Botanical name : Caryophyllus
aromaticus
Indian name : kerambu
The clove is an evergreen tree, 15 to 30 feet tall, native to the Spice
Islands and the Philippines but also grown in India, Sumatra, Jamaica,
the West Indies, Brazil, and other tropical areas. It has opposite,
ovate leaves more than 5 inches long; and its flowers, when allowed to
develop, are red and white, bell-shaped, and grow in terminal clusters.
The familiar clove used in the kitchen is the dried flower bud. The
fruit is a one- or two-seeded berry.
|
Properties :
Anodyne, antiemetic, antiseptic
Toothache, oral hygiene:
Dentists use clove oil as an oral anesthetic. They also use it to
disinfect root canals.
Antiseptic Uses:
Clove oil is the active ingredient in several mouthwash and a number of
over-the-counter toothache pain-relief preparations.
Infection fighter:
Clove kills intestinal parasites and exhibits broad antimicrobial
properties against fungi and bacteria supporting its traditional use as
a treatment for diarrhea, intestinal worms, and other digestive
ailments.
Digestive aid:
Like many culinary spices, clove may help relax the smooth muscle lining
of the digestive tract.
Clove oil will stop the pain of a toothache when dropped into a cavity.
A few drops of the oil in water will stop vomiting, and clove tea will
relieve nausea. Eating cloves is said to be aphrodisiac. |