By Oke Odunmorayo
27 August 2024 |
3:46 pm 
Cloves are flower buds that have been popular for centuries and are prized for their medicinal and cosmetic uses. If you’re looking for a way to expand your natural beauty routine, you could consider incorporating cloves into your routine. What are cloves? These fragrant dried flower buds are obtained from the Syzygium aromaticum tree,…
Cloves are flower buds that have been popular for centuries and are prized for their medicinal and cosmetic uses. If you’re looking for a way to expand your natural beauty routine, you could consider incorporating cloves into your routine.
What are cloves?
These fragrant dried flower buds are obtained from the Syzygium aromaticum tree, native to Indonesia and India. In Indonesia, it is specifically found in the Maluku Islands. Cloves are hand-picked once they turn a deep brown-red colour and are dried until they grow into their signature nail-like shape. They have a warm, slightly sweet, and strong aroma and flavour.
Aside from their popular culinary purpose, cloves have an age-old reputation for being used in traditional medicine and beauty practices. Archaeological evidence shows that cloves have been used as early as 2000 BC in continents like India, China, and Africa. Currently, cloves are grown commercially in tropical countries like Madagascar, Zanzibar, and Pakistan.
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Beauty benefits of cloves
Cloves have an impressive number of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, making them a powerful ingredient for beauty and self-care practices.
Here are some top benefits of incorporating cloves into your routine:
Hair health
Rich in eugenol, a compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, cloves are highly effective for fighting dandruff, soothing scalp irritation, and promoting healthy hair growth.
You can add a few drops of clove essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner. Or create a nourishing hair mask with clove powder, honey, and yoghurt. Apply this to your hair for ten minutes and rinse off. Another way to use cloves to boost hair growth is by boiling a few cloves with rosemary stems to create a hair growth spray. When it cools, pour it into a spray bottle and apply twice daily to your hair.
Oral health
Cloves are prized for their dental benefits. The eugenol compound in these flower buds makes them a natural antiseptic. They also contain analgesic properties. This makes cloves great for easing toothaches, reducing gum inflammation, and fighting bacteria. They can also be used for whitening yellow teeth.
You can dilute a few drops of clove essential oil into coconut oil and apply it to your teeth. You can chew on a whole clove and suck the juice that comes out of it, or apply a few drops to your toothpaste. Additionally, you can grind some cloves and apply the powder over your teeth and gums to soothe pain in the tooth or gum.
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Healthy skin
Cloves are rich in vitamins K and C, which help even out skin tone and reduce inflammation. Clove oil can especially be beneficial for people who suffer from atopic dermatitis, a skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin. According to a study published in the Beni-Seuf University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, clove oil can be used topically to relieve atopic dermatitis.
Perfumery and aromatherapy
Clove bud essential oil is often found in Asian perfumes, which typically feature aromatic notes of spices and herbs like cinnamon, jasmine, amber, vanilla and cloves. Although used sparingly due to its pungent aroma, clove oil adds a spicy element to powdery and sweet fragrances. It is often included in perfumes for men and, more recently, in unisex scents.
In aromatherapy, clove oil pairs well with other spicy oils like nutmeg, peppermint, rosemary, and ginger. Aromatherapy is used to enhance relaxation, improve mood, and aid sleep. You can simply add a few drops of clove oil to a handkerchief and inhale for a boost in concentration. Or you can create an air freshener by mixing 15 drops of clove oil, 35 drops of caraway essential oil, 20 drops of ginger, anise, and cinnamon oils with 120 millilitres of water.
Cautionary note: Be mindful when using cloves, as they are known to lower blood pressure when consumed. Additionally, excessive use of clove oil can cause skin irritation, and ingestion of undiluted clove oil can lead to serious health issues. Cloves can also interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners, so consult with a healthcare professional before adding them to your routine.
