Even if you constantly follow a healthy diet and rarely consume fatty meats, atherosclerotic plaques consisting of lipids (fat derivatives), cholesterol and platelets will still form on the walls of blood vessels. And it is they who most often provoke the development of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Is it possible to somehow prevent the formation of those same plaques? Doctors say that the most effective thing in this regard is the normalization of lipid and cholesterol levels in the blood. And it is from them that it is necessary to periodically clean the vessels. Infusions and decoctions based on cloves are effective in this regard. How to use them correctly? What effect does clove have on the cardiovascular system? All the answers are in our article.
What is clove
Cloves are a spice obtained from the dried and unopened buds of the clove perennial tree. The plant's homeland is the Moluccas Islands. Now cloves are grown in Tanzania (90% of world production), Indonesia, India, and Ceylon.
What does a clove look like?
The clove tree is an evergreen shrub or tree with a pyramidal crown that has a strong aroma. The leaves are leathery, petiolate, glabrous, dark green in color.
Appearance (photo) of the fruits of the clove tree.
Carnation blooms 2 times a year. The flowers are purple-red, small, collected in complex semi-umbrellas. The fruit is a false berry.
The spice has a brown tint. The clove buds are harvested and then fermented in direct sunlight. A high-quality clove, if thrown forcefully into a glass, should sink or float vertically. If the spice floats horizontally, it is of poor quality.
Useful properties of cloves
The seasoning contains:
- essential oil;
- ash;
- potassium;
- zinc;
- B vitamins;
- vitamin A;
- phylloquinone;
- eugenol;
- cellulose;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- tannins.
Due to its rich chemical composition, the spice is often used for medicinal purposes. The product has the following beneficial properties:
- bactericidal;
- anthelmintic;
- pain reliever;
- anti-carcinogenic;
- antifungal;
- tonic;
- wound healing;
- carminative;
- antispasmodic.
Cloves are effective against many pathogens, such as diphtheria bacillus and anthrax. The fragrant spice suppresses the proliferation of tuberculosis bacillus. For preventive purposes, it is useful to take cloves against the flu.
Cloves have proven to be an effective remedy for parasites. It is part of the antiparasitic drug “Troichatka”. In folk medicine, the spice is used to eliminate parasites in the form of decoctions and infusions.
When consumed, the spice activates the production of gastric juice. This is useful for problems with appetite or gastritis with low acidity. With increased acidity of gastric juice and ulcers, the use of cloves can be harmful.
In medicine, the fruits of the clove tree are used in the treatment of colitis, intestinal colic, flatulence, and liver diseases.
The spice is good for teeth. It helps eliminate toothache and has a positive effect on gums. The spice is used for gingivitis and periodontitis. To the question whether chewing dried buds of a plant is beneficial, the answer is yes. Cloves help get rid of bad breath and destroy harmful bacteria.
Thanks to the B vitamins in the product, it is effective for nervous disorders and stress. For example, clove extract is present in the drug Doppelherz Melissa, the use of which allows you to relax and calm the nervous system.
Eugenol, present in the product, effectively fights cancer cells. Therefore, the spice is often prescribed to patients with cancer, as well as to prevent the onset of a dangerous disease.
Cloves are an unusual spice. It eliminates spasms and tones muscles. Cloves can eliminate spasm of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, and at the same time tones the muscles of the uterus and increases blood pressure.
For more information about the beneficial properties of cloves, watch the following video:
Uses of cloves
Cloves have a wide range of uses. It is used for medicinal purposes in the form of decoctions and infusions. Experts recommend using cloves for married couples and people with low libido, as it increases desire and improves sex life.
The spice is also actively used in cooking, cosmetology, aromatherapy and for weight loss. The spice has found application in everyday life; it is used to repel blood-sucking insects.
In cooking
In cooking, the spice is most often used in the preparation of marinades and pickles. The spice is actively used when canning tomatoes and cucumbers. The fragrant spice is also used in making homemade ketchup and sauces.
Cloves have also been used in confectionery production. It is used together with cinnamon and cardamom. Cloves are used to flavor baked goods, puddings, mousses, compotes, and punches.
Dried clove fruits are widely used in cooking.
Cloves and black pepper add a unique flavor to pork and lamb dishes. The fragrant spice will highlight the taste of tender turkey and chicken meat.
The spice has a rich and pronounced aroma. Therefore, the spice must be used with caution so as not to interrupt the smell and taste of the dish. Add ground cloves to sauces, and whole spice to all other dishes.
