5 Health Benefits of Clove oil

Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of the tropical tree, which also forms an integral part of various cuisines to impart a strong and spicy flavour to savoury and sweet dishes.Cloves are best known as a sweet and aromatic spice, but for centuries, they have also been used in traditional medicine. Even today cloves are used both as a spice and medicine in India and China.In fact, clove oil, the dried bud, stem and leaves of clove are quite popular for their medicinal properties.For its high anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antiviral, antiseptic and stimulating properties, clove oil is a popular home remedy for various ailments. In aromatherapy, it is used as an antiseptic and pain reliever especially for toothaches and stomach pain. It is often mixed with other oils to treat various disorders.

Cloves are a super-spice which boast of a gamut of health benefits – improved digestion, reduced cancer risk, strong bones, relieving stress, better immunity and healthy skin.

Here are the benefits of using clove oil:

* Improves immune system

Cloves contain nutrients like Vitamin C and iron which boost immunity.The anti-viral and blood purification properties of clove reduce toxicity in blood and increase resistance against a multitude of diseases by stimulating antioxidant activity throughout the body, thus boosting the immune system.

* Improves digestion

Clove promotes an increase in digestive enzymes as well as increases digestive motility, thus curbing production of excess digestive gasses, which can otherwise contribute to stomach bloating and flatulence.Essential oils like eugenic acid and crategolic acid present in cloves aid in digestion.Cloves also relax the smooth lining of the gastrointestinal tract, thus alleviating vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache.

* Helps control diabetes

Eating cloves with meals decreases insulin resistance and enhances the effect of gastrointestinal hormones responsible for satiety and decreased gastric emptying rates.Cloves help insulin function more efficiently, thus requiring less insulin to get glucose into cells to provide energy. Cloves boost insulin functioning and lower blood glucose levels along with reducing total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.

* May help promote bone health

Cloves contain bone-friendly nutrients like manganese (essential for synthesis of connective tissue in cartilage and bone), omega-3 fatty acid (increases calcium absorption, reduce bone loss and maintain mineral density), Vitamin C (boosts collagen production) and Vitamin K (regulates the activity of osteoclast cells).The hydro-alcoholic extracts of cloves such as eugenol, flavones, isoflavones and flavonoids protect bone density and mineral content of bone, as well as increase the tensile strength of bones.

* Helps protect liver

The high antioxidant content in cloves protect organs from the harmful effects of free radicals, particularly the liver. In the long run, metabolism increases free radical production while simultaneously decreasing the level of antioxidants in the liver. Cloves counteract those effects with its hepatoprotective properties.

* Treats respiratory ailments

Clove oil treats respiratory ailments like bronchitis, colds, sinusitis and asthma because of its anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antibacterial properties.Inhaling clove oil in a vaporizer loosens mucus in the respiratory passages, improves breathing and treats congestion.