Cloves aren’t just for baking ginger bread and pumpkin pie anymore.  They are an important ingredient in our detoxifying tea blends. The clove is an unopened flower bud from the evergreen clove tree.  The clove itself resembles a tiny carpenter’s nail which is where the name clove comes from.  It is derived from the Latin word clavus meaning nail.

Cloves are included in the detox teas because they contain an ingredient called eugenol which has been found to have great medicinal value.  Eugenol has often been used in modern dentistry, especially in root canal, because it and other components found in cloves form a mild anesthetic and anti-bacterial agent.  Because of this it is often used to treat dry socket or general gum pain or in a temporary filling.  Cloves can also be found in some over-the –counter sore throat sprays or mouth washes.

The eugenol found in cloves is also a very effective anti-inflammatory agent.  Cloves are filled with many important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.  The eugenol that is found in cloves has been found to be an effective anti-fungal agent and is very effective against ringworm.  Clove oil is used in dentistry to form a paste for dental cement used in fillings and restoring bad teeth.  Eugenol has also been shown to prevent blood clots.  There have been some studies that suggest that cloves may have some benefit to regulating insulin activity in people with late-onset diabetes.

Cloves have long been thought of to be an aphrodisiac and recent studies have shown that cloves have been shown to enhance the sexual behavior of mice and lab rats with no adverse side effects.  Cloves provide a natural mosquito repellent and can be effective for up to 5 hours.  Cooking with cloves can also relieve flatulence and improve the operation of the digestive system and metabolism.  Many herbalists recommend the use of cloves for relief from diarrhea and nausea and other disorders of the stomach and digestive tract.  In certain parts of the world cloves are used to treat cholera, scabies and malaria.

When placed in an ointment, cloves have anti-spasmodic properties that can help relieve muscle aches and pains.  When used as an antiseptic, it is an effective remedy for cuts, burns, athlete’s foot, fungal infections and other skin ailments.  Cloves boost your immune system and help to purify the blood and fight disease.

(To Be Continued)