Cloves for treating tonsillitis

Cloves are a spice that has long been known in cooking. However, the spice has not only an interesting taste, but also pronounced medicinal properties. Cloves and clove oil are readily used in the treatment of sore throats, colds, and flu. Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree. The plant bears fruit twice a year and produces a bountiful harvest. Drying the buds is done in the sun and does not require any costs. The cost of the spice is low, which is why cloves are used in preparing a wide variety of dishes. The spice has a pronounced pungent taste and specific aroma. Moreover, the concentration of substances that provide taste and smell in different parts of the plant is not the same: the bud cap gives the brightest aroma, and the pungency is provided by essential oils, which accumulate to the greatest extent in the petiole.

Clove essential oil is especially valued in medicine. It is a component of many cold balms and ointments. Cloves disinfect mucous membranes, suppress the proliferation of pathogenic microflora and have a local anesthetic effect.

Chemical composition of cloves

Cloves are included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Its chemical composition is unusually rich, which ensures the medicinal effect of cloves, and not only the attractiveness of the spice for cooking.

• Essential oil – includes eugenol, cryophilene, ylangene and others. Active compounds stimulate the restoration of skin and mucous membranes, relieve inflammation. The effect is general: if you gargle with a decoction of cloves, you can get rid of inflammation of the tonsils, and if taken orally, you can get rid of inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
• Essential oil is also interesting for its other property - its ability to tone and relax muscle muscles, including smooth muscles. In large doses, cloves tones the walls of blood vessels and relieves spasms. At low concentrations, the spice relaxes the muscles of the bronchi, which makes the cough more productive.

According to some studies, eugenol suppresses the growth of cancer cells.

• The spice includes Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids - compounds that stimulate the production of high-density cholesterol and suppress the synthesis of low-density cholesterol.
• Cloves contain a lot of tannins - tannins have an astringent effect. When coughing, tannins promote the production of healthy mucus, and when consumed orally, they cure diarrhea.
• The fungicidal and antibacterial effects of cloves are enhanced by vitamins and microelements. The spice contains record doses of B vitamins and is recommended for use for disorders of the nervous system.

The spice is used for the manufacture of rinses and ointments, that is, for external use, and for the production of preparations intended for oral administration.

Useful properties of cloves for sore throat

Sore throat is an infectious disease accompanied by inflammation of the tonsils, arches and soft palate. To treat the disease, antibiotics or antiviral drugs are needed if tonsillitis is of viral origin.

Sore throat with sore throat is sometimes so severe that the patient cannot swallow or speak. The inflamed mucous membranes dry out, which causes severe itching and a dry, painful cough. A plaque forms on the tonsils - from particles of epithelium, and then pus.

To get rid of these symptoms, other drugs are included in the therapeutic course. Some of them can be replaced by simple cloves.

1. Disinfecting action is the main quality. The essential oil contained in cloves disinfects the mucous membranes, that is, it directly affects the source of inflammation.
2. The spice has an analgesic effect: the burning taste causes the salivary glands to work actively. At the same time, the throat is moistened, soreness and the feeling of a “tangle in the throat” disappear.
3. Cloves have some bacteriostatic properties: they inhibit the growth of bacteria.
4. The spice cannot replace antibiotics for severe catarrhal or fibrous sore throat, but it can stop the spread of infection.
5. When coughing, especially if it is dry, the mucous membranes are damaged. Clove buds help relieve sore throats and restore mucous membranes. Essential oils stimulate the regeneration of skin, mucous membranes, even blood vessels and bones.
6. Cloves have a calming effect. In an indirect way, this also alleviates the patient’s condition.

Only dried buds are used in cooking and medicine. Ground cloves very quickly lose their qualities - the esters evaporate.

Treatment of sore throat with whole clove buds

The most effective way to relieve painful sensations in the throat, facilitate swallowing, and restore mucous tissue damaged by illness is to regularly chew the spice buds. There is no need to prepare decoctions or infusions - cloves are used without preliminary heat treatment.

To relieve the main signs of a sore throat, it is recommended to chew one bud every hour - this is enough to actively influence the disease. Do not swallow the mixture right away - you need to keep the spice in your mouth for at least a minute and soak it generously with saliva.

