✅Key Takeaways: The Benefits of Proper Clove Use
Now that you know all these mistakes that can turn cloves into an enemy, it’s time to discover the amazing treasure you protect by avoiding them. Because when you respect its limits, you get access to one of nature’s most powerful anti-swelling agents. The eugenol in cloves works where others fail. While most natural anti-swelling agents work in one or two ways, cloves work on many fronts. It blocks COX2, the same enzyme that medicines like ibuprofen block, but without harming your stomach. It reduces swelling-causing chemicals, those messengers that keep swelling active, and it helps your immune system not attack your own tissues by mistake.
➡️Less Joint Pain:
This means less joint pain when you wake up. That morning stiffness that makes you move slowly gets better. Swollen joints find relief more easily. And it’s not just temporary relief; it’s a real reduction in the swelling process that harms them. This connects to our common enemy, ongoing swelling, the kind that doesn’t hurt but slowly wears down your health. It hides behind faster aging, feeds arthritis, harms your arteries, and sets the stage for serious illnesses. Cloves, used correctly, are one of your best soldiers against this enemy.
➡️Heart Health:
The second treasure of cloves is for your heart and blood vessels. First, it relaxes your blood vessels. Eugenol acts as a natural blood vessel opener. Your arteries open up, blood flows with less resistance, and your blood pressure gently lowers. If you think of each cup of clove tea as a small investment in your heart health, it’s not an immediate dramatic effect. It’s a steady deposit that, over time, pays off in the form of more flexible arteries and a heart that works with less effort.
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But there’s more. Cloves block an enzyme called ACE. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because many blood pressure medicines do the same thing. Today, we know that people who regularly ate cloves had lower blood pressure on average, and cloves also improve blood flow to your hands and feet. Those cold feet that won’t warm up even with wool socks, those hands that get numb in the slightest cold. Eugenol helps blood reach even the smallest capillaries, nourishing tissues that were half-abandoned and bringing feeling back where there was numbness.
For the heart itself, cloves offer direct protection. Their antioxidants protect the heart muscle from damage, reduce plaque buildup in the arteries, and help maintain a regular heart rhythm. It’s like having a guardian watching your vital engine 24 hours a day. The best part is that these benefits add up. You don’t need huge doses. One clove a day in your tea, two or three in your stew, a pinch of ground cloves in your coffee—small, steady amounts that add up to protection. And when you combine the anti-swelling power with the heart benefits, you get pure synergy. Less swelling means healthier arteries, and better circulation means less swelling in tissues.
➡️Cholesterol Management:
Then we have its action on cholesterol. That’s the third treasure you gain by using cloves well. For years, we were told that high cholesterol was the enemy. And yes, high levels are a problem, but current science shows something more important: cholesterol in its normal state is not the same as oxidized cholesterol. One is useful; the other is destructive. When LDL cholesterol oxidizes, its structure changes; it becomes sticky, no longer flowing cleanly through your arteries. It sticks to the walls like gum on the pavement, forming plaques, narrowing the blood flow, and setting the stage for heart attacks and strokes.
What do cloves do? They act as a protective antioxidant. Their phenolic compounds, especially eugenol, protect LDL particles from oxidation. It’s like putting a protective varnish on metal so it doesn’t rust. The cholesterol is still there, but it keeps its original, less harmful form. So, if you add half a teaspoon of ground cloves to your morning oatmeal or smoothie, these antioxidants start circulating in your blood. They find the LDL particles, surround them like bodyguards, and protect them from the attack of free radicals that would oxidize them. It’s preventive protection at its best.
➡️Antioxidant Powerhouse:
Now, the fourth benefit is even more impressive. Cloves are one of the spices with the highest antioxidant capacity on the planet. Their ORAC score, which measures antioxidant power, is over 290,000 units. To give you an idea, blueberries, famous for their antioxidants, have 9,000.
What does this antioxidant power mean for you? Every day, your body produces free radicals. They are natural byproducts of breathing, eating, or moving, like sparks from a campfire. In normal amounts, your body handles them, but with stress, pollution, or bad eating habits, they multiply and start damaging your cells from within. The antioxidants in cloves act like a microscopic fire department. They patrol your body, find these free radicals, and neutralize them before they cause damage. They protect your DNA from changes, keep your cell membranes intact, and slow down cell aging.
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This effect is especially noticeable on the skin. It helps the skin maintain more elasticity, and wrinkles appear later. It’s the result of protecting your cells from oxidative damage day after day. And for your brain, this antioxidant shield is pure gold. Neurons are very vulnerable to oxidative damage; they use a lot of oxygen, produce many free radicals, and don’t regenerate easily. Cloves help protect them, keeping your mind clearer, your memory sharper, and reducing the risk of mental decline.
