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Oil
of Cloves
the Aromatic, Anti-Cancer Essential Oil
By Marnie Clark
Clove, the aromatic and exotic spice, has a
long history of medicinal use going back many centuries into early human
history.
Clove was highly regarded by the German
abbess Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) for its medicinal properties.
Clove is also well known in the traditional
medicine of India and China.
Clove comes from clove trees (Syzygium
aromaticum) which grow in tropical regions.
Clove essential oil (or oil of cloves) is
steam distilled from flower buds and stems.
Both the clove spice and the oil of cloves
are rich in a phytochemical (plant chemical) known as eugenol. In fact, clove
oil consists of about 75-85 percent eugenol.
Eugenol is exciting quite a bit of interest
in both conventional and alternative medicine because of its demonstrated ability
to stop cancer cells in their tracks. More on that below.
Clove’s Interesting History
Clove has been used for centuries for numbing
pain, repelling internal parasites, arthritis and rheumatism, for throat, sinus
and lung infections.
Clove is a natural anti-coagulant (see
warning at end of article), with anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-bacterial,
anti-tumoral, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. All the important
anti’s!
An excellent illustration of clove’s
anti-viral capabilities occurred in Indonesia in the mid-17th century.
The people of Indonesia’s islands of Ternate
and Tidore (historically called the Spice Islands) used clove extensively
throughout their history for wellness.
During the mid-1600s the Dutch East India
Company controlled the spice trade in the Spice Islands and gained complete
control of the clove trees in this area.
Any clove trees discovered that didn’t belong
to the Dutch East India Company were destroyed, thus allowing them to have a
complete monopoly of this and other spices.
As a consequence, the islanders who relied on
those clove trees died from the epidemics that raged through the region,
brought to them courtesy of the same Dutch colonists. Such is the power of
clove to protect us.
Clove, Eugenol and Cancer
The most exciting and promising research on
clove essential oil relates to its anti-cancer benefits.
Most of the researchers who study clove
essential oil for any length of time agree it has great promise, not only for
its ability to kill cancer cells, but as a natural chemopreventive (cancer
prevention) agent.
Clove essential oil has been found to have
cytotoxic (cancer cell killing) properties against a line of breast cancer
cells known as MCF-7.
These cells are invasive ductal carcinoma
(IDC) with both estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER+/PR+).
A 2014 study investigated different clove
extracts, including water, ethanol, and essential oil and found that the
essential oil provided the most cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 cells.
Researchers stated “Cloves
are natural products with excellent cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cells; thus, they
are promising sources for the development of anticancer agents.”
An earlier 2013 study investigating the
anti-cancer potential of eugenol found the phytochemical in highest quantity in
clove.
Researchers tested eugenol against different
breast cancer cell lines including the aforementioned MCF-7 breast cancer
cells.
They also tested eugenol against MDA-MB- 231
cells, which are triple negative breast cancer cells and invasive ductal
carcinoma.
Researchers discovered that eugenol increased
apoptosis (planned cell death, lacking in cancer cells). It also decreased the
protein coding gene E2F1 (also known as survivin).
Eugenol also inhibited the rapid growth of
these cells.
It inhibited onco-proteins known to be highly
expressed in breast cancer cells and tissues, both in vitro (test tubes) and in
vivo (inside the body). Eugenol was found not to be toxic to normal, healthy
cells.
For women with estrogen-receptor positive
breast cancer looking for natural anti-estrogen products, clove essential oil
provides one other exciting benefit.
A 2012 study revealed that eugenol not only
exhibited growth inhibition and promoted apoptosis (as described in the
previous study), but also exhibited an ability to act as an antagonist to
estrogen.
Researchers found
eugenol “to have compounds that have similar or even better affinities to ER
than tamoxifen and its metabolites.”
Clove essential oil is not only useful for
breast cancer. There are plenty of studies showing its benefits for liver
cirrhosis, for colon cancer, and esophageal cancer.
Indeed, because of clove’s anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties as well as its ability to effectively stop the
growth and spread of many cancer cell lines, clove essential oil shows great
promise.
Its natural healing properties and
anti-cancer benefits will no doubt continue to be studied extensively in years
to come.
8 Great Ways to Use Clove Essential Oil
1. As an
Anti-bacterial – Clove is powerful against many strains of bacteria,
including E. coli, Salmonella, Helicobacter pylori (the one associated with
stomach ulcers), Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and many
others.
