Are cloves safe to use for their potential health benefits?

Safety of Cloves for Health Benefits

Cloves are generally safe for use in culinary amounts and as a traditional medicine ingredient, but should be used with caution in concentrated forms, particularly before surgery, and are not recommended as a replacement for evidence-based medical treatments.

General Safety Profile

• Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) have been used for centuries as a food preservative and for medicinal purposes, with a well-established safety record in traditional culinary use 1
• The spice is rich in bioactive compounds including eugenol, eugenol acetate, gallic acid, and flavonoids, which contribute to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties 2, 1
• Clove essential oil demonstrates antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and analgesic qualities, making it valuable for various applications 2

Perioperative Considerations

Clove-containing products should be discontinued 2 weeks before elective surgery due to specific safety concerns:

• Cloves contain eugenol, which has a local anesthetic effect that allows deeper inhalation when used in smoking products (kreteks), potentially affecting respiratory function 3
• The eugenol content may have effects on coagulation and other physiological processes that could complicate surgical procedures 3
• This recommendation aligns with standard perioperative management of herbal supplements that may have pharmacological effects 3

Appropriate Uses and Limitations

Safe Applications:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine prophylaxis: Clove is included in perfumed herb bags (2g clove with other herbs) for COVID-19 prevention protocols, changed every 10 days 3
• Culinary use: Small amounts in cooking and food preservation are considered safe 1
• Topical dental applications: Clove oil's anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it useful for toothaches and gum discomfort 2

Important Caveats:

• Not a substitute for medical treatment: Like other dietary supplements, cloves should not replace proper medical management or evidence-based therapies 4
• Insufficient evidence for therapeutic claims: While clove shows promising bioactive properties in laboratory and animal studies 5, 6, there is limited high-quality human clinical trial data to support specific health claims
• Dose-dependent effects: The safety and efficacy of clove depend heavily on the form (whole spice vs. essential oil), dose, and duration of use 6

Specific Safety Concerns

Concentrated Forms:

• Clove essential oil is significantly more potent than culinary clove and requires careful dosing 2, 7
• Large doses or prolonged use of concentrated preparations may have unintended effects on reproductive hormones and other physiological systems 6

Drug Interactions:

• The eugenol content may interact with medications metabolized through similar pathways, though specific interactions are not well-documented in the provided evidence
• Patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications should exercise caution, as with other supplements that may affect bleeding 3

Vulnerable Populations:

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult healthcare providers before using medicinal amounts of clove, as effects on reproductive systems have been reported 6
• Children should avoid concentrated clove products due to the risk of adverse effects from eugenol 2

Clinical Recommendations

For patients asking about clove supplementation:

• Culinary use in normal food amounts is safe and may provide antioxidant benefits 1
• Discontinue concentrated clove products (essential oils, supplements) 2 weeks before any elective surgery 3
• Do not use clove as a replacement for evidence-based medical treatments for chronic conditions 4
• Topical dental use for temporary pain relief is reasonable, but persistent dental problems require professional evaluation 2

Common pitfall: Patients may assume that because cloves are "natural" and used in cooking, concentrated forms are equally safe—this is not the case, as essential oils and supplements contain much higher concentrations of bioactive compounds 2, 7.