[[File:clovesSyzygium aromaticum.jpg|thumb|350px|left|clovesSyzygium aromaticum]]The clove (Other Names: Bourgeon Floral de Clou de Girofle, Bouton Floral de Clou de Girofle, Caryophylli Flos, Caryophyllum, Caryophyllus aromaticus, Clavo de Olor, Clous de Girolfe, Clove Flower, Clove Flowerbud, Clove Leaf, Clove Oil, Clove Stem, Cloves, Cloves Bud, Ding Xiang, Eugenia aromatica) , Eugenia caryophyllata, Eugenia caryophyllus, Feuille de Clou de Girofle, Fleur de Clou de Girofle, Flores Caryophylli, Flores Caryophyllum, Gewurznelken Nagelein, Girofle, Giroflier, Huile de Clou de Girofle, Kreteks, Lavang, Lavanga, Oil of Clove, Syzygium aromaticum, Tige de Clou de Girofle<br>The clove is a pink flower bud of the clove tree that turns brown when dried. Cloves have a warm, sweet, and aromatic flavor and an oily compound that is vital to their medicinal and nutritional properties.Cloves are indigenous to the Moluccas volcanic islands of Indonesia previously known as the Spice Islands. Today Zanzibar is the largest producer of clove and are also grown commercially in the West Indies, Brazil, Pemba, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and India. <br>See also : [[Chai Tea]]
==Special Precautions of Cloves==
* Allergic reactions to clove and eugenol have been reported.
* [[Eugenol]] can be potentially dangerous when ingested in higher amounts. It is hepatotoxic and can have several dangerous side-effects.
* When using Clove Bud Oil, there is moderate risk for mucous membrane irritation, may inhibit blood clotting and pose a drug interaction hazard. It may cause embryotoxicity. There is a moderate risk of skin sensitization, and Tisserand and Young recommend a dermal maximum of 0.5%. They advise not to use topically on children age 2 or younger. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended.
*Clove supplements should be avoided in children and pregnant or nursing women.
==The benefits of Cloves are==
* Cloves are an excellent source of manganese. They are a very good source of vitamin C, K, and dietary fiber. They are a good source of calcium, magnesium and selenium.
*Mosquito Repellant : The natural oil of clove is a natural mosquito repellant and can give protection against mosquitoes for 4-5 hours.
*Cancer Prevention : Preliminary studies have suggested the chemopreventive potential of clove for lung cancer, and to delay and reduce the formation of skin cancer.
* Cancer : due to its high antioxidant rating, clove has substantial anti-cancer properties. In lab tests, isolated compounds of the spice were shown to suppress mutagenic cellular activity. Researchers found that the clove extract halted the activity and growth of the colon cancer cells, the breast cancer cells, the ovarian cancer cells, the liver cancer and the colon cancer cells. Meanwhile, the clove extract was not dangerous to the normal cells.
*Cardiovascular Health : The compound eugenol from cloves has been found to be a potent platelet inhibitor (prevents blood clots).
* Allergy : Clove Oil: has antihistamine properties. This essential oil is helpful in the treatment of dermatitis due to allergic reactions.
* [[Aromatherapy]] for Kapha and Vata Imbalance.
==Used in Formulation==
* [[Chyawanprash]]
*[[Shou Wu Chih]]
* [[Chai Tea]]
[[Category:Treatments]]
[[Category:herbal medicine]]
[[Category:home remedies]]
[[Category:Essential oil]]
[[Category:Aromatherapy]]
[[Category:Antiemetic]]
[[Category:Anti-inflammatory]]
[[Category:Antimicrobial]]
[[category:Antioxidant]]
[[Category:Antiseptic]]
[[Category:Aromatic]]
[[Category:Carminative]]
[[Category:Parasiticide]]
[[Category:Rubefacient]]
[[Category:Stimulant]]
[[Category:Stomachic]]