AROMATHERAPY SERIES -CLOVE

Clove is a staple in many kitchen spice cabinets around the world. Its bold, spicy, and stimulating aroma is unmistakable, as is its unique taste.  Clove plants are native to Indonesia and its buds, leaves, and resin have been used in a variety of health-promoting practices, including Indian ayurvedic meal planning and traditional Chinese/Eastern medicine dating back for thousands of years.

There is a lot of existing evidence, from anecdotal, traditional, to scientific, about the medicinal benefits of clove. Most commonly and widely used for dental care, clove oil has been found to be an effective remedy for tooth pain, and is a great oral antiseptic. It is a rich source of antioxidants and has been helpful for treating fungal and gastrointestinal issues for many years.

But we deal in scent therapy. So let’s look at some of the ways the smell of clove bud resin oil can benefit you! Firstly, clove oil is a soothing scent.  The smell provides a cleansing and decongesting experience when inhaled, making it a great scent to permeate your home if you are suffering from a cold, flu, or sinus infection. Similarly to how clove oil clears away feelings of sinus pressure and congestion, it can also with emotional clarity and steadying your nerves. Clove gives off an unmistakable, “wake-me-up” aroma. It grabs your attention with its stimulating properties. This can be very beneficial for times where you feel unsteady, uncertain, or scattered. Clove aromatherapy has been studied among patients in the first stage of labor and found to help calm anxiety and stress responses. How is that for bolstering strength and fortitude?!

From a metaphysical and spiritual perspective, practitioners of many faiths and mindfulness techniques rely on clove bud oil to provide protection from toxicity and threat . The fragrance is heavily featured in our LWA Collection fragrance, Ogou, for this reason. In the faith system of Vodou, Ogou is a warrior and protector. Just as Ogou maintains boundaries from mythical foes, clove oil is thought to help us mere mortals with every day, personal boundary setting. Turning our reluctant “sure, I guess” responses into more confident and self-assured “no, thank you’s” when we need them the most. This is especially important during times like these, where the increased demands of juggling work, school, health, family, and social obligations are at an all-time high for many of us.

This is just a brief introduction the wonderful powers of clove bud oil. We are proud to feature this essential oil in some of our favorite products and encourage you to give it a try and see what clove can do for you!