If you choose a high-quality food grade oil
you can take it internally in an empty gel capsule (see caution #3 below).
Clove oil can also be applied topically.
2. As an
Anti-fungal – Clove oil is a potent anti-fungal, especially against Candida
albicans. As with item 1, above, you can take quality food grade clove oil
internally by placing a few drops in an empty gel capsule (see caution #3
below).
3. Helps Toothache
& Abscesses – Apply clove oil to a cotton swab and hold it onto the affected
tooth or gums. Clove oil has great pain-relieving properties and has been used
by the dental industry for decades. Oil of cloves is often included in dental
rinses and mouthwashes.
4. For Cold Sores
– Clove is quite effective against herpes simplex, the virus that causes cold
sores. Put a drop or two on a cold sore to decrease pain and duration. You can
also put a few drops into an empty capsule and take it internally to rid
yourself of viral infections.
5. Flatulence,
Indigestion, and Diarrhea – Dilute clove oil in a base oil such as almond,
coconut, or olive oil and massage over the abdomen. It has a warming and
antiseptic action which makes it especially soothing for these maladies.
6. Arthritis Pain
– Clove’s pain-relieving properties make it beneficial in the treatment of
rheumatism and arthritis. As in step 5, dilute it and rub it into the affected
painful area.
7. Head Lice –
Using 1 tablespoon of your favorite natural hair conditioner, mix in several
drops of clove essential oil. Wash your hair, then massage in the
clove-enhanced conditioner. Don’t rinse yet, instead comb it through carefully
with a head lice comb, removing any lice you see (they will be dead), then
rinse the conditioner out. Reapply daily until the infestation is gone. This
treatment is nice and natural, with no nasty chemicals.
8. Natural Insect
Repellent – Clove is an excellent insect repellent, especially when
combined with cedarwood, cinnamon, and lemon in a carrier oil and applied to
the skin. It also relieves the sting and itch of various types of insect bites.
3 Important Cautions When Using Oil of Cloves
1. Clove oil has
natural anti-coagulant properties which can be enhanced when combined with
drugs like Warfarin and aspirin. Be very cautious if you are on these blood
thinners.
2. Clove oil may
irritate the skin. Don’t apply it to your face, it will sting. If preferred,
dilute clove oil before using topically, although it is not terribly hot or
unpleasant if you do not.
3. Because of its
strength, clove oil can be potentially dangerous when ingested in high amounts.
Use it in moderation and work with a qualified aromatherapist or healthcare
practitioner. Make sure your clove essential oil also comes from a reputable
source and is a high grade organic oil.
Article Summary
Cloves (the spice) have been used for
centuries for numbing pain, repelling internal parasites, arthritis and
rheumatism, and for treating throat, sinus, and lung infections.
Clove is a natural anti-coagulant, with
anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-tumoral, anti-viral, and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Oil of cloves (aka clove essential oil or
clove oil) has been found to have cytotoxic (cancer cell killing) properties
against a line of breast cancer cells known as MCF-7.
These cells are invasive ductal carcinoma
(IDC) with both estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER+/PR+).
Clove essential oil is not only useful for
breast cancer. There are plenty of studies showing its benefits for liver
cirrhosis, for colon cancer, and esophageal cancer.
In addition to its anti-cancer benefits, here
are 8 ways to use clove essential oil:
· As an Anti-bacterial
· As an Anti-fungal
· Helps Toothache &
Abscesses
· For Cold Sores
· Flatulence,
Indigestion, and Diarrhea
· Arthritis Pain
· Head Lice
· Natural Insect
Repellent
3 Points of Caution When Using Oil of Cloves:
Be extra cautious if you are using blood
thinners as clove oil can also thin the blood.
Clove oil may irritate the skin, so be
especially careful if applying to your face.
Use in moderation. Clove essential oil is
potent and can be potentially dangerous when ingested in high amounts. Consult
with a qualified specialist.
Hi
I'm Marnie Clark, breast cancer survivor turned coach. I have 20 years
of experience in natural medicine. In 2004/05 I battled breast cancer
myself. You can see more about my journey on my page Breast Cancer Diary.
I've
been healthy and recurrence-free since 2004 and in 2012 I became a Breast Cancer Coach because
I became aware of the fact that whilst there is now a wealth of information on
the Internet, much of it is confusing, conflicting, and sometimes just wrong!
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