Traditionally, clove has been used primarily as a nausea-easing and traditional parasite-support herb, and separately, as a well-known folk remedy for toothache discomfort. It is commonly prepared as a chewed whole clove, tea, tincture, or heavily diluted oil for topical dental use only.
Common Name: Clove Latin Name: Syzygium aromaticum Alternate Names: Clove Bud
- Parts used: Dried flower buds
- Primary properties: Antiemetic, anthelmintic, antiparasitic, vermifuge
- Common preparations: Whole dried buds, tea, tincture, heavily diluted oil (topical dental use only, never undiluted)
- Best known for: Easing nausea and traditional folk relief for toothache discomfort
What It Helps With
Health conditions this herb is commonly used to support.
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Active Compounds
The tiny plant chemistry doing all the heavy lifting.
Key Herbal Properties
What this herb is known for, herbally speaking.
Herbal Synergies
Other herbs that pair especially well with this one — together, their combined properties work better than either herb does alone.
Health Conditions Clove Helps With
- Nausea — Clove’s traditional antiemetic use, chewed or taken as tea to help settle an unsettled stomach.
- Traditional parasite support — Long traditional use as an anthelmintic and vermifuge herb, often included in traditional cleanse blends.
- Toothache discomfort — A well-known folk remedy; a whole clove or properly diluted oil applied near a sore tooth for temporary comfort, though this is not a substitute for dental care.
- Occasional bad breath — Chewing a whole clove has long traditional use for freshening breath.
Compounds
- Eugenol — The primary active compound in clove, responsible for its numbing, warming sensation and much of its traditional digestive, dental, and antiparasitic reputation. Eugenol is also the reason for clove’s significant safety cautions in concentrated form (see Safety & Precautions).
Properties
- Antiemetic — Traditionally used to ease nausea.
- Anthelmintic — Traditionally used to help expel intestinal parasites.
- Antiparasitic — Broadly supportive of the body’s traditional resistance to internal parasites.
- Vermifuge — Traditionally understood to help expel worms specifically.
Recipes Using Clove
- Whole clove chew — A single whole clove chewed gently, traditionally used for temporary toothache comfort or nausea, never swallowed whole by young children due to choking risk.
- Warming digestive tea — A pinch of ground clove added to ginger tea for a warming, nausea-easing blend.
- Traditional parasite-support tincture — Clove combined with black walnut and wormwood in a classic traditional formula (see the Black Walnut post for its own important safety notes).
This site does not provide a home recipe for concentrated clove oil, since proper dilution matters significantly for safety — see Safety & Precautions below.
Products Featuring Clove
- Whole dried buds — The traditional and safest form for chewing, tea, and cooking.
- Ground clove — Convenient for cooking and tea.
- Pre-diluted dental oil products — Commercially formulated, properly diluted products intended specifically for topical dental use.
Synergies
- Ginger — A classic pairing for nausea and digestive support, frequently combined with clove.
- Black Walnut — Traditionally paired with clove in parasite-support formulas.
- Cinnamon — Complements clove’s warming flavor in traditional spiced tea blends.
Safety & Precautions
Undiluted clove oil is significantly concentrated and should never be applied directly to skin, gums, or teeth, and should never be taken internally — doing so can cause chemical burns to soft tissue, and there are documented cases of serious toxicity, including in children, from excessive or undiluted clove oil exposure. Clove oil should never be given to infants or young children in any form, and any topical dental use in adults should rely on a properly diluted, commercially prepared product rather than a home dilution, since getting the concentration right matters for safety.
Whole clove buds and typical culinary amounts of ground clove are generally well-tolerated by most healthy adults. Because clove has a mild traditional effect on blood clotting, anyone taking blood-thinning medication should be cautious with concentrated clove preparations and mention regular use to a healthcare provider; some providers also recommend stopping concentrated clove use before scheduled surgery. Concentrated clove oil should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding; typical culinary amounts are generally considered a lower-level consideration.
Clove oil is toxic to pets and should never be applied to or given to an animal; keep concentrated clove products well out of reach of pets and children.
Q&A
Is it safe to put clove oil directly on a toothache?
Undiluted clove oil should never be applied directly to gums or teeth — it’s concentrated enough to cause chemical burns to soft tissue. If you’re interested in clove’s traditional toothache use, a whole clove gently held near the area, or a properly diluted, commercially prepared dental product, is the safer traditional approach, and it’s not a substitute for seeing a dentist for an actual toothache.
Persistent or severe tooth pain needs professional dental evaluation rather than home remedies alone, since it can signal something that needs treatment beyond temporary comfort.
Can clove oil be given to children?
No, clove oil should never be given to infants or young children in any form, including for teething discomfort, since even small amounts of concentrated clove oil have been linked to serious toxicity in children. This is one of the more important cautions associated with this herb.
For a child’s teething or dental discomfort, it’s best to check with a pediatrician or pediatric dentist for age-appropriate options rather than using clove oil.
Does clove taste bitter?
No, clove has a warm, intensely aromatic, slightly numbing flavor rather than a bitter one. It’s a very potent spice — even a small amount goes a long way, which is part of why it’s used sparingly in cooking and traditional preparations.
The numbing sensation you might notice when chewing a whole clove comes from eugenol, the same compound behind its traditional dental use.
Can clove be used every day?
Small culinary amounts, like a pinch of ground clove in cooking or tea, are generally fine for most healthy adults on a daily basis. Concentrated preparations like tincture or oil are meant for occasional, specific use rather than daily use, given clove’s potency and safety considerations.
If you’re using clove specifically for digestive support, a small amount in tea is a reasonable everyday approach; concentrated oil is not intended for regular use.
Does clove interact with medications?
Clove may have a mild effect on blood clotting, so it’s relevant for anyone taking blood-thinning medication, particularly with concentrated tincture or oil use rather than typical culinary amounts. Some healthcare providers also recommend stopping concentrated clove use before scheduled surgery.
If you take blood-thinning medication regularly, it’s worth mentioning concentrated clove use to your healthcare provider.
References
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herb, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or managing a health condition.