There are various varieties of clove (Syzigium aromaticum) essential oil available; clove is distilled into clove bud, clove leaf and clove stem essential oils but it is clove bud essential oil which is of greatest value in aromatherapy use, as it contains the lowest percentage of the chemical component eugenol. To further confusion, all three clove essential oils share the same Latin name, so it is important to identify which part of the plant the oil was extracted from.
Origin of the Clove Tree
Clove is an ancient tree which has been cultivated for over 2,000 years; it is though to be a native tree of Indonesia. Today, the main producers of clove essential oil are Indonesia and Madagascar, although the clove tree is cultivated in the Philippines and the Molucca Islands too.
Characteristics of the Clove Tree
The clove tree is a tall, evergreen tree, of the Myrtaceae plant family, which grows up to 39 feet in height; it has a gray trunk, which is smooth, and paired, large leaves on short stalks. The cloves of the clove tree are produced from the mature, red buds which appear in the rainy season; the cloves are 'beaten' from the tree and dried.
Distillation of Clove Oil
Clove essential oil is distilled in the following ways:
- clove bud essential oil is water distilled from the buds of the clove tree
- clove leaf essential oil is water distilled from the leaves of the clove tree
- clove stem essential oil is steam distilled from the stalks or stems of the clove tree.
Clove bud essential oil is yellow in color with a sweet-spice fragrance; clove leaf essential oil is brown in color with a wood fragrance. Clove stem essential oil is a 'combination' of both clove bud and clove leaf characteristics; clove stem oil is also yellow in color but with a wood fragrance.
Traditional Use of Clove
Clove has been in use for thousands of years in many shapes and forms, before its use as an essential oil in aromatherapy today; clove was considered to be one of the most valuable commodities in 16th and 17th century Europe. It has been used as a culinary spice and in tinctures for skin problems, digestive complaints, toothache and childbirth.
Clove oil has been used in Chinese medicine for bronchitis, diarrhea and hernia. Clove has powerful antiseptic properties and was used in the outbreak of the Plague in Europe; clove has also been used as a perfume ingredient, in liqueurs, mulled wine, dental products and love potions.
Essential Oil Use of Clove in Aromatherapy
Clove essential oil properties include being antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-biotic, a stimulant, an expectorant and an aphrodisiac. It is used in aromatherapy to treat digestive problems, exhaustion, infection, burns, cuts, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and colds. Clove oil has also been used as an insect repellent, especially for mosquitoes.
Other Uses of Clove Oil
Clove stem oil is widely used in the perfumery industry; it is also substituted in the food industry for clove bud oil, due to its lower cost. Clove leaf oil is used in the chemical industry, primarily for the extraction of the chemical component eugenol. In addition to being used in the fragrance and food industries in cosmetics, drinks, dental products, perfumes and food, clove oil is also used to produce glue, varnish and to print ink.
Cautions for using Clove Essential Oil
Clove essential oil can cause, or irritate, skin problems such as dermatitis; clove essential oil should not be used in cases of hemophilia, alcoholism, prostrate cancer, kidney problems, liver problems and in conjunction with the use of anti-coagulants. Clove essential oil should be used in less than 1% dilution due to its active chemical components.
All varieties of clove essential oil can cause reactions but clove bud essential oil is considered to be the least irritable due to the chemistry of the essential oil (lesser eugenol content). As is the case when using any essential oil, care should be taken and professional advice sought, if unfamiliar in the use of essential oils and the potential risks they may present to each individual.
References:
Caddy, Rosemary 1997 Essential Oils in Colour UK: Amberwood Publishing Ltd
Lawless, Julia 1995 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils UK: Thorsons
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