Clove: The wonder spice!

Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree Syzygium aromaticum. The English name derives from the Latin clavus 'nail' as the buds resemble old hand made nails. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands (shown on the location map) in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world. Cloves are now harvested primarily in Indonesia, India, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Clove was once one of the world's most valuable and expensive commodities and provided the impetus for the Dutch colonialisation of Indonesia.

The clove tree is an evergreen that grows to a height ranging from 8-12 m, having large leaves and sanguine flowers in numerous groups of terminal clusters. The flower buds are at first of a pale color and gradually become green, after which they develop into a bright red, when they are ready for collecting. Cloves are harvested when 1.5-2 cm long, and consist of a long calyx, terminating in four spreading sepals, and four unopened petals which form a small ball in the center.

This tiny little spice has many curative properties. Traditionally cloves are used as a table spice and mixed with chillies, cinnamon, turmeric and other spices in the preparation of curry powder.

Clove oil is used in the manufacture of perfumes, soaps, bath salts and as a flavouring agent in medicine and dentistry. Cloves help stimulate sluggish circulation and thereby promote digestion and metabolism. In Chinese medicine, it is used for vomiting, indigestion and other related problems. If you are feeling stressed then, boil some water with basil leaves, mint leaves and clove. Then you can use this water for black tea. Add little bit of honey to it. This will help you ease tension.

The use of a clove in toothache decreases pain. It also helps to decrease infection due to its antiseptic properties. Clove oil, applied to a cavity in a decayed tooth, also relieves toothache.

Cloves promote enzymatic flow and boost digestive functioning. They are used in various forms of gastric irritability and dyspepsia. Licking the powder of fried cloves mixed with honey is effective in controlling vomiting. The anesthetic action of clove helps in dealing with stomach pain and stops vomiting.

Information from The Times of India.