As kids , we used to pierce two cloves on a boiled potato or boiled egg and were so happy about our artwork, giving eyes to the potato or egg. Then we used to challenge each other to chew the cloves . It's such a strong and highly fragrant spice but having its own uniqueness. Clove oil is an essential part of the medicine cabinet till now. Any individual suffering from toothache must have put a minute drop of clove oil into his affected tooth. In India, it is served with betel leaf or as a garnish on sweets or in rich curries, rice , sweet rice or in royal dishes.
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree (Eugenia caryophyllata).
Clove is the second most important spice of the world from a commercial point of view. Clove buds contain essential oils, especially eugenol. The spice value of clove oil is mainly due to its volatile oil.
It is an important ingredient of Indian food. It is used for imparting flavour to food.
In medicine,
Clove oil may fight off bacteria, such as E.coli , that can cause food poisoning.
Eugenol in cloves may prevent heart disease by preventing blood from forming too many clots.
Cloves are also used as a natural breath freshener. Eugenol in cloves is thought to neutralise bad breath. Cloves can be steeped in boiling water , strain and made into mouthwash and then gargled several times a day or a tiny pack of cloves can be carried to chew after odorous meals.
It is used as an aid to digestion. It has carminative action.
Cloves in powder form are believed to be very helpful in tropical sprues.
It's antiseptic.
It has antimicrobial properties for the cure of toothache. Toothache improves quickly when a little clove oil is poured on a cotton wool ball and holds it to the painful tooth. Or a clove bud may be placed on an aching tooth and bit down carefully.
Clove oil may relieve ear pain. Putting a few drops of clove oil onto a cotton wool ball and placing it on the entrance of the ear canal may relieve pain. But it should be followed under expert supervision.
Cloves with other spices applied on the temple , forehead and neck may relieve headache but it is not suitable for people with neuro dermatitis or children.
A compress of cloves placed on the head for a few minutes is believed to relieve eye strain.
Clove helps from sore throat.
Hot water with a few cloves and some salt may be effective against the common cold.
Clove oil can be applied to the wart.
Clove oil can be mixed with a base oil like almond oil to create a massage oil for cellulite patches.
Skin anaesthesia can be produced by spillage of oil of cloves. It is too strong so Clove oil should not be taken orally.
Welcome to Benaras , enjoy the city and lavang lata, the sweetness and the zing of clove on it.
