Attune Aroma

I am currently in the middle of reading Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy by the early 20th century French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse and I came across an interesting statement on Clove yesterday afternoon.  Apparently in the late 19th century when “the Dutch destroyed the clove trees on the island of Ternate in the Moluccas archipelago, the colony was decimated by several epidemic diseases never previously observed.  This is evidence that the mere emanations of clove leaves and flowers suffice to purify the air.” This got me reflecting on the success I’ve had with the antiseptic properties of Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil and also it’s long history of keeping epidemics and plagues at bay.

A 17th century doctor wearing the protective clothing of his profession. The beak through which he breathes is filled with Cinnamon & Cloves as they were and are today considered powerful gemicides. From The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia

Clove Bud is distilled from the flower buds and leaves and gets its strong antiseptic quality from its high percentage of the Phenol eugenol.  It can be used to numb a toothache by just putting one drop on a Q-tip and placing it carefully on the painful tooth.  If you miss and get some on your cheek, lip or tongue it will severely irritate the area.  To take care of this, simply put a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba on the area and then wipe it off.  Do not use water as it repels essential oils and will do more harm than good.  This it true for any place where undiluted oil is accidently applied, especially in the eye.  Clove Bud is a wonderful oil for digestion and can be added to diluted blends that are massaged into the abdomen to assist with digestion.

Clove Bud is also the main ingredient in my popular Quitters Blend.  It has a high percentage of the Sesquiterpene b-Caryophyllene which when inhaled, has been shown to curve the craving for a cigarette.

Because Clove Bud is high in Phenols, the oil has significant safety concerns.   Dilution is the key and should be diluted at no more than 1% (5-6 drops per carrier oil).  It should also be blended with skin nourishing oils – Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini), Rose (Rosa damascena), Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora), Lavender (Lavendula augustifolia) to name just a few – in order to be safely used on the skin.  Eugenol is a strong mucus membrane & skin irritant.  Caution should be used when dealing with clients that have liver issues and should not be taken with clients who have blood clotting issues or by those taking anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin or Warifin.  These safety concerns may cause some aromatherapists to avoid Clove Bud essential oil altogether but because the chemical family Phenol *is* so active and aggressive, it is the first oil I grab, along with another oil high in Phenols  such as Thyme thymol (Thymus vulgaris ct thymol), when dealing with an infection, fighting a virus or diffusing in the air for serious antiviral purposes.  It’s definitely not an oil for everyday use, but when properly diluted and blended, Clove Bud can be an essential part of preventive health care.