Clove oil is an essential oil that's derived from clove trees. The clove tree, known as Syzygium
Aromaticum, is native to Southeast Asia, although today you may find it growing in other locations, too.
Clove oil is produced by distilling the dried flower buds that are collected from the clove tree. Other parts of the tree, such as the stem and leaves, may also be used.
Clove oil, which ranges in color from colorless to light yellow and has a strong, spicy
Aroma, has been used for centuries in a variety of applications.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the potential benefits of this oil and how you can use it at home.
Clove oil has traditionally been used for a variety of purposes, including:
as an
Antimicrobial, to help kill
Bacteria
as a
Pain reliever for conditions such as toothache and
Muscle Pain
for
Digestive upset
to relieve
Respiratory conditions like
Cough and
Asthma
While many different chemicals have been identified in clove oil, a compound called eugenol is one of the primary components.
Like many essential oils, researchers have been working to evaluate the potential health benefits of clove oil and its components. Let's take a deeper dive into what some of the research says so far.
Antimicrobial activity
In a study from 2012, researchers found that clove oil had the ability to kill staph
Bacteria cells in liquid culture and in biofilm. A biofilm is a community of
Bacteria that lives together, shielded by a protective, slimy film.
Most
Antibiotics aren�t effective at penetrating the biofilm and killing staph
Bacteria but, according to this study, clove oil seems to be able to.
A 2017 studyTrusted Source looked at the
Antifungal activity of several essential oils. Of the oils tested, clove oil was the most effective at stopping the growth of a range of
Fungi with environmental origins.
In a 2005 studyTrusted Source, researchers investigated the effect of eugenol, a major component of clove oil, on the yeast
Candida albicans. This yeast can cause
Fungal Infections such as
Athlete's foot, oral thrush, and
Vaginal yeast
Infections.
According to the authors of the study, eugenol had the ability to kill the yeast, both in culture and in a rat model.
A 2018 studyTrusted Source looked at the effect of essential oils on a variety of
Bacteria that cause
Respiratory Infections, such as
Pneumonia and
Influenza.
Although the effects were lower than the
Antibiotics tested, clove oil did have
AntiBacterial activity when added to liquid culture or introduced as a vapor.
Dental uses
In 2012, researchersTrusted Source investigated the effect of clove oil on the
Dental erosion of teeth by
Acidic beverages, like apple juice.
Dental erosion of teeth can lead to cavities.
According to the study, clove oil and its molecules were effective at preventing
Dental erosion, leading the authors to believe that clove oil may work in a similar way to fluoride in preventing cavities.
A 2016 studyTrusted Source tested 10 natural plant products to see how effective they were against organisms that cause oral cavities. Clove oil was found to be the most effective at inhibiting cavity-causing organisms.
A 2006 studyTrusted Source compared the
Pain-relieving ability of clove gel and benzocaine.
Researchers found that participants who were tested with either clove oil or benzocaine had significantly lower
Pain scores than the placebo group. This led the authors of the study to believe that clove oil may be effective as a topical anesthetic.
Skin applications
In 2017, researchersTrusted Source tested clove oil to see whether, when applied to the
Skin, it had any effect on chronic itching. The study found that, compared to petroleum oil, clove oil significantly relieved itching.
A study from 2007Trusted Source compared the topical use of clove oil cream in the treatment of anal fissures with stool softeners and lignocaine cream.
After 3 months, researchers noted healing in 60 percent of people in the clove oil group, compared to only 12 percent in the stool softeners and lignocaine group.
Anti
Cancer properties
A study from 2014Trusted Source looked at the effect that clove oil had on a line of human breast
Cancer cells in vitro, which means the cells were tested in a dish or test tube. The researchers found that clove oil, in certain quantities, was toxic to the
Cancer cells.
In another in vitro studyTrusted Source, researchers found that clove oil stopped the growth of several
Cancer cell lines, including but not limited to breast, cervical, and
Colon Cancer. Clove extract also increased cell death and disrupted cell division in a
Colon Cancer cell line.
How to use
There are several ways you can use clove oil at home. Here are some suggestions:
Spray
Using the oil as a spray is an easy way to add the spicy scent of clove to a room. Or perhaps you�d like to make use of clove oil's
Antimicrobial properties and use it as a mild
Disinfectant.
To make a clove spray:
1. Add several drops of clove oil to water. The National Association for Holistic
Aromatherapy (NAHA) suggests 10 to 15 drops per ounce of water.
2. Since essential oils don't dissolve in water, you may want to add a dispersing agent such as solubol to the solution as well.
3. Be sure to shake the bottle well before spraying.
Diffusion
Like spray applications, using a
Diffuser can help spread the
Aroma of clove throughout a room. When diffusing clove oil, be sure to carefully follow the instructions that came with your
Diffuser.
When spraying or diffusing clove oil, make sure the room is well-ventilated.
Topical
There are a couple of ways to apply clove oil to your
Skin if you want to use it for
Pain relief,
Wound healing, or to ease itching:
� Massage oils. Dilute clove oil in carrier oil, such as jojoba, coconut, or olive oil. The NAHA suggests using 15 drops of clove oil per ounce of carrier oil in order to create a 2.5 percent solution.
� Creams, scrubs, or lotions. Dilute clove oil in an unscented product, such as a lotion or facial cream. The NAHA recommends a 1 to 2.5 percent dilution for normal
Skin and a 0.5 to 1 percent dilution for
Sensitive Skin.
Dental
Do you have a toothache? Dabbing clove oil onto your sore tooth may help to relieve the
Pain until you can get to see a dentist. To use clove oil for a toothache, follow these steps:
1. Dilute a few drops of clove oil in an edible carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil.
2. Dab a clean cotton ball into the solution, allowing it to soak in.
3. Avoiding contact with your
Gums, apply the cotton ball to the sore tooth. It may take a few minutes of application to feel relief.
4. Reapply every 2 hours as necessary.
If you experience irritation or discomfort when applying clove oil to a tooth, stop using it.
Are there any side effects?
There are some potential side effects of clove oil you should be aware of.
Skin irritation
Clove oil can cause
Skin irritation in some people. If you�re concerned about your sensitivity to clove oil, test it first. To do this, apply a small amount of diluted clove oil to the inside of your elbow.
If you notice signs of
Skin irritation, like redness, itching, or
Swelling, don�t use clove oil topically.
Allergy
Although rare, it's possible to have an allergic reaction to clove oil or its components. Be sure to know the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction:
Rash or hives, which may be itchy
difficulty breathing
wheezing or
Coughing
tightness in the
Throat or trouble swallowing
Digestive upset like
Vomiting,
Diarrhea, or cramping
passing out
Drug interactions
Avoid using clove oil if you�re taking any of the following types of medication:
anticoagulants
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Specific health conditions
Avoid using clove oil if:
you�ve had a recent major surgery
you have peptic
Ulcers
you have a
Bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia
https://www.healthline.com/health/clove-essential-oil