Health Benefits of Cloves: The Super Antioxidant Spice for Healing

The super spice, cloves, comes from a dried bud on the Myrtaceae tree that grows in tropical climates throughout the world, but that originated in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Southern India. The health benefits of cloves are so great that the spice is harvested profusely in Zanzibar and is used in folk-remedies around the world – including Chinese medicine. Over 1000 tons of cloves are imported to the US ever year.

A Super Antioxidant Rich in Manganese

Known as one of the best antioxidant foods, cloves have an ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) that is through the roof – over 290,000. That’s a lot of antioxidants.  

This herb is also full of manganese, more than almost any other food. Manganese is an important trace mineral for the body because it activates multiple enzymes, particularly anginas which help in the formation of urea.

Manganese also forms the enzyme peptides which are responsible for the hydrolosis of proteins in the intestines. This mineral helps with lipid metabolism (getting rid of fat) and keeping the nervous system stable (reducing irritability).

Antiviral and Antibacterial: Cloves Offer Numerous Health Benefits

The dried buds of cloves contain an aromatic oily substance that is the essence of the spice’s medicinal and culinary properties.

While cloves are well-known for their use as an externally-applied local antiseptic (clove oil) that numbs on contact for dental pain, there is much more to these aromatic flower buds. Here are some highlights of the numerous health benefits cloves have to offer.

• Cloves also have antiviral and antibacterial qualities. It can be used to help stave off colds, coughs, and even a “seasonal” flu.
• In a study, cloves (and ginger) have been shown to help diabetics by stabilizing blood sugar levels.
• Clove oil is a great anti-fungal. It’s even recommended by some to treat Candida. Clove teas, which can be made from either the clove buds or oil, are often recommended for Candida sufferers. The oil is also useful for direct applications to outer skin fungi, such as ringworm and athlete’s foot. Note that clove oil is usually very strong, which can lead to temporary discomfort. Too much can cause manganese toxicity. The oil could be diluted or used by putting drops into tea.
• Additionally, this amazing spice is able to prevent various allergic conditions and toothaches – just one of many home remedies for toothache.
• Cloves have been used to treat asthma and as an anesthetic.
• Clove oil is even better at repelling mosquitoes than citronella.
• Producing the oil from clove buds concentrates clove’s eugenol, the main active ingredient of clove. Eugenol is an anti-inflammatory. Clove’s flavonoids also contribute to the high ORAC level of the essential oil.
• Clove oil can help relieve muscle spasms, as well, so it was used as a natural way to aid in childbirth for centuries.
• Due to its antimicrobial properties, clove oil can treat skin problems like acne and warts.
• Clove oil or clove tea can also help treat insomnia.
• Magnesium, calcium, vitamins C and K all make strong appearances in clove. Omega-3 is in abundance in clove as well as many phytonutrients that enhance the immune system.
• And as mentioned, cloves are an unusually powerful antioxidant. As an essential oil, clove’s ORAC rating soars to over 300,000 per 100g! Most other antioxidants are rated in the tens of thousands to a maximum of a few hundred thousand at best.

This powerful plant can be used in myriad ways to heal the body. Along with other vitamins and minerals like vitamins C, K, and calcium, cloves can help prevent multiple diseases which are caused by a deficiency in nutrient dense foods.

Some Tips on Purchasing Cloves

It’s wise to purchase cloves in their bud forms. Purchased powders may have lost most of their potency by the time you buy and use them, while dried buds hold up to three times as long.

Whenever you want clove as a powder, you can grind the buds in a coffee grinder. When you shop for cloves, pinch the buds with your fingernails. You should get a strong aromatic scent and a slightly oily feel. Choose organic if possible to avoid irradiated clove spices.

Clove’s oil is the key for spicing foods and promoting health. Cloves can be used to make teas by putting the buds or powder into hot (not boiling) water. A hot tea prepared with cloves, cinnamon and bay leaves is incredibly tasty and full of health-restoring properties.

But the biggest health bang for the buck comes from clove essential oil.

Experience the health benefits of cloves today!

Caution: Young children and pregnant or nursing women should not use clove. As always, consult with a healthcare professional before experimenting with any new supplements or healing modalities.