Family: Myrtaceae

Synonyms: Syzygium aromaticum, E. aromatica, Caryophyllus aromaticus.

Aroma: Spicy, warm, woody and pungent.

Colour: Colourless to pale yellow moving to darker brown

Plant: Pyramidal evergreen tree with a smooth grey trunk which grows up to 15 metres. The bright green leaves stand in pairs on short stalks. At the beginning of the wet season buds appear with a rosy pink corolla at the tip. As the corolla fades the calyx turns deep red and these are picked or beaten from the tree and dried in the sun for several days.

Main Growing Areas: Molucca islands, Brazil, the West Indies, Mauritius, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Pemba.

Major Constituents: Eugenol, eugenyl acetate, caryophyllene, isocaryophyllene

Interesting snippets: Quack comes from the clove filled leather beaks the European doctors wore and breathed through to ward off the plague.

The Greeks, Romans and Chinese traditionally used clove to sweeten the breath and ease toothache.

During the Renaissance, pomanders were made with cloves to keep epidemics and the plague at bay.

Dentists used to dab clove oil over a tooth before filling it to decrease sensitivity.

The first recorded use of cloves was in China in the Han Dynasty (220-206BC) where it was used as a breath sweetener.

Part of Plant used / Extraction: Steam distillation of the crushed unopened dried flower buds.

Therapeutic actions: Toothache, diarrhoea, flatulence, insect repellent, colds and flu, restore appetite, stimulate digestion, rheumatic aches and pains, sprains and strains.

Emotional and Spiritual: Depression, self-confidence, reawakens passion and instils a capacity for creative vision.

Robbi Zeck writes that when you hang on to things for longer than you need them congestion will occur. Accumulation affects you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Clear out your clutter and create the space for different opportunities and experiences to enter your life. Find pleasure in the simple things in life.

Gabriel Mojay writes that clove essential oil is indicated in particular for those who feel isolated and unsupported. Riddled with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, such individuals identify their lack of interest in life with an insufficient degree of meaningful interaction and warmth. They find it difficult to extend themselves emotionally due to their poor self-image and their emotional detachment. Clove essential oil not only helps to restore emotional vitality but also comforts and allays the feeling of loneliness that itself can exacerbate one’s distance from others.

Valerie Ann Worwood states that clove has no time for contemplation only for action. Her message is to move forward, make things happen, achieve as much as your spirit can without harming another.

Deborah Eidson thinks that clove bud helps you reflect upon the root cause of pain, recognize how it once served you, and realize it is no longer needed. Clove also helps in examining and overcoming the root causes of fear and anger so you may experience greater joy and spontaneity.

Aromatherapy Insight Card:

REMOVES ATTACHMENTS

Clove assists in releasing attachments, empowering you to move forward, exploring new possibilities and experiences. Go with the ever-changing environment and do not allow yourself to get too attached to one style or system. Explore new possibilities, be a living example and inspiration to others.

To make effective change in the world, first change yourself and the rest will follow.

Fragrant Change Healing Cards: I clear the clutter from my life both internal and external.

Safety: Can cause skin irritation so keep below 0.5% dilution in blend. Don’t use with children under 2 years of age.

Note: Clove bud oil maybe adulterated with clove stem or leaf oil, or clove terpenes remaining after eugenol extraction.

Sources:
Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. Third Edition, Vol.1The Perfect Potion, Australia (2018)
Eidson D, Vibrational Healing, Frog Books (2000)
Fischer-Rizzi S, Complete Aromatherapy Handbook. Essential Oils for Radiant Health Sterling Publishing Company (1990)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Jefferies J, Clove Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.34 (2005)
Jefferies J, Osborn K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Mojay G, Clove class noes (1999)
Worwood V.A, The Fragrant Heavens. Doubleday Publishing UK (1999)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)