In cosmetology
Clove oil is used in cosmetology. It is added to homemade masks based on clay, fermented milk products, and fruit purees. Such masks are useful for the face; when used regularly, they eliminate acne, cleanse the dermis of bacteria, improve blood circulation and increase tone.
The buds of the plant are used in homemade hair masks. Cloves improve blood circulation, as a result of which hair begins to grow more actively. With the systematic use of home remedies based on clove oil, you can get rid of dandruff and oily scalp.
For weight loss
Nutritionists recommend using cloves for people who are on a diet. The rich chemical composition of the spice allows you to enrich the body with vitamins and beneficial elements during a period of limited nutrition.
Eating cloves improves the digestion process of food. Therefore, those who want to get rid of excess weight do not have to worry about the food they eat, which will be deposited in the form of excess fat on the body.
Drug Compatibility
Clove oil should not be used with anticoagulants:
- Aspirin;
- Cardiomagnol;
- Warfarin;
- Asparkam;
- Fenilin.
It is not recommended to use with herbs that have anticoagulant properties:
- Mother oil:
- clover flower;
- horse chestnut;
- chamomile inflorescence;
- willow bark.
This spice is incompatible with alcohol, so alcohol tinctures cannot be made from it.
Treatment with cloves
You can start therapy with the product only after a doctor’s prescription. You should also read the list of contraindications. Below are recipes for preparing clove-based remedies for various ailments.
From parasites
Cloves should be used against worms only after parasites have been identified in the body. To do this, you will need to undergo the appropriate tests, as well as obtain permission from your doctor.
Below we will tell you how to prepare and how to take medicinal remedies for parasites.
Recipe No. 1
Ingredients:
- Wormwood - 20 g.
- Tansy - 20 g.
- Cloves - 20 g.
How to prepare: Grind each ingredient separately in a coffee grinder. Then mix them.
How to use: On the first day, eat half a dessert spoon of the medicine 30 minutes before dinner. On the second day - half a dessert spoon 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner. From the third to the ninth day - half a dessert spoon three times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Result: Getting rid of parasites.
Recipe No. 2
Ingredients:
- Cloves - 100 g.
- Flax seed - 100 g.
How to prepare: Grind the ingredients in a coffee grinder. Place the resulting mixture in an airtight container and place in a cool place.
How to use: Take 25 g of the medicine every day, diluting it in tea or fruit drink. The duration of treatment is 3 days, after which take a break for 3 days. Then repeat the treatment again. The general course of treatment is 1-2 months.
Result: Elimination of helminths.
From pain
Cloves effectively cope with various types of pain, such as headaches or menstrual pain. Below is a recipe for headaches.
Ingredients:
- Clove oil - 1 drop.
- Chamomile oil - 1 drop.
- Lavender essential oil – 3 drops.
- Almond oil - 5 g.
How to prepare: Mix the oils.
How to use: Massage your forehead and temples using a mixture of oils.
Result: Elimination of headaches.
From pressure
For low blood pressure, experts recommend taking clove decoction. The dosage and duration of treatment with the decoction is prescribed by the doctor.
Ingredients:
- Ground cloves - 3 g.
- Water - 250 ml.
How to prepare: Boil water, then pour boiling water over the spice. Leave the broth for 1 hour, then strain.
How to use: Take 1 tsp decoction. three times a day.
Result: Normalization of blood pressure.
For sore throat
To eliminate a sore throat, just take 2 cloves, suck on them, then chew and swallow. Carry out this procedure until the inflammation disappears.
For diabetes
In medicine, cloves are actively used for diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels, neutralizes the effects of histamine, and regulates the patient’s weight.
From the recipe below, you will learn how to drink cloves for type 2 diabetes.
Ingredients:
- Cloves - 20 buds.
- Water - 250 ml.
How to prepare: Pour hot water over the buds. Let the mixture sit for 12 hours, then strain.
How to use: Drink 75 ml infusion three times a day 20 minutes before meals.
Result: Maintaining optimal blood glucose levels.
For pancreatitis
Experts often recommend using clove infusion as part of complex treatment. The effectiveness of the product largely depends on whether you follow the recommended diet when you are sick.
The decoction recipe below should be used to treat chronic pancreatitis.
Ingredients:
- Cloves - 20 g.
- Water - 100 ml.
How to prepare: Pour cold boiled water over the cloves. Leave the product for 8 hours, then strain.
How to use: Take 1 tbsp infusion. three times a day.
Result: Elimination of symptoms of pancreatitis.
For women
The spice has a positive effect on the female body. In ancient times, cloves were used to stimulate labor, for uterine bleeding, and as an abortifacient.
Clove ether increases the tone of the uterus, normalizes the menstrual cycle and hormonal levels. Cloves also increase libido and prolong sexual pleasure.
