The benefits of essential oils for the health and beauty of the human body have been known for a long time. And today, increasingly, people tend to deviate from the treatment of expensive chemicals, and prefer prevention of various diseases, using, in particular, natural essential oils. Essential oils are isolated from different parts of plants (leaves, fruits, flowers, seeds, roots). There is a huge number of methods and many areas of their application. Each of the oils has special qualities and virtues. This article will talk about oil of cloves its beneficial properties and application features.
How is clove oil mined
Clove essential oil is extracted from flower buds and fruits of an evergreen clove growing in warm tropical countries, Indonesia, Brazil, on Madagascar Island, in East Africa. For this, unblown buds are first dried, and then the water-steam distillation method is used. Fruits for the procedure of extracting oil break green. Less commonly, oil is extracted from branches and leaves. The highest quality and, therefore, expensive - oil extract from flower buds.
Did you know? 1 liter of clove essential oil is obtained from 6-8 kg of buds or 10-15 kg of fruits of the clove tree.
Clove oil is a slightly yellowish oily liquid that becomes brown when stored. It has a strong, pungent, tart, spicy odor.
The chemical composition of the essential oil
The chemical composition of clove oil is diverse. Its main substance is eugenol, in volume - from 70 to 85%. Eugenol acetate (13%), benzyl alcohol, vanillin, methyl benzoate, karyofillen, and other components are also present in clove oil.
If you ask the distinctive features of the substance, which is the most in the composition, then you can understand what exactly the beneficial properties of the oil itself. So, eugenol has analgesic, biocidal and antiseptic properties. It is used to create perfume compositions and as a fragrance for tobacco.
The beneficial properties of clove oil
Clove oil has antimicrobial, analgesic, regenerating, and sedative properties.
It is effective for:
- wound healing;
- eliminate headache and toothache;
- increase appetite and improve the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- relief from joint pain;
- normalization of blood pressure;
- prevention of catarrhal viral diseases;
- reduce pain during sprains and sprains;
- increased sexual attraction;
- improve brain activity;
- recuperation after physical and mental stress.
Essential oil of cloves is included in the balm "Star"; healing, anti-inflammatory ointments and balms; drugs that are used for sprains and dislocations in athletes, as well as temporary fillings for teeth.
It is recommended to include masks for hair and skin.
How to apply clove oil, recipes and dosages
Clove oil, like any natural essential oil, is a potent agent that in high doses can be toxic and lead to undesirable consequences. Therefore, before using the essential oil of cloves for treatment, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the instructions for its use.
Did you know? Very often, acquiring the essential oil of cloves, you can come across a fake. In order to distinguish a fake from the original, you need to know that the oil of cloves is transparent with a yellowish tinge. Only some time after opening the package, it becomes brown or dark brown. Counterfeit or poor-quality oil initially has a brown color. Also, poor-quality oil, extracted from the leaves and shoots, has the unpleasant smell of burning wood.
Nervousness and fatigue. The most common use of clove essential oil in aromatherapy. It is able to soothe the nervous system, helps get rid of nervousness and depression.
Flu and SARS. Clove oil can be used both to prevent viral infections and to speed up recovery from a cold — it is not inferior to coniferous antiseptics in its antiviral properties. The recommended dosage for use in the oil burner: up to 4 drops per 15 square meters. The first session of aromatherapy should be started with the addition of one drop. Also, 2-3 drops of oil are added to the water while taking a bath.
Toothache. A swab moistened in vegetable oil with 1-2 drops of clove oil can be applied to the aching tooth. Clove oil will help for some time to get rid of toothache, after which you need to contact your dentist.
Important! You can not use more than two drops, since a larger amount can cause burns of the oral mucosa.
Cough. As an antitussive, you can use a mixture of 5 drops of essential clove oil, one clove of garlic and honey before bedtime.
Headaches. To get rid of pain in the head, massage the forehead and temples with a mixture of essential oils of clove (1 drop), chamomile (1 drop), lavender (3 drops), almond (1 tsp). If this tool does not help much, you can try to apply the infusion of dry cloves.
Diseases of the joints. The carnation in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis has proven itself well. It is added to the massage oil (4 drops / 10 ml). After the procedure, it is advisable not to take a shower for 12 hours - during this time the oil should be completely absorbed into the skin.
Wounds. For disinfection and speedy wound healing, they are washed several times a day with a solution of 100 ml of water and 30 drops of oil. When purulent wounds in 2 tablespoons of any vegetable oil dilute 3-4 drops of essential oil.
Improve digestion. After eating, take orally on bread with half a spoonful of honey with one drop of butter (1-3 times a day). To wash down with a large amount of liquid. If you have heartburn - drink kefir or low-fat yogurt.
Helminthiasis Clove oil is used to get rid of parasites, in this case its use is this: add 2-3 drops to tea or coffee.
Oily skin of the face. Clove oil acts effectively on oily and prone skin. To solve these problems, it is recommended to prepare mixtures based on creams. A mask of cream or oil base (10 ml), 2 drops of essential clove oil and 2 drops of lemon juice are applied on the face.
Acne. For acne, use a mask of cream or oil (10 ml), 1 drop of clove, 1 drop of chamomile oil, 2 drops of geranium oil. To narrow the pores, mix one egg white and one drop of clove oil, geranium oil and sage oil.
Skin rashes can be fought with 15-minute masks from the composition: germinated wheat oil (10 ml), clove oil (2 drops), lavender oil (3 drops). For refreshing and raising the skin tone in any cosmetic product at 10 mg you can add no more than 1-2 drops of essential oil.
Accelerate hair growth. Also, the essential oil of cloves has a beneficial effect on the hair, in particular, contributes to their strengthening and nourishing the hair follicles. For weakened, prone to hair loss masks are recommended:
- In 30 ml of any vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, peach, almond, etc.) add 5 drops of clove oil.
- Add 5 drops of clove oil, juniper oil, rosemary oil to the jojoba oil (30 ml).
Important! Do not use undiluted product, as this may cause burns and allergic reactions on the skin. Essential oil should be added one or two drops to the base - cream, oil, shampoo, water.
In its pure form, clove oil can be taken only in very small doses for the point treatment of warts and skin areas affected by scabies.
In addition to the use of therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, clove oil is also used in the domestic sphere.
To repel insects. Clove essential oil helps to get rid of moths, mosquitoes, flies. To do this, you can prepare a lotion based on any vegetable oil (10 ml) with the addition of 4 drops of clove. At bedtime, a few drops can be dripped onto the sheets.
When cleaning the room. When wet cleaning for disinfection of the room in the water (1 liter) add 3 drops of clove and eucalyptus oil and 2 drops of tea tree oil.
Contraindications: to whom clove oil can harm
Treatment of cloves is used quite widely, but there are a number of contraindications for its use. If you use essential oil to treat or prevent certain diseases, strictly follow the instructions. Even one extra drop of essential oil in excess of the dose can cause serious harm.
Before you start using the oil, you need to test for individual intolerance, because it can cause allergies. When first used, it is advisable to take half the dose recommended in the recipe. And then follow the reaction of the body during the day.
Important! You can ingest no more than 3 drops per day. It is not allowed to eat on an empty stomach.
Clove oil, as well as clove-spice, is prohibited for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children up to 2 years. Caution should be applied to hypertensive patients, diabetics, ulcers and people in a state of strong nervous excitement.
Be sure to avoid oil contact with eyes. If contact occurs, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water. In the case of continued burning sensation in the eyes go to the reception to the oculist.
And remember, if after applying the essential oil to solve any problem with your body, it did not go away, you should consult a specialist for consultation.
