Health Benefits of Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum )

The Syzygium aromaticum is a plant that is native to Indonesia, to be more specific, the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.
When the flower buds from the Syzygium aromaticum tree is about to open, it is harvested befor it opens, processed and drying into the facinating spice we know as cloves, with its pungent, strong and sweet flavour followed by a distinctive aroma.

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Description.

Each clove bud is about 15mm made up of a long cylindrical calyx the ends as 4 sepals holding 4 unopened petals looking like a ball.
Cloves are bright red when harvested and becomes dark brown and hard after being sun-dried.

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Uses and benefits of cloves.

Cloves have a very rich history and has a lot of uses from medicinal to culinary and cusmetic applications. It is often used when representing protection, love, and prosperity in many cultures.

Culinary uses
Cloves as a spice is a common ingredient in many local and continental cuisines. People from Asian origin are particularly known for using cloves though it is also used in Middle Eastern and African cuisine. Cloves can add flavor to dishes like curries, stews, and braises.

I have used very little cloves, one or two seeds in the preparation of smoothie just for the characteristic aroma it adds.

Medicinal properties
Cloves have always been used in traditional medicine as a kind of pain relieve, it has been used to reduce inflammation and to aid in the digestion process avoiding and treating constipation. They contain eugenol, a natural analgesic and antiseptic.
It is also used to treat worm infestation meaning with cloves in your food, your kids are less likely
to have worms, cloves are also used as a remedy for toothache and bad breath.

Other properties of cloves include:
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic, antiseptics, anti-flatulen and rubefacient.

Cloves oil is said to promote relaxation and can reduce your stress level, even improve a person's mental clarity, which is why I just love using cloves in my cooking.

Cloves in Cusmetic
Cloves have been used in skin care products and in products for our hair. Cloves help to reduce acne and other skin by killing the bacteria that causes it.

Nutritional Value

2 grams which is about one teaspoon of ground cloves will contain:

Principle	Nutritional Val	% DV
Carbohydrates	1.2g
Proteins	0.1g
Cholesterol	1.2g
Dietary Fat	0.4g
Vitamin C	1.6g	3%
Vitamin K	2.8mg	4%
Manganese	0.6mg	30%
		Source

Caution

Use clove in moderation as a flavour in your food, it can have side effects if used in larger quantities. It can react with your drugs and can affect pregnancy if used in large quantities. Children can have alergic reactions. So use in moderation.

conclusion

You can now see why cloves was an important treading item in the past between Europe and Asia.
I am inviting @okere-blessing, @jozzie90 and @goodybest to tell us if and how the have been using this spice.

All pictures were captured using Galaxy-A15