Clove is a spice produced from an evergreen tree distributed throughout
eastern Asia. Most people are familiar with the powdered form as a
baking spice and the essential oil of clove as an effective but
temporary remedy for toothache. Clove is also an ingredient in many
dental products and over-the-counter analgesic creams. Its efficacy in
these applications is owing to a long list of phytochemicals, including
salicylic acid and eugenol.
Clove is also used in agriculture as an insecticide and larvicide.
Specifically, formulations that contain clove compounds appear to be
effective against paper wasps, chiggers, Japanese maple termites and
mosquitoes. One unusual but useful application of clove is as an
anesthetic to help make the transportation and handling of aquarium fish
easier and safer.
In the home, clove lends its warm, sweet flavor to cakes, cookies and
muffins, while its exotic fragrance blends perfectly with resins and
other spices in colognes, perfumes and incense. Although clove is the
most concentrated source of eugenol among plants, it is often combined
in formulations with other botanicals that contain eugenol, including
basil,
oregano,
allspice,
marjoram and
hyssop.
