Clove, popularly known in Brazil as clove, is the flower of the clove plant and is a very popular spice throughout the world's cuisines. However, what few people know is that clove is also considered a medicinal plant, due to its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and aphrodisiac properties.

It has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In China, for example, it was known as a powerful antiseptic. Cloves help prevent cholesterol, help treat infections and pain, reduce coughing, improve digestion, and increase sexual desire.

In addition, cloves are a complete source of nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, and their consumption brings several health benefits. They are commonly used in their natural form to flavor both sweet and savory dishes, such as stews, rice, soups, sauces, liqueurs, jams, fruit compotes, broths, breads, cheeses, or to prepare infusions.

Besides being used in its natural form, cloves can be found in the form of powder or essential oil. Below, learn more about this potent spice and how to use cloves in your daily life, taking advantage of all its benefits.

What cloves are used for

Cloves are very versatile and can be used to enrich sweet or savory dishes in their natural form, i.e. dried and whole, or ground, powdered, and in essential oil form. Besides being a seasoning and an excellent flavoring in many recipes, cloves can also be used as a natural remedy, or in the form of oils and creams in cosmetology.

However, what not everyone knows is that cloves also have a powerful spiritual side, being a great ingredient for energy cleansing, bringing peace and harmony, attracting money, love, and especially protection.

How to consume cloves

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Besides containing fiber, vitamins, and minerals, cloves, used whole or in powder form, not only add flavor to food, but also provide several super important nutrients.

Its sweet flavor and unmistakable aroma is a guaranteed success in cakes, breads, sweets, and broths. Its properties can also be enjoyed in the form of teas, which combine very well with other ingredients such as cinnamon, lemon, and ginger.

The essential oil made from it is used for its therapeutic benefits, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and bactericidal effects, among others, in the form of teas, perfumes, and baths. The component responsible for the clove's aroma is eugenol, which is also used in the manufacture of medicines, including in dentistry.

Nutrition table

Amount per 100 grams.

Benefits of Cloves

1. Has a repellent effect
   Clove oil has the power to keep flies, mosquitoes, and other insects away due to its characteristic aroma, which is a natural repellent to these insects. Another very practical and efficient way to keep insects away is to stick some cloves into a citrus fruit, such as orange or lemon.
2. Brings cough relief
   The clove has expectorant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory action, i.e., it reduces inflammation and helps eliminate phlegm, being widely used as an adjunct in the treatment of respiratory infections, bronchitis, colds, and flu.
3. It is a natural muscle relaxant
   Clove helps fight fatigue and relax muscles due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Clove essential oil can be used in massage oils to relieve fatigue or to help muscles recover from bruising.
4. Assists healing
   This medicinal plant has antiseptic properties, so clove oil or any herbal product based on cloves, when used directly on the injured skin, facilitates healing, soothes inflammation and irritation.
5. Fights infections
   Clove also has microbial and antifungal action, and can be used to fight infections caused by some types of fungi and bacteria. This is mainly due to the presence of bactericidal and bacteriostatic components present in clove, such as eugenol, methyl salicylate, kaempferol, gallic acid, and oleanolic acid.

Cloves in spirituality

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Clove is one of the natural products best known for its spiritual power. Besides being a spice, the spice is used for various purposes in spirituality. Clove is a great protector and brings good energies and vibrations.

When used as baths, cloves work to strengthen the soul, ward off negative energies, and improve health in general. It can be used as an amulet, by placing in a little cloth bag about 7 cloves and carrying with you on your body for protection and against the evil eye.

In addition, cloves have aphrodisiac properties, meaning that they can intensify love between people and open new paths of love in your life.

Are there any contraindications in the consumption of cloves?

Despite its many benefits, cloves are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women and for children under 6 years of age. Cloves can also cause irritation of the digestive mucosa in some more sensitive people and are not recommended in case of gastritis or stomach ulcer.

In addition, eugenol, present in cloves, can interfere with blood clotting, so the spice should not be eaten in the two weeks prior to any scheduled surgery. eugenol can be very toxic to health if cloves are consumed pure and in large quantities, so consumption should always be in moderation!

On the other hand, clove baths are considered safe. We should avoid them only in case of specific allergies or very sensitive skin. As for the use of the essential oil, it is not recommended to apply it directly on the skin. The ideal is to dilute the clove oil in some carrier oil, such as coconut, sesame or grape oil, in the proportion of one drop of essential oil to onetablespoonful of carrier oil.

Recipes with cloves for everyday life

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Clove tea

Place approximately 10 grams of cloves in a cup with 1 liter of water and boil for about fifteen minutes. After it has cooled, strain and drink during the day. The tea can be consumed up to three times in one day.

Smoking with cloves

To make the smoke, you need a small censer and burning charcoal, then burn the charcoal and keep it burning, throwing the clove powder on top, so that the smoke smokes the whole room.

When the ember is finished, the residues should be discarded in any trash, as long as it is in a place far away from the room that was smoked. Another simpler way to do the smoking is just using a clove incense. Buy a good quality incense and, likewise, let it burn in the desired places.

Pepper Sauce

A great way to take advantage of the benefits of cloves, by inserting the spice into your everyday life, is through this delicious homemade pepper sauce. You will need:

• Some chili peppers of your choice (it can be a combination of cayenne pepper, finger-of-moça pepper, malagueta pepper, among others)
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 peeled garlic clove
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup white or apple cider vinegar

Boil the peppers with a little water in a small saucepan until they are soft. Add the peeled garlic, cloves, salt and sugar to the vinegar. Remove from the heat and let cool.

In a blender, blend everything to a smooth consistency. Sift, pressing lightly with a spoon to remove the seeds. Then add a little more vinegar, transfer to a sterilized glass jar, cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Hot chocolate with clove and cinnamon

This delightful treat takes only five ingredients and is a delicious winter drink option. The ingredients are:

• 4 cups milk
• 2 cinnamon sticks in the bark
• 4 cloves
• 1/4 cup powdered chocolate
• 1/4 cup sugar

Pour the milk, cinnamon bark, and cloves into a saucepan and heat over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Stir constantly, being careful not to let the milk boil. Then, remove the cinnamon and cloves with the help of a sieve and add the powdered chocolate and sugar. Stir well and serve while still hot.

Clove Bath

This bath has several benefits for spiritual health, helps cleanse the aura and raise vibrational energies. It is also very effective against the evil eye and diseases of the soul. For the bath, you will need 7 cloves and 1 liter of clean water.

First, boil the water, then add the cloves and let it boil for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down for a few moments. After taking the conventional bath, pour the clove bath from the neck down.

Then, let the body dry naturally, at most remove the moisture with a clean towel. The clove bath can be taken twice a week, as long as there is a minimum interval of three days between one bath and the next.

It is important to remember that to have the effects potentiated it is necessary to do it with a lot of faith. The clove residue must be dumped somewhere with earth, since it has the power to filter negative energies.

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Cloves are a nutrient-dense ingredient with many potential health benefits. Like other health foods, they are even more effective when consumed as part of a balanced diet.

Therefore, add a few servings of cloves to your weekly meals, incorporating the ingredient into various dishes. This way, you will enjoy not only the flavor, but also all the benefits of the plant.

Insert this knowledge of natural medicine in your routine! For an even more complete utilization, use clove in its other formats: in aromatherapy through essential oil, in the form of energetic baths, or even as a protection amulet.

Other medicinal plants