Oil of cloves
Oil of cloves, also known as Clove oil, is an essential oil from the clove plant, Syzygium aromaticum. It is a natural analgaesic used primarily in dentistry for its active ingredient eugenol. It can also be purchased in pharmacies over the counter, as a home remedy for dental pain relief, mainly toothache; it is also often found in the aromatherapy section of health food stores. The oil produced by cloves can be used in many things from flavouring medicine to remedies for bronchitis, the common cold, a cough, fever, sore throat and tending to infections. The main oil-producing countries are Madagascar and Indonesia.[1]
There are three types of clove oil:[2]
- Bud oil is derived form the flower-buds of S.aromaticum. It consists of 60-90% eugenol, eugenol acetate, caryophyllene and other minor constituents.
- Leaf oil is derived from the leaves of S.aromaticum. It consists of 82-88% eugenol with little or no eugenol acetate, and minor constituents.
- Stem oil is derived from the twigs of S.aromaticum. It consists of 90-95% eugenol, with other minor constituents.
Oral use
Oil of cloves is known best for its anaesthetic properties. It is widely reported to be effective, and prior to the availability of safe, approved topical anaesthetic drugs, was used by some dentists.
Clove oil is often used to relieve pain caused by dry socket, a possible complication of tooth extraction.
Clove oil has an unpleasant taste, so it is advised to prevent the oil from touching the tongue.
It is considered safe in very small quantities (<1500 p.p.m.) as a food additive. [3] However, clove oil is toxic to human cells[4]. If ingested in sufficient quantity or injected, it has been shown to cause life-threatening complications, including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Fulminant Hepatic (Liver) Failure, and Central Nervous System Depression; the lethal oral dose is 3.752 g per kg body weight[5][6][7][8][9]
Topical use
When applied to stop a toothache, it is best done with a cotton swab, applied directly to the side of the tooth, or directly on to the tooth, on the instance if a hole is present, to allow for the oil to absorb into the affected area.[4]
Other uses
It is also used for anesthetizing fish.
Clove oil is also used in an all natural herbicide called "Perfectly Natural Weed & Grass Killer". The clove oil is the only active ingredient, and it is very effective at killing many types of plants.
Clove oil has uses for antimicrobial and antifungal. It can be used for acne, warts, scars and parasites.
Research has shown that clove oil is an effective mosquito repellent.[10]
Footnotes
- ↑ Lawless, J., The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, 1995, ISBN 1-85230-661-0
- ↑ Lawless, J., The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, 1995, ISBN 1-85230-661-0
- ↑ Bruneton, J (1995). Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Hampshire, U.K.: Intercept Ltd.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Prashar A, Locke IC, Evans CS (2006). "Cytotoxicity of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oil and its major components to human skin cells". Cell Prolif. 39: 241–248.
- ↑ "Oxford Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Lab Material Safety Data Sheets".
- ↑ Hartnoll G, Moore D, Douek D (1993). "Near fatal ingestion of oil of cloves". Arch Dis Child. 69 (3): 392–393.
- ↑ Brown SA, Biggerstaff J, Savidge GF (1992). "Disseminated intravascular coagulation and hepatocellular necrosis due to clove oil". Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 3 (5): 665–668.
- ↑ Lane BW, Ellenhorn MH, Hulbert TV, McCarron M. (1991). "Clove oil ingestion in an infant". Human Exp Toxicol. 10 (4): 291–294.
- ↑ Kirsch CM; et al. (1990). "Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema due to the intravenous administration of clove oil". Thorax. 45 (3): 235–236.
- ↑ Trongtokit Y, Rongsriyan Y, Komalamisra N, Apiwathnasom L, Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites, Phytother Res. 2005 Apr;19(4):303-9 [1]