The best part is that you don’t need huge amounts. A pinch of cloves in your black tea turns it into an antioxidant bomb. Chewing a clove after eating not only freshens your breath but also floods your mouth with antioxidants that are absorbed directly. And adding ground cloves to your stews not only adds flavor but turns every meal into a cell protection session.
➡️Better Sleep:
And speaking of protection, there’s a benefit of cloves that few people know about. When it’s time to sleep and your mind is still racing, cloves have a secret to offer. They contain a compound called beta-caryophyllene, a natural modulator that helps your nervous system find its calm. How does this work? Beta-caryophyllene binds to specific receptors in your brain called CB2. They are part of your endocannabinoid system, the same one that regulates pain, mood, and sleep. When this compound activates them, it sends calming signals throughout your nervous system. It’s like turning down the volume on a radio that was too loud.
But here’s the interesting part: unlike sleeping pills or even other calming herbs, cloves don’t leave you groggy the next day. There’s no hangover feeling or mental fog that many people experience with other remedies. You wake up rested, not drugged. Your sleep is restorative, not forced. To make this nighttime tea, put two whole cloves in a cup of hot, not boiling, water, because extreme heat destroys some of the beta-caryophyllene. Let it steep for 10 minutes, covered so the volatile oils don’t escape, and drink it slowly, savoring each sip as your body begins to relax.
Now, if you want to boost this effect, cloves go wonderfully with other relaxing plants. Half a teaspoon of chamomile flowers along with the cloves creates a perfect synergy. Chamomile provides apigenin, another calming compound that works in different ways, and together they create a more complete effect without being too much. The problem with modern sleep isn’t just falling asleep; it’s the quality of that sleep. Many people sleep but don’t rest. They wake up several times, have shallow sleep, and wake up tired. The beta-caryophyllene in cloves helps deepen sleep phases, especially slow-wave sleep, the one that truly repairs your body and consolidates your memory.
In fact, Southeast Asian cultures have used cloves for sleep for centuries. In Indonesia, it’s common to see pillows filled with dried cloves in bedrooms. The gentle aroma they give off during the night helps maintain peaceful sleep. For sleep, consistency is key. Don’t expect miracles the first night. Beta-caryophyllene needs time to regulate your nervous system. But after one or two weeks of regular use, many people notice that they fall asleep faster and wake up less during the night.
✅How to Use Cloves Correctly
So, the next step is very important: learning exactly how to use cloves to get these benefits without taking risks. Let’s start with the most direct method:
Chewing Whole Cloves: This is the traditional way and has its advantages. You place a clove between your back teeth, gently bite it to release its oils, and keep it in your mouth for 5 to 10 minutes. No more. The eugenol is absorbed directly through the lining of your mouth, bypassing the digestive system and quickly reaching your bloodstream. When should you do this? After meals is ideal. It helps with digestion, freshens breath, and fights mouth bacteria. But here’s the golden rule: one or two cloves a day is enough.
Making Clove Tea: The second method is making tea. And here, precision matters. Two or three cloves per cup of boiling water, not 10 or 15. Just two or three. Let it steep for 10 minutes, strain, and drink. The water temperature is key. Boiling water extracts the active compounds. Lukewarm water won’t work. How many cups a day? A maximum of two. One in the morning to kickstart your metabolism and another in the afternoon to fight the day’s swelling. More than two cups, and you’re entering risky territory.
Using Ground Cloves: The third method is using ground cloves as a spice. Half a teaspoon a day, spread out in your meals. You can add it to your morning coffee, sprinkle it on your oatmeal, mix it into your stews, or put it in your smoothies. The gentle heat of cooking doesn’t destroy its properties if it’s not too much. But be careful: we’ve already seen that ground cloves lose their power faster. If you grind your own cloves, you can do it in small amounts, just what you’ll use in a week. If you buy it ground, check the date and use it within a maximum of six months. After that, it’s just flavor without medicinal benefits.
Topical Use of Clove Oil: Now, for the skin, if you want to use clove oil, the ratio is clear: one drop in 10 ml of carrier oil, no more, no less. And you can always test it on a small area first. Wait 24 hours. If there’s no reaction, you can use it on larger areas, but always diluted.
⚠️Who Should Be Careful?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to avoid medicinal use of cloves. Small amounts for cooking are fine, but it’s best to avoid concentrated teas or therapeutic use.
Also, children under 12 years old, as their system is more sensitive. A pinch in food is fine, but no teas or chewing cloves.
Proper storage makes them last longer. A dark glass jar, an airtight lid, and a cool, dry place. You can check the smell every month. If it smells weak, you might want to get new ones. There’s no point in using cloves without their power. So, this is your user manual. If you follow it, you’ll have a powerful ally that will always be with you.