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Do not exceed the dosage, even if the unpleasant sore throat does not lose intensity after the first use of the home remedy - results usually appear after several doses.

It is allowed to use the spice simultaneously with drug therapy. The only warning is that it is recommended to maintain intervals between doses; the essential oil, which abounds in fragrant buds, can reduce the effectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs.

How to use cloves for a sore throat

For sore throat, cloves are most effective in the affected area. To ensure that the essential oil reaches the mucous membranes of the throat and vocal cords, the spice is consumed in the following forms:

• In its pure form, a clove bud should be chewed, swallowing saliva as long as possible. The chewed bud is swallowed. The burning taste of the spice creates a not entirely pleasant sensation, but the patient quickly gets used to it;
• Clove “candy” - two buds are dipped in honey, then sucked for as long as possible. This “lollipop” can be offered to children. Resorption of cloves quickly relieves sore throat, sore throat and irritation;
• Infusion – 10–20 buds are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for up to 2 hours. Gargle with infusion for sore throat. The liquid moisturizes the throat, relieves pain, and mechanically removes pathogenic microflora from the source of inflammation. You can rinse up to 4 times a day;
• The clove decoction takes a little longer to prepare. He considers it more useful, since after a long infusion, a larger amount of useful substances passes into the water. 30 pieces of cloves are poured into a glass of boiling water, boiled for 3 to 5 minutes and left in a thermos for 12 hours. The finished broth is filtered and gargled 3-4 times a day. The composition is used for both sore throats and colds for prevention purposes;
• The most pleasant way to treat a sore throat and prevent sore throat is spicy tea. In addition to cloves, the drink includes orange juice, lemon, cinnamon, ginger and black tea. The drink is drunk twice a day in the off-season to prevent sore throat;
• A very effective form of treatment for tonsillitis is inhalation. 1 tablespoon of clove buds is poured into 1 liter of boiling water. Add a tablespoon of soda. The patient covers himself with a warm blanket or towel and breathes in steam for 10–15 minutes until the solution has cooled. The procedure is carried out at night, as the calming effect of cloves helps you fall asleep quickly.

Adults can drink healing mulled wine for prevention purposes. A glass of red wine is heated with a pinch of ground cloves. Drink warm with honey and lemon.

The use of spices in the treatment of sore throat

Cloves are used for sore throat by sucking or chewing one dried bud of the tree. This treatment is not suitable for children. But for adults it is convenient and simple. To enhance the healing effect, dip the seeds in honey.

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Gargling with clove infusion heals the throat within a week. To do this, ten buds are infused in a glass of boiling water. It is useful to drink spicy tea internally. You can use inhalations by inhaling steam from hot water with the addition of two drops of clove oil per two liters of liquid.

They prevent sore throat with an infusion prepared from 2-3 cloves, cinnamon on the tip of a knife, two slices of lemon, a quarter glass of orange juice, and a pinch of black tea. The components are poured with water, bringing the volume to a glass. After boiling, cool and add honey. By drinking tea during the off-season at least once every two days, you can protect your throat from bacteria and viruses.

For a strong cough, add ginger powder, cardamom, and crushed bay leaves to the clove decoction - half a teaspoon each. Brew the drink in boiling water for 15 minutes. You can add honey or sugar to the drug.

If you have a sore throat along with a cough and a runny nose, then warm compresses are needed. The grains of the spicy buds are ground into powder and mixed with hot water to make the mass puree. It is applied to the throat and chest area. You can apply a compress to the wings of the nose if there is congestion.

Milk spice enhances the healing effects. Take a tablespoon of buds per liter of liquid. As soon as the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and leave in a thermos for an hour. It is useful to take the drink with honey.

For adults, boiled red wine with powder from the buds is recommended to get rid of sore throat and colds. For half a glass you only need a pinch of spice. Drink the medicine warm.

Beneficial properties of clove oil

Sore throat, bronchitis, joint inflammation, flu and rheumatism are treated with essential clove oil. For medicinal purposes, it is obtained from the buds. The oil from the leaves smells too pungent and is used only for ointments. Clove tree bark oil has only industrial use.

Oil is a concentrate of beneficial active compounds. This form is more convenient to use when making medicines or decoctions and rinses.