Cloves are useful for menopause. It improves sleep, eliminates nervousness, and reduces the symptoms of menopause.
For men
Cloves have a positive effect on the male body. It increases sexual activity and potency, improves reproductive function. Also effective for prostatitis: normalizes blood circulation, eliminates pain and inflammation, suppresses the activity of bacteria.
Clove tea recipes
Tea prepared with spices improves immunity, strengthens blood vessels, and calms the nervous system. For high blood pressure, the following recipes are recommended:
- The following recipes are recommended: 3 clove buds, 1 lemon slice, 2 tablespoons of grated ginger root, 1 tablespoon of black tea, pour 0.5 ml of boiling water and leave for 20-30 minutes. Drink in the morning and afternoon before meals.
- Brew green tea with 2 tablespoons of chopped cloves, 500 ml of boiling water, add a pinch of cinnamon. Leave for 15 minutes and drink in the morning and afternoon.
- Pour 5 buds of cloves, 1 tablespoon of dried rose hips with a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Drink in the morning before meals.
Taking cloves starts with small doses of cloves once a day while checking your blood pressure. If there are no unpleasant symptoms, the dose is gradually increased.
Cloves are used in courses: 7 days of treatment, 10 days break, no more than three consecutive courses.
Clove tincture
Clove tincture has healing properties. It can be used to prevent colds and viral diseases, increase immunity, for bronchitis, and sore throat. The remedy is also taken for neuroses. The product is used externally for arthritis and rheumatism.
To prepare the tincture at home, use the recipe below.
Ingredients:
- Cloves - 25 buds.
- Vodka - 250 ml.
How to prepare: Pour cloves into a glass container and fill with vodka. Close the jar with a lid. Leave the product for a week, shaking occasionally.
How to use: Take tincture 1 tsp. before eating.
Reviews of pressure solutions
Nikolai, 54: I have been taking clove tincture for six months, the result is improved health. Since I take medication for high blood pressure, I can't tell if it's getting better or not. According to research results, atherosclerotic plaques decreased by 20%, headaches, dizziness and tinnitus disappeared. Therefore, I can say with confidence that cloves really help with blood pressure in the body.
Since the effect depends on the frequency and concentration of clove drinks and the state of the body, the effect of these compounds on the body may vary. However, do not ignore your doctor's instructions. Cloves cleanse blood vessels and restore the body’s vital functions; it has no direct effect on lowering vitamin levels.
Clove oil
Clove oil can be purchased at any pharmacy.
Clove oil is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. It is obtained from buds, leaves, and tree trunk.
The most common oil made from the buds. The oil obtained from the leaves of the tree has a pungent and pungent aroma. The oil, which is obtained from tree trunks, is produced for industrial purposes.
Clove essential oil has the same beneficial properties as regular spice. But the oil is more convenient to use for preparing homemade cosmetic masks for the face and hair, eliminating toothaches and headaches, as well as other diseases. Ether is also used for massage and added to commercial creams and lotions.
Clove oil has found wide use in everyday life. It is used instead of mothballs against mold in damp areas of the apartment. The product also helps to wean your pet from going to the toilet outside the litter box.
Why chew cloves?
To treat diseases, it is not necessary to prepare decoctions and infusions of cloves or take clove oil. You will get a healing effect even from chewing the spice buds.
Chewing a few clove buds eliminates bad breath, relieves toothache and sore throat. When losing weight, chewing clove buds will saturate the body with useful elements.
If you feel unwell, do not use cloves, consult your doctor. You may be prescribed another form of taking the spice for treatment.
Contraindications
Cloves should not be taken under the following conditions:
- Pregnancy - the tone of the uterus increases, which can cause premature miscarriage or late premature birth;
- Breastfeeding - there is a high likelihood of allergic reactions in infants;
- Acute gastritis;
- thrombocytopenia;
- postoperative period;
- frequent hypertensive crises;
- Hypersensitivity to plant components.
Clove oil has a strong, specific odor. In rare cases, nausea and dizziness may occur.
Cloves against mosquitoes
In the warm season, when blood-sucking insects haunt you, use a simple and effective remedy for midges and mosquitoes. It is completely safe for both children and adults.
Ingredients:
- Lemon - 1 pc.
- Cloves - 20 pcs.
How to prepare: Cut the lemon in half. Stick clove buds into each half.
How to use: Place lemon halves in the room or outside. Mosquitoes and other flying insects will avoid this area.
Clove oil is no less effective against mosquitoes. Pour it into the aroma lamp and light it. And mosquitoes won't bother you.
