Clove Oil: Healthy Importance And Side Effects

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.

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 extract, 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.

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,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, 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  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.

Clove oil can be effective at stopping the growth of some types of bacteria and fungi.

In 2012, researchers 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 extract and its molecules were effective at preventing dental erosion, leading the authors to believe that clove extract may work in a similar way to fluoride in preventing cavities.

A 2016 tested 10 natural plant products to see how effective they were against organisms that cause oral cavities. Clove extract was found to be the most effective at inhibiting cavity-causing organisms.

A 2006 study 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.

Clove essential oil may help prevent cavities and relieve oral pain.

In 2017, researchers 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 extract significantly relieved itching.

A study from 2007 compared the topical use of it’s 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 extractgroup, compared to only 12 percent in the stool softeners and lignocaine group.

When applied to the skin, it may be effective at relieving itching and promoting healing.

A study from 2014 looked at the effect that clove extract 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 study, researchers found that it 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.

There are several ways you can use it at home. Here are some suggestions:

Using the it 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:

Add several drops of clove oil to water. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) suggests 10 to 15 drops per ounce of water.

Be sure to shake the bottle well before spraying.

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.

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 it 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 it 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.

Do you have a toothache? Dabbing this 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:

Dilute a few drops of clove oil in an edible carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil.

Dab a clean cotton ball into the solution, allowing it to soak in.

Avoiding contact with your gums, apply the cotton ball to the sore tooth. It may take a few minutes of application to feel relief.

Reapply every 2 hours as necessary.

If you experience irritation or discomfort when applying it to a tooth, stop using it.

There are some potential side effects of clove oil you should be aware of.

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It 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.

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:

Such as 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.