• Anti-inflammatory – the spice is equally active when used externally and internally. Clove oil is added to creams and ointments to treat joints, sprains, damaged ligaments and muscles, to prevent rheumatism and arthritis. When taken internally, the oil treats inflammation of the stomach, intestines, and throat.
• The analgesic effect of cloves is so strong that the drug is prescribed for periodontal disease and stomatitis, when the patient suffers from painful toothache. The oil relieves sore throat and sore throat very quickly - just chew the bud and after 5-7 minutes the discomfort disappears.
• Antibacterial and fungicidal - before the advent of antibiotics, the spice was used as a remedy for tuberculosis and anthrax. When applied topically, decoctions and tinctures prevent tonsillitis from spreading. The effect is especially noticeable in severe purulent sore throats.
• Calming effect - a few drops of oil in the bath ensure complete recovery after a hard day at work.
• The oil heals wounds, stimulates skin regeneration after burns, and prevents suppuration. This quality of clove oil has found application in cosmetology. Creams and ointments with cloves are prescribed for the treatment of warts, pimples, and blackheads. Clove oil stimulates blood circulation, which is why it is often included in medicinal shampoos.

Clove oil can be obtained at home. 1 teaspoon of buds is poured with 5 teaspoons of olive oil. The mixture is left in a warm place for 2 weeks. The composition is filtered and used for treatment.

Brewing tea

Warm drinks have a positive effect on a sore throat. Therefore, to relieve inflammation and pain, it is recommended to brew delicious tea with cloves. There are several options.

To prepare a simple decoction, you will need 5-10 inflorescences and 250 ml of water. Bring to a boil over low heat, keep on the stove for 1-2 minutes, and then leave for 30 minutes. It is recommended to drink this drink very slowly, in small sips.

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In order to strengthen the immune system and protect against ARVI, it is recommended to prepare tea by combining cloves with other beneficial ingredients. Required:

• 500 ml water;
• 25-35 g granulated sugar;
• 2-3 slices of lemon;
• 2-3 dried cloves;
• Fresh or dried ginger - to taste;
• 20 g black tea;
• 30-40 ml orange juice;
• 1 cinnamon stick.

Mix cloves, cinnamon and ginger, add water and boil. Then add black tea, sugar, orange juice and lemon slices. A tasty and healthy drink can be consumed up to 3-4 times daily.

Contraindications

Both the oil and the spice itself are rich in active biological substances. This means that it has many contraindications:

1. Cloves, when exceeding a certain concentration, increase blood pressure. People with high blood pressure need to be very careful about the dosage;
2. For gastritis, especially ulcerative ones, cloves cannot be used: it irritates the inflamed walls;
3. Patients with high acidity should not consume cloves: it stimulates gastric secretion, and this is harmful to such a patient. Rinsing for a cough or runny nose is allowed;
4. Pregnant women are not advised to use the spice: clove oil tones the muscles of the uterus, which increases the risk of miscarriage;
5. You should also refrain while breastfeeding: hot spices change the taste of milk.
6. It is prohibited to use cloves to treat children under 2 years of age.

For nervous disorders, cloves can be used only in small quantities. If the dose is exceeded, the spice causes excessive stimulation.

Contraindications, side effects after using cloves

Despite the benefits that fragrant spice can bring for sore throat, we should not forget that plant materials have a number of prohibitions. The main contraindication is hypersensitivity to spices. If the body reacts negatively to aromatic spices, it is better to use other alternative medicine recipes.

It is also strictly forbidden to carry out treatment with cloves during pregnancy. Plant materials contain some elements that can negatively affect the condition of the fetus, cause irritation, and an allergic reaction in a woman.

During the lactation period, you will also have to find another home remedy for the treatment of sore throat - with mother's milk, substances harmful to the child will penetrate into the small body.

The last prohibition is high blood pressure. Cloves contain substances that cause surges in blood pressure, which will negatively affect your overall well-being and vascular condition.

Side effects in the absence of contraindications are rarely alarming. Most often, with individual intolerance, unpleasant nausea, painful sensations in the abdomen, and headaches appear. The skin can also respond to improper treatment with rashes and changes in the shade of the dermis.

