cream to the skin can sometimes cause burning and skin irritation.
When inhaled: Smoke from clove cigarettes is likely unsafe and can cause side effects such as breathing problems and lung disease.
Children: Clove oil is likely unsafe to take by mouth. 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.
Surgery: Cloves contain chemicals that might affect blood sugar levels and slow blood clotting. It might interfere with blood sugar control or cause bleeding during or after surgery. Stop using clove at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When applied to the skin: Clove oil or cream containing clove flower is possibly safe. But applying clove oil in the mouth or on the gums can sometimes cause irritation and gum damage. Applying clove oil or cream to the skin can sometimes cause burning and skin irritation.
When inhaled: Smoke from clove cigarettes is likely unsafe and can cause side effects such as breathing problems and lung disease.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Clove is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if clove is safe to use in larger amounts when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Children: Clove oil is likely unsafe to take by mouth. 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.
Surgery: Cloves contain chemicals that might affect blood sugar levels and slow blood clotting. It might interfere with blood sugar control or cause bleeding during or after surgery. Stop using clove at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Pneumonia in people on breathing machines in the hospital. Use of a clove mouthwash might prevent pneumonia in people on breathing machines in the hospital.
Dosing & administration
Clove is a spice commonly used in foods. It's also available in mouthwashes, gels, creams, and oils. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of clove might be. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Ibuprofen (Advil, others)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Adding ibuprofen to clove oil before applying it to the skin might increase how much ibuprofen gets absorbed through the skin, possibly increasing side effects.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Clove might lower blood sugar levels. Taking clove along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Clove might slow blood clotting. Taking clove along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Clove might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Clove might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Clove might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per capsule:
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Per tablet:
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) oil 20 mg
- Artemisia absinthium ext. 500 μL
- Juglans nigra ext. 1 mL
- Stemona sessilifolia ext. 200 mg
Practitioner product
Per 10 mL:
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) ext. equiv. dry 18 mg
- Crataegus monogyna ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. equiv. dry 533 mg
- Urtica dioica ext. equiv. dry 888 mg
- Petroselinum crispum ext. equiv. dry 888 mg
- Trifolium pratense ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Euphrasia officinalis ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Avena sativa ext. equiv. dry 355 mg
- Equisetum arvense ext. equiv. dry 355 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus ext. equiv. dry 107 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext. equiv. dry 71 mg
- Cinnamomum verum ext. equiv. dry 71 mg
- Mentha x piperita oil
- Pimpinella anisum oil
- Glycerol
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Practitioner product
Per 30 g (Triple Chocolate):
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) powder
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Natural flavours
- Sea mineral complex
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Cinnamomum verum powder
- Glycyrrhiza glabra powder
- Zingiber officinale powder
- Taraxacum officinale powder
- Ginkgo biloba powder
- Eleutherococcus senticosus powder
- Silybum marianum powder
- Capsicum spp. powder
- Centella asiatica powder
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf) ext.
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder)
- Acacia sp. (gum)
1 kg Triple Chocolate
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Per 10 g:
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove)
- Beef bones
- Curcuma longa
- Cuminum cyminum
- Sea salt
- Coriandrum sativum
- Trigonella foenum-graecum
- Piper nigrum
- Chilli powder
- Alpinia galanga
- Cinnamomum spp.
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Per tea bag:
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) (bud)
- Cinnamomum spp. (bark)
- Zingiber officinale (root)
- Malus sieversii (Wild apple)
- Glycyrrhiza spp. (root)
- Orange peel
- Chamomilla spp. (flower)
- Elettaria cardamomum (pod)
- Orange oil
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Per serve (Loose Leaf):
100 cups Loose Leaf
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Per 5 g (Chocolate Malt):
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) oil
- Hordeum vulgare (Barley)
- Green banana starch 250 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Quercetin 200 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Apple pectin 50 mg
- Larix occidentalis (arabinogalactan) (Larch) 250 mg
- Bacillus coagulans 25 mg
- Punica granatum
- Macrocystis pyrifera (Ocean kelp)
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf & sprout) powder (Kale)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Brassica oleracea var. viridis
- Palmaria palmata (Dulse)
- Apium graveolens (seed) powder
- Petroselinum crispum
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 150 mg
- Myrciaria dubia (fruit) powder (Camu Camu)
- Malpighia glabra
- Blueberry flavour
- Zingiber officinale
- Kakadu plum powder
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder)
- Natural flavours
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 150 mg
- Origanum vulgare oil
- Thymus vulgaris oil
- Mentha x piperita oil
- N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) 125 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Zinc citrate 7.5 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris powder
- Polyphenolic fulvic minerals 50 mg
150 g Chocolate Malt
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Per 30 g (Chilli):
- Beef
- Coconut aminos
- Acetic acid (Vinegar)
- Sea salt
- Cuminum cyminum
- Piper nigrum
- Chilli powder
- Paprika
- Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)
6 pieces Chilli
$84.95
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Per tea bag:
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) (bud)
- Zingiber officinale (root)
- Aspalathus linearis (leaf)
- Citrus sinensis (peel)
- Illicium verum (fruit)
- Cinnamomum spp. (bark)
- Piper nigrum
- Hibiscus sabdariffa
- Melissa officinalis (leaf)
- Citrus sinensis essential oil
- Cichorium intybus (root) (Chicory)
- Cinnamomum spp. essential oil
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This monograph was last reviewed on 17/10/2023 11:00:00 and last updated on 26/07/2018 23:47:48. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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