DESCRIPTION
Clove is widely cultivated in Indonesia, Sri-Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Brazil. It is used in limited amounts in food products as a fragrant, flavoring agent, and antiseptic.
COMMON NAMES
Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia aromatica, E. carophyllus
BLENDS WITH:
Basil, benzoin, cinnamon, lavender, ginger, sandalwood and clary sage.
CONSTITUENTS
Eugenol comprises 72-90% of the essential oil extracted from cloves, and is the compound most responsible for the cloves' aroma. Other important essential oil constituents of clove oil include acetyl eugenol, beta-caryophyllene and vanillin; crategolic acid, tannins, gallotannic acid, methyl salicylate (painkiller); the flavonoids eugenin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and eugenitin, triterpenoids like oleanolic acid, stigmasterol and campesterol; and several sesquiterpenes
USES
Clove oil can be used for acne, bruises, burns and cuts, keeping infection at bay and as a pain reliever. It helps in toothache, mouth sores, rheumatism and arthritis. It is also of use for skin problems - especially for skin sores and leg ulcers and as an insect repellent.