Plant Profile

Cloves — Traditional Use & Preparation

Eugenol's toothache-numbing use is genuinely old and legitimate — "chew a whole clove" just needed the same caution a dentist would actually give you.

Cautions to Know

Prolonged contact against gum tissue: Chewing a whole clove delivers concentrated eugenol straight to the oral mucosa with no dilution. Undiluted clove oil applied directly to gums is a documented cause of chemical burns — redness, swelling, ulceration. Limit contact time, don't leave a clove wedged against the same spot for hours, and never apply clove oil undiluted to gums, especially in children.
Pregnancy: Avoid concentrated internal use (oil, tincture) during pregnancy — carried forward from the source card.

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