Cloves - a favourite herb

Cloves are one of the most distinct herbs in the herbal world. They are recognised by many as those things you stick into oranges to make a nice clove-orange air freshener.

As a herbal supplement, cloves have some antiseptic properties as well as being a preservative. As well as antiseptic, they are also expectorant, anaesthetic, and emmenogogue. In other words they help expel phlegm or catarrh; help reduce pain - toothache being their best known expression of this; and they help regulate menstrual periods.

A tea can be made from cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, and marjoram to help bronchitis, asthma and coughs. This herbal supplement also helps if there is a tendency to infection, tuberculosis, altitude sickness, nervous stomach, nausea, diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, the side effects of lobelia, and depression. Sometimes people mix cloves with hot water, again making a tea and claim that it helps them get a good night's sleep.

A combination of cloves and ginger can be a great herbal supplement to settle the stomach. This herbal supplement can also be anti-emetic - to help stop vomiting. If you combine equal parts of cloves and basil it is supposed to detox from the body. Cloves have been used for failing eyesight and tooth problems. It was used for earaches very often throughout history as putting a little warmed oil of clove on a piece of cotton and in your ear was certain to get rid any earache. Mostly, cloves are known for being warm and spicy but also have a strong relationship with pain relief, easing nausea and vomiting, and improving digestion. A herbal supplement of cloves can also kill intestinal parasites and act as an antimicrobial agent against fungi and bacteria. It has also been suggested that cloves have antihistamine properties as well.

There is a strong bond between cloves and aromatherapy. Since cloves have such a positive and stimulating effect on the mind they pair up very well with other oils for aromatherapy. In Indonesia many people smoke clove cigarettes. The habit started to spread to the USA, until it was found that clove cigarettes could cause adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The word clove comes from the Latin word "clavus" which means nail. If you have ever looked at a clove you will notice that it does resemble a nail. Many people use whole cloves when they cook ham by sticking the spiky part around the outer edges of the ham for extra flavor. Indian curries can not do without cloves but it is also used in pickles, sauces, Worcestershire sauce, and even spice cakes that are baked from scratch.

Throughout history cloves have never been forgotten. They are in most pantries or kitchen cupboards just waiting for that orange to stick into; or that gammon joint to flavour. Many people still use cloves as a herbal supplement. For some families the use of cloves has been passed down through generations. Old habits die hard; and cloves will be used - whether for a herbal supplement or a culinary aid - for many years more.