Also known as FLOS CARYOPHYLLI and Syringa oblata in Latin, it means the dried buds of Eugenia caryophllata Thunb., a tree in the family Myrtaceae. This plant is native to Tanzania, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In China, it is mainly produced in Guangdong, Hainan and other places. Medicinally it is usually harvested from September to the following March when clove bud turns from green to red.

Clove plant is evergreen tree and up to 10 meters. Leaves are opposite and with slender petiole and oblong obovate or elliptic leaf blade. It blooms during autumn. Flowers have strong aroma. The inflorescence is acrogenous thyrses, with about 6mm flower diameter. Berries are red-brown, slightly shiny, rectangular oval, 1 to 2.5cm long, 5 to 12mm in diameter, with fragrant hypertrophy persistent calyx lobes at apex. And there are a few rectangular clove seeds.

Buds contain volatile oil, namely oil of clove. Clove bud oil mainly contains eugenol, acetyl eugenol, B-caryophyllene, methyl n-amyl ketone, methyl salicylate, humulene, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, m-Anisaldehyde, benzyl acetate, Chavicol, a-ylangene, and so on. Normally eugenol accounts for 64 to 85% in oil of cloves. However, some wild species contain no eugenol but Eugenone and Eugenin. Flower bud also contains triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid, flavonoids, Rham-netin, kaempferol, Eugenin, Eugenitin, Isoeugenitin, and Isoeugenol.

BENEFITS OF CLOVES 
As explained above, the clove oil benefits are really astounding. You know, clove essential oil is regarded as the top ten essential oils with special attributes. In addition to its culinary and medicinal value, it is also a famous ornamental plant for garden thanks to its unique aroma, huge lush inflorescence, elegant and harmonic color, and plump and beautiful gesture. Nevertheless, cloves'health benefits are the focal point here. As a matter of fact, cloves have long been used in the treatment of burns and toothache.

MODERN PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS 
1. Oral administration of this herb can promote the secretion of gastric juice, enhance digestion, relieve nausea and vomiting, reduce abdominal bloating. These evidences showed that it is an aromatic stomachic;
2. Its water extract and ether extract have analgesic, anti-inflammatory effects;
3. Eugenol has anticonvulsant effect;
4. Its decoction inhibits staphylococcus, streptococcus and diphtheria, proteusbacillus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, escherichia coli, shigella dysenteriae, typhoid bacillus, and so on. And it also has a better acaricidal effect;
5. It also has antiplatelet, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, anti-diarrhea, choleretic and anti-hypoxia effects.

Cloves

PROVEN CLOVES RELATED HERBAL FORMULAS
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbalists believe that it is acrid in taste and warm in properties. It covers 4 meridians, such as spleen, stomach, lung, and kidney. Its major functions are warming middle energizer to descend adverse-rising and reinforcing kidney to strengthen yang. Chief cloves uses and indications are deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach, hiccups and vomiting, reduced appetite due to vomiting and Diarrhea, crymodynia in heart and abdomen, ED(Erectile Dysfunction) due to kidney deficiency, and so on. Recommended dosage is from 1 to 3 grams in decoction.

1) Ren Shen Ding Xiang San
This formula comes from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Formulas of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary). It is primarily formulated for adult or infantile unceasing vomiting that leads to throw up anything swallowed, including the decoction. Other main herbal ingredients include Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Dang Gui (Dong Quai), and so on.

2) Ding Xiang Jian Wan
This prescription comes from Pu Ji Fang (Prescriptions of Universal Relief). It is basically designed for discomfort in chest and diaphragm. Other major herbs include Chen Xiang (Agarwood), Huo Xiang (Patchouli), Sha Ren (Cardamon), and more.

3) Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang
This formula is from Zheng Yin Mai Zhi (Pulses, Causes, Patterns, and Treatments). It is exclusively used for deficiency-cold vomiting. The rest key herbs are Shi Di (Persimmon Calyx), Dang Shen (Codonopsis Root), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), and so on.