Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
Other names: Clove
Edible plantPhoto credit: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Mild — undiluted oil can cause dermatitis/burns; oil not for unsupervised internal use.
Contraindications: Essential oil professional-only internally.
Interactions: None specifically noted.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
infusion/powder · flower buds
Part used: flower buds
Traditional use: warming antiseptic and digestive (gas, colic, bloating); skin infections; insect repellent
Proposed mechanism: eugenol anaesthetic and antiseptic; acetyl-eugenol strongly antispasmodic
tincture · flower buds
Part used: flower buds
Traditional use: digestive/antiseptic
essential oil · flower buds
Part used: flower buds
Traditional use: local anaesthetic for toothache; topical skin infections
Proposed mechanism: eugenol local anaesthetic
Dosage note (descriptive only): undiluted oil irritant; oil not for unsupervised internal use
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: culinary spice (buds)
Nutritional notes
Spice; antioxidant eugenol.
Healing traditions
Sources (1)
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (book, p.97) — Andrew Chevallier, English, 2016