Cloves are the flower buds of the clove tree. They contain a number of interesting substances, including eugenol. Clove oil is a natural preparation used to soothe sore gums after tooth extraction to take just one example. This oil can also be used to make mouthwashes that will soothe toothaches or a sore throat. It is considered beneficial when applied to the skin. Certainly, it is an oil that calms oral problems, but it should not be overused, otherwise you will experience other problems, especially mucous membranes. Before using clove oil, always seek advice from your doctor or dentist.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Putting together the necessary ingredients and materials
Step 1. Buy your cloves from a health store
You will find it, whole or in powder, in this kind of stores or on the market if you have fairgrounds who sell oriental products. With whole cloves, you need five to ten cloves for 3 cl of oil. With clove powder, you need one to two teaspoons for the same volume.
- Logically enough, the more you put whole or powdered cloves, the more the oil will be concentrated in active elements. It's up to you to see which dosage is best for you based on your uses.
- If you take clove powder, you may or may not filter the oil. The latter will be effective in either case.
Step 2. Buy a bottle of extra virgin organic olive oil
The role of olive oil here is to recover the interesting elements of the clove, including eugenol. If you can't find extra virgin oil, take virgin olive oil.
The amount of olive oil will be determined by how much clove oil you want. The calculation is simple: 100 ml of olive oil gives… 100 ml of clove oil
Step 3. Collect a clean, opaque glass vial
It is in this type of container that oil is best preserved its qualities. The latter will not be altered by the sun. For small quantities, collect an opaque medical bottle with a pipette, it will be more practical for local application.
As you do not always have an opaque container on hand, you can take a transparent glass with a lid that closes well. You will then place it in a paper bag to protect the oil from the sun
Step 4. Use cheesecloth or a coffee filter to strain the oil
Once the cloves and oil are well mixed and the mixture well rested, you can either leave the cloves or strain your oil.
Stamens can be purchased in markets, the Internet, or some drugstores, otherwise you can use a paper coffee filter
Part 2 of 3: prepare clove oil
Step 1. Place whole cloves in a glass bottle
If you are using whole cloves, add five to ten cloves to 3 cl of oil. If you use clove powder, put 35 g of clove powder for a 350 ml bottle: the proportion is then easy to calculate.
If you put more cloves, you will get a stronger, more concentrated oil and you should bear in mind that you will have to use less if applied to the skin
Step 2. Fill your bottle correctly
First add the cloves, then pour in the oil. You will need to cover them with oil to a height of 3 cm.
If you are taking clove powder, put, in a 350 ml bottle, about 25 g per 250 ml of olive oil. You can stir your preparation for a few moments
Step 3. Close and shake your bottle
Before stirring your preparation for a few moments, make sure that the lid closes properly. Stir it three or four times. Thus, the oil will coat the nails or grains well.
Step 4. Leave to marinate for ten to fourteen days
Cloves and olive oil combine, but very slowly: it's a slow chemical operation. Gradually, some active ingredients in cloves pass into the oil. Your pot should be put to rest in a dark and cool place. You will make sure before leaving that it is properly closed to avoid any contamination.
Step 5. If desired, you can filter the oil
After ten to fourteen days, your clove oil is immediately usable. You can leave the cloves whole or the powder in the oil or you can strain it. Everything will depend on what you want to do with it.
- To filter your preparation, place the cheesecloth or the coffee filter over the opening of a clean glass bottle. Hold this filter using a rubber band that will be placed on the neck of the bottle. Slowly pour the oil on the filter: see how fast the filtration is done. At the end, you will collect the cloves.
- It is possible to reuse cloves to make oil again. Just add olive oil and let stand again for ten to fourteen days. The operation can be repeated several times, as long as the nails have a scent. For a very concentrated oil, it is better to replace the cloves after two or three uses.
Part 3 of 3: use clove oil
Step 1. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
This is always the right thing to do before taking a clove oil bath. Your mucous membranes are then cleaned and will better absorb the oil that will come, hence increased efficiency.
On the other hand, if you use clove oil as a mosquito repellent on your skin, you do not need to rinse your mouth. The effectiveness as a mosquito repellent is about five hours
Step 2. Apply your clove oil with a cotton ball
Take a clean cotton ball and soak it in oil. Then apply it where it hurts in your mouth. Try to put as much as possible where it hurts the most.
You can also take a small piece of clean tissue that you soak in clove oil and gently apply to the painful tooth or gum
Step 3. Make an appointment with your dentist
If your teeth problem is serious, see your dentist quickly. Clove oil should only be taken for what it is: a temporary solution for mild tooth problems (dental plaque, root canal irritation). It cannot be used continuously or cure more serious problems. You need to know if you have a more serious problem. In this case, consult.
Step 4. Clove oil is not that harmless
Of course, she heals, but there are precautions to be taken. Thus, it should not be put on lesions of the mucous membranes or skin. You shouldn't use too much either. Using or swallowing too much can cause pain in the mouth, vomiting, difficulty breathing, a sore throat, kidney or liver failure.
- Do not give clove oil internally to your children: there is a risk of seizures and liver failure. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should refrain from using clove oil. Admittedly, there are no studies that prove it is harmful, but neither are there any that prove the opposite. As it is a plant with pronounced aromas, its taste may, for example, be found in breast milk: not sure that baby likes it!
- If you have to have an operation, do not take clove oil within two weeks. Clove oil, which contains eugenol, tends to thin the blood, which is not very recommended in the event of an operation (possible bleeding).
- Do not use clove oil if you are taking an anticoagulant or medicines that thin the blood, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, clopidogrel, diclofenac, or dalteparin.