CLOVE (Syzgium aromaticum, syn. Eugenia caryophyllata) is a highly aromatic, evergreen tree of the Myrtaceae family, which grows to about 15m. A native of the Moluccan islands, it is now grown throughout the maritime tropics, particularly, Indonesia, Phillipines, Madagascar and Zanzibar.
The clove is the dried flowerhead, which is creamy-pink to start with and then turns red before being dried. The plant has been used in South East Asia for millennia to treat skin ailments, external and internal parasites, to ease child-birth, and as an aphrodisiac.
It was introduced into Europe by Phoenician traders in the first century and has remained one of the most popular traded spices; in Cyprus it is called ‘garyfallo’. The Romans chewed it to relieve toothache and to sweeten the breath. Henry Vlll instructed his emissary to discover if his potential bride, Anne of Cleves, smelt of cloves, a popular remedy for halitosis.
All parts of the tree yield a volatile oil but the best quality is obtained from the dried flowerhead. The oil is obtained by steam distillation and its principal constituents are Eugenol and Caryophyllene, which makes it anthelmintic, anti-biotic, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-septic, anti-rheumatic, anti-neuralgic, aphrodisiac, larvicidal, and among other things, stimulent and stomachic. You will notice that this a remarkable number of antis. While this makes cloves an important part of primary health care in the tropics, it is best known in the West for its instant anaesthetic properties in relation to tooth-ache – remember the scene in the film Marathon Man?
In Chinese traditional medicine, tinctures are used to treat scabies, athlete’s foot, digestive problems, to ease childbirth, to dress the umbilicus and to suppress nausea. In tropical Asia the oil is given to those suffering from malaria, cholera and tuberculosis. A tea made from cloves is a traditional relief from colic and abdominal bloating. Many Asian communities believe the plant possesses strong aphrodisiac properties and it is taken by ageing males to restore their libido. Clove oil is one of the most popular insect repellents in Asia and it is claimed to be most effective against mosquitos and clothes moths.
Western aromatherapists use the oil to treat a range of ailments, which include acne, asthma, arthritis and flu. Cloves feature in a number of dental preparations, soaps toiletries and perfumes. It is used to flavour food products and alchoholic drinks; the clove studded orange which we hang as a Christmas decoration is copied from the ancient Moluccas where it is hung in the windows and doors to repel flying insects.
Next week Elecampene
