By Ozren Podnar |
Essential clove oil - healing buds that relieve pain |
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Clove (lat. Syzygium aromaticum) is a favourite spice originally from Indonesia, more specifically from the Maluku Islands.
It is a flower bud from the evergreen tropical clove tree, which is currently planted in many areas of Asia, Africa and Brazil. The clove's bud resembles a nail, which is why it was given the Latin name of clavus (nail).
Clove was widely used in the Ancient India and Egypt before spreading to Europe in the 7th and 8th century.
The clove oil is most notably used in dental and oral care. Due to its healing properties it is a frequent ingredient of tooth pastes, mouthwashes and dental pain killers.
It combines well with other oils including rosemary, peppermint, cinnamon, lavender, geranium, lemon, orange, grapefruit and rose oils.
Essential oil that packs a punch
The key ingredient of the oil is eugenol, but it is also rich in flavonoids, vitamins A and C, and minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and sodium.
Thanks to these substances the clove essential oil has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, stimulant, antidepressant and other properties.
Since it is a very powerful oil it is necessary to dilute it well with a carrier oil (olive, coconut, almond and the like).
Disinfects the oral cavity
Its antimicrobial properties make the clove oil very effective in the oral cavity care. It has been shown to relieve toothache, heal tender gums and canker sores, and overcome unpleasant odours.
Gargling diluted clove oil helps heal small lesions in the mouth, alleviate sore throat and eliminate bad breath.
The antimicrobial ingredients of the oil destroy the bacteria responsible for the bad breath, while its powerful and pleasant aroma helps freshen the breath.
First aid against a bad tooth
This oil is effective against tooth decay. A treatment devised in India involves placing a cotton swab soaked in the clove oil on the part of the tooth where the cavity is.
If a dentist is unavailable, press a cotton swab soaked with 2 to 4 drops of diluted oil against the cavity in the tooth each evening before sleep.
The healing substances contained in the oil will destroy the bacteria, desinfect the cavity and prevent further decay. When possible, visit a dentist to have the problem definitely resolved.
Make sure you thoroughly dilute the clove oil with a carrier oil because an undiluted oil could irritate your gums or tongue.
The white blend of the clove oil and zinc oxide is used in dentistry as a temporary tooth filling while the treatment of the root canal is in progress.
Helps with respiratory system problems
The clove oil has a refreshing and anti-inflamatory effect. That is why it is used to clean the nostrils from mucous and to improve breathing during a cold, flu, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis.
In order to dissolve a blockage interfering with your breathing, inhale the oil directly from the bottle for 10 to 15 seconds through each nostril.
You can inhale the oil from a cotton pad or a tissue, pour a few drops into a scented lamp or on a pillow before sleeping.
For the most effective treatment pour 3 to 4 drops of pure clove oil into a pot with hot water. To increase the effectiveness, add two drops each of peppermint and eucalyptus oil.
Bend over the pot, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam. If the steam irritates your nostrils too much, move the face away from the pot or make pauses between inhalations.
Calms the headache
The clove oil acts against various types of headache including migraine.
As a first aid against tension headache mix diluted clove oil with salt and apply the mixture on the forehead, temples or neck.
Inhalation is another way to use the clove oil against headache. Inhale the oil directly from the bottle, from a piece of cotton or cloth, from a scent lamp or from a metal bowl with water heated on the radiator.
Alleviates trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain)
The clove oil alleviates trigeminal neuralgia, an extremely unpleasant condition causing facial pain due to nerve damage.
The pain follows the trigeminal nerve and spreads from the temples to the ears, eyes and down the cheeks to the jaw.
Applying the diluted clove oil on the nerve area eliminates the pain and reduces inflammation.
Make a therapeutical blend by adding four drops of clove oil into 100 ml of olive oil.
Pour a couple of drops of the mixture on a piece of cotton and smear it over the painful area.
Reduces inflammation in rheumatism
This oil contains plenty of flavonoids, which have a strong anti inflammatory action. For that reason this oil serves as a pain killer on various parts of the body, such as joints and fatigued muscles.
Against rheumatic pains mix 25 ml of ricinus oil and five drops each of clove, spruce and wheat germs. Apply the mixture on painful spots.
Eliminates gastrointestinal disturbances
The clove oil is traditionally used to treat slow digestion, bloating and nausea. Responsible for this is eugenol, one of the key components of the oil.
Eugenol promotes the production of digestive enzimes and suppresses bloating.
Add a couple of drops of this oil into a glass of water and drink after meals.
The clove oil helps with the nausea caused by traveling or pregnancy.
Cares for the skin
The essential clove oil is recommended for the problem skin, notably that affected by acne and wrinkles.
Cosmetics manufacturers add this oil to various remedies against wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and for skin rejuvenation.
The clove oil has stimulating properties which enable it to improve blood flow to superficial skin layers and restore its youthful look.
At the same time, the antioxidants present in oil eliminate free radicals, which damage tissues and organs.
Treats acne
Make an anti-acne mixture from clove oil and glycerine by adding 10 drops of clove oil to 200 grams of first-rate glycerin.
If you don't have glycerin you can replace it with jojoba oil.
Before applying the mixture cleanse the skin affected by acne with a cotton swab soaked in rose water.
Then squeeze 4-5 drops of the oil and glycerin mixture on another cotton swab and apply it to the skin. Do not rinse.
Don't be alarmed if you experience light tingling. This is a signal that the mixture is working.
Carry out this procedure twice a day. During the treatment don't expose the skin to the sun. In a couple of days the acne will become darker and smaller.
The clove oil acts against the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, which causes acne.
This oil is stronger than many farmaceutical cremes.
Calms and relieves stress
The clove oil has favourable effects on the central nervous system:
- alleviates stress reaction
- reduces anxiety
- clarifies the mind
- improves concentration
- lifts mood
- induces somnolence (ideal for those who suffer from insomnia)
Inhalation is the best way of using the benefits of this oil for the central nervous system.
Its potent molecules will penetrate through the olfactory system to the neurons and boost the brain function.
Where to purchase
You can purchase high quality clove oil in Alternativa Webshop.
Sources for this article include:
[url=http://www.nourishingtreasures.com/]http://www.nourishingtreasures.com/[/url]
[url=http://www.oilhealthbenefits.com/clove-oil/]http://www.oilhealthbenefits.com/clove-oil/[/url]
[url=http://www.livestrong.com/]http://www.livestrong.com/[/url]
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