Benefits of Cloves

They might be tiny, but cloves are giants when it comes to nutrition and natural health. 

I first realized this about 12 years ago when I was simultaneously doing an intestinal cleanse and having a root canal. I noticed that whenever I drank the clove oil for the cleanse, my mouth would also stop smarting. 

Used often in Ayurvedic medicine, cloves are anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic and analgesic. They’re packed with antioxidants and are good sources of minerals (especially manganese), omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and vitamins

Here are great uses for cloves, culled from an Ayurvedic tradition:

1. Temporarily treat a toothache: 

You can temporarily alleviate the pain by dabbing a little clove oil on a cotton ball and placing it on the sore tooth or on your gums. An added benefit is that it will also pull out any infection.

2. Relieve upper respiratory infections:

Ayurveda suggests making a tea to lessen, or prevent, colds and flu. It is also used as an expectorant, making it easier to cough up phlegm. Cloves are a natural painkiller and also attack germs, so they'll help you get rid of that sore throat.

3. Reduce inflammation:

Use clove oil to massage sore muscles; some also use it for arthritis and rheumatism.

4. Treat scrapes and bruises: 

Cloves are pretty strong and can sting, so the best bet is to probably make a poultice with a little olive oil.

5. Improve digestion;

Cloves help relax the smooth lining of the GI tract, so they help alleviate vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal gas and stomachaches. Just be careful; since they're strong, they can also irritate the stomach.

6. Enhance sexual health :

Sometimes used as an aphrodisiac, cloves can also help men from reaching orgasm too early.

7. Acidity: 

Due to its cooling nature, it is very helpful in curtailing acidity bouts. You can prepare a combination of laung, mishri and elaichi and consume it whenever you experience an acidity bout.

8. Cough:

 It can be given in combination with sonth, peepal, baheda, elaichi etc. to treat cough.

9.Headache: 

A simple application of laung powder mixed in water to the forehead pacifies the headache.

10. Joint pain:

 Applying a paste of laung to the joint will relieve the pain.

Dr Sandeep Jadhav Kalwa Thane