Clove and Honey are two natural and powerful ingredients that contain a lot of health benefits. Have you ever mixed Clove and Honey together and experienced a good result? In this article, we’ll look at Clove and Honey, its benefits, Uses, and many more.
What are Cloves?
Cloves are the flower buds of the clove tree, an evergreen also known as Syzygium aromaticum. Clove is a tree native to Indonesia. Its dried flower buds are a popular spice and are also used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
Cloves are best known as a sweet and aromatic spice, but they have also been used in traditional medicine. Clove oils, dried flower buds, leaves, and stems are used to make medicine. Clove oil contains a chemical called eugenol that might help decrease pain and fight infections.
Nutritional information
According to the United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database, 2.1 grams (g) or 1 teaspoon of ground cloves contains:
- 6 kilocalories (kcal)
- 0.13 grams (g) of protein
- 0.27 g total fat
- 1.38 g carbohydrate
- 0.7 g fiber
The same amount of ground cloves also provides 1.263 milligrams (mg) of manganese, which is 63 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for manganese.
Uses of cloves
Cloves are most commonly recognized as a spice used in cooking, but they have also been used for centuries to treat various health concerns. Cloves are used for the following
- Premature ejaculation. Research shows that applying a cream containing clove flower plus Panax ginseng root, Angelica root, Cistanches deserticola, Zanthoxyl species, Torlidis seed, Asiasari root, cinnamon bark, and toad venom (SS Cream) to the skin of the penis improves premature ejaculation.
- Anal fissures. Early research suggests that applying a clove oil cream to anal fissures for 6 weeks improves healing compared to using stool softeners and applying lignocaine cream.
- Dental plaque. Early research suggests that using a specific toothpaste (Sudantha, Link Natural Products Ltd.) containing a combination of clove, Acacia chundra Willd., malabar nut, bullet wood tree, black pepper, Indian beech, gall oak, Terminalia, and ginger twice daily for 12 weeks can reduce dental plaque, bleeding, and amount of bacteria in the mouth.
- Mosquito repellent. Early research suggests that applying clove oil or clove oil gel to the skin can repel mosquitos for up to 5 hours.
- Pain. Early research suggests that applying a gel containing ground cloves for 5 minutes before being stuck with a needle can reduce needle stick pain similarly to benzocaine.
- Toothache. Clove oil and eugenol, one of the chemicals it contains, have long been used topically for toothache, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reclassified eugenol, downgrading its effectiveness rating. The FDA now believes there is not enough evidence to rate eugenol as effective for toothache pain.
Other benefits
- “Dry socket” following tooth extraction.
- Vomiting.
- Upset stomach.
- Nausea.
- Gas (flatulence).
- Diarrhea.
- Hernia.
- Pain and swelling (inflammation) of the mouth and throat.
- Cough.
- Other conditions.
What is Honey?
Honey is a sweet fluid made by honeybees using the nectar of flowering plants. It’s a nutritious, natural sweetener, a concentrated energy source, and an ancient folk remedy for health and healing. The smell, color, and taste of honey vary based on the type of flowers it’s made from, so there are countless varieties available.
Nutritional information
One tablespoon (20 grams) of honey contains:
- Calories: 61
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Carbs: 17 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Riboflavin: 1% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Copper: 1% of the DV
Uses and benefits of Honey
Research on honey for specific conditions includes:
- Cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants in honey might be associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
- Cough. Studies suggest that eucalyptus honey, citrus honey, and Labiatae honey can act as reliable cough suppressant for some people with upper respiratory infections and acute nighttime cough.
- Gastrointestinal disease. Evidence suggests honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis. Honey might also be effective as part of oral rehydration therapy.
- Neurological disease. Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits. In some studies, honey has been shown to help prevent memory disorders.
- Wound care. Topical use of medical-grade honey has been shown to promote wound healing, particularly in burns.
Honey and clove
Clove contains antibacterial properties and numerous healthy nutrients that when combined with honey help in relieving various health problems. Here are a few ways you can use honey to deal with various health problems.
Sore throat
Being sticky in nature, honey coats the throat and triggers nerves that reduce sensitivity to cough impulses. The presence of antibacterial compounds in cloves relieves pain and infection associated with a sore throat.
How to use it
Add two-three cloves in a tablespoon of honey and let it stand for four to five hours. Remove the cloves and sip the honey. Do this regularly to attain quick relief from sore throat.
Clear skin
Cloves exert anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the attack of bacteria on the skin. Whereas, honey moisturizes the skin providing a fresh look to your skin.
How to use it
Crush a few cloves and add one tablespoon of honey and the juice of a quarter lemon to the mix. Now apply this on your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Wash your face with cold water for smooth and clear-looking skin.
Pimples
Honey creates a strong physical barrier to bacteria preventing infection of the skin. Cloves are packed with various antibacterial compounds and antioxidants that play a key role in flushing out toxins from the body.
How to use it
Mix a pinch of clove powder with a little honey to make a paste. Apply this paste on each pimple and keep it overnight. Wash off with lukewarm water the next morning. Repeat this process for a few days for pimple-free skin.
Mouth ulcers
Being a potent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent, cloves act as an excellent curative aid for the treatment of mouth sores. The anti-bacterial and soothing effect of honey helps in providing relief.
How to use it
Add a few drops of honey to half a spoon of clove powder. Dab this mixture on the ulcers and keep it for a few minutes. Do this at least three times a day to get rid of mouth ulcers.
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