Clove is Delicious and Nutritious

Clove has been used as a cooking spice all over the world for hundreds of years, but this fragrant dried flower bud also exhibits various health benefits. The clove, which comes from a tree, is native to Indonesia but is also harvested in Madagascar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In 2005, Indonesia produced 80 percent of the world’s clove. The clove name is derived from the French word clou, meaning nail, which is appropriate since clove buds are shaped somewhat like nails. The clove tree can grow up to 65 feet, has large oval leaves and red clustered flowers. Clove is also known as Karaampu in Tamil, Lavang in India, and Lavangalu in Telugu.

In history, clove was a popular commodity. Arabs traded cloves, as did Portugal and Spain. In its original days, it only grew in few islands such as the Maluku Islands, known as the Spice Islands, but clove soon found its way to the Middle East and Europe before the first century. The French were able to introduce the clove tree to Mauritius and it was later planted in Guiana, the West Indies and Brazil.

The clove can have an overwhelming flavor and therefore should be used sparingly in cooking. The clove is either used whole or in powder form and can often be found in Mexican or Indian foods. Asians and Europeans also commonly smoke cloves as cigarettes, and the Japanese and Chinese use clove in incense. But again, the clove doesn’t just add flavor to your foods, it heightens the health benefits.

In Indian and Chinese medicine, the clove’s essential oils were thought to be used as a painkiller during dental procedures. They have also been found beneficial in expelling parasitic worms from the body, and helping with other digestive problems. In Chinese medicine it has also been given to those with vaginal discharge, those suffering from impotence and to women with morning sickness. Clove oil is thought to be beneficial for pimples as well as more serious skin issues like irritations and burns.

Although the clove has many uses and benefits, women who are pregnant should avoid large amounts of it. Also, those with gastric ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome are advised to stay away from the spice since it can lead to irritation. Those who overdose on clove may suffer from fits of diarrhea and vomiting, and graver, liver dysfunction and possibly death.