Cloves are particularly popular in Indian cuisine, but are also used in many dishes and sweets in Germany. Cloves actually have some medically valuable properties.

 

Cloves contain an anti-inflammatory substance, eugenol. This substance inhibits a certain protein that accelerates inflammation, the same protein that is contained in anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex. Cloves also have an antioxidant effect. The combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects makes cloves valuable for preventing heart disease, cancer and slowing the cartilage and bone damage caused by arthritis. Certain substances contained in cloves also improve pancreatic function.

 

Cloves are also used for acute toothache. To numb the pain, you can put a few cloves in your mouth and let the saliva soften them a little. Gently bite on them with your good teeth to release the oils in the cloves. Then place them directly next to the aching tooth and hold them there for half an hour. The clove oil has an anaesthetic and antibacterial effect.