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Hildegard Herbal Encyclopaedia Back to overview

Cloves

Flores Caryophylli

Historical tradition – not medical advice, and no health or healing claims. more

Historical botanical drawing: Cloves
Cloves

Tradition (Hildegard's writings)

In Hildegard's tradition and in herbal lore, cloves are associated with the mouth and teeth and with headaches.

Ingredients

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum).

Note 3

Very high amounts — taking pure clove oil, for instance — are to be avoided.

Botanical background

Cloves consist largely of essential oils, with eugenol as the main component, credited with strongly antimicrobial, antiseptic and pain-easing properties — hence their use in dentistry. They are also said to stimulate appetite and digestion and to counter flatulence and bad breath. The dried flower buds of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum), which grows up to 20 m tall, are used; the harvest takes place twice a year. The phenolic compounds they contain are credited with antioxidant properties.

Sources & references

  1. Strehlow, Wighard: Die Hildegard-Naturapotheke. Heilmittel und Rezepte von A bis Z. Knaur Verlag 2014. S. 118.
  2. Hildegard von Bingen: Heilsame Schöpfung. Die natürliche Wirkkraft der Dinge (Physica). Hrsg. von der Abtei St. Hildegard, Eibingen. Beuroner Kunstverlag 2012 (4. Auflage 2024). Cap. 1-27 (Gewürznelke).
  3. Heepen, Günther H.: Das Heilwissen der Hildegard von Bingen. Gräfe und Unzer Verlag 2015. S. 44.

The text of this entry is an independent summary in our own words, based on the works listed – not a verbatim reproduction. The page and chapter references document where the content comes from. A superscript number on a section heading points to the work that section follows. All rights to the original works remain with their authors and publishers.

Historical tradition. The above describes how this preparation was recorded and used in the tradition of Hildegard of Bingen. This is cultural-historical information, not medical advice and not a health or healing claim, and it is no substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you have health complaints, please consult your doctor or pharmacy.

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