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Recipes with cloves for throat

It is quite easy to prepare a medicine for colds, flu, and sore throats. It is important to observe the ratio of ingredients and not exceed the recommended dosage.

1. For coughs, the following recipe is offered: 15 cloves, a teaspoon of chopped ginger, 2-3 cardamom grains, 3 teaspoons of honey and 2 bay leaves, pour 1 liter of boiling water, cook for 15 minutes. Drink a decoction of cloves warm 2-3 times a day or after an attack of dry cough. After 2-3 days the cough becomes wet and goes away faster.
2. A decoction against inflammation is prepared as follows. 4 cloves and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon pour 1 liter of milk. The mixture is brought to a boil three times and a teaspoon of ginger is added to the still hot milk. When the drink has cooled, add 3 teaspoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of walnuts. Before going to bed, drink 1 glass of the drug warm and wrap yourself up. The patient should sweat well during the night. The procedure is repeated 1-2 more times.
3. The following recipe has a quick effect: 2 ground inflorescences, a pinch of ground black pepper and a teaspoon of honey are mixed and taken before meals. The product serves as a good preventative measure.
4. For a sore throat, prepare a salty drink: 3 cloves and 2 g of salt are stirred in 20 ml of warm water. Gargle with infusion to relieve pain and soreness.
5. Acute respiratory diseases of adults are treated with alcohol tincture. 25 buds are poured with 250 ml of medical alcohol and infused for 2 weeks. The solution is periodically shaken and stirred. After 2 weeks, filter the infusion and take 1 spoon before meals, 1 time per day.

Milk enhances the healing properties of cloves.

Brewing tea

Cloves for sore throat are offered in the form of tea. It solves 2 problems at once: it restores the lost volume of fluid and treats sore throat. The recipes are different.

• Add 2 buds and a piece of ginger root to ½ liter of water. Boil the tea, add a pinch of black tea and leave for 30 minutes in a closed container. The infusion is filtered and the same amount of milk is added by volume. Warm tea is drunk throughout the day.
• Pour 300–400 ml of water over a cinnamon stick and leave for 10 minutes. Then add 2-3 cloves and a teaspoon of orange zest. The resulting drink is mixed with black tea in equal parts. You can add honey to tea.
• A more complex recipe helps with both tonsillitis and incipient bronchitis, and is suitable for prevention. 2-3 buds, 1 cinnamon stick and dried ginger to taste, pour 500 ml of water and boil. Add to the mixture a pinch of 10 g of black tea, 25 g of sugar, 3 slices of lemon and 40 ml of orange juice. Drink tea 3-4 times a day.

To treat sore throat, cloves are used in various forms. Decoctions and infusions are used for rinsing and inhalation. Clove oil is included in preparations for colds, tonsillitis, bronchitis, as well as rubs and ointments.

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How to treat yourself with cloves: basic recipes

To effectively get rid of unpleasant symptoms, you need to choose the right forms of home treatment. Here are some simple recipes for a speedy recovery.

Warming rubs

In order to warm the body, get rid of dry cough, weakness and chills, make an ointment by mixing 3 drops of clove oil with menthol extract and sage. You can add a pinch of mustard powder to the product, but handle the ingredients carefully.

The aromatic additive is mixed with baby cream or other vegetable oil and applied with massage movements to the chest and back at the level of the lungs and bronchi. You can rub the same mixture on your temples for headaches or feet, and then put on socks. Usually the procedure is carried out at night. If you feel a strong burning sensation, the mixture must be washed off, so it is better to start the trial procedure in the evening. You need to repeat massages and steaming for 3-4 days until recovery.

Important! To combine medicines with cloves and medications without harm to health, it is recommended to consult a doctor for advice.

Inhalations

To get rid of a runny nose, ease breathing, and thin out mucus, do steam inhalations with the addition of cedar (or other pine), lemon and clove oils, as well as thyme decoction. The combination can be selected according to possibilities, the main thing is that the esters have anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects.

You can also resort to cold inhalations, which will help relieve headaches and swelling of the respiratory tract, but this method will be less effective.

Dry clove sticks can also be used for inhalation. To do this, it is advisable to grind them into powder or crush them, pour boiling water over them.

Gargling

For a sore throat, cloves perfectly relieve inflammation, kill pathogens, promote coughing and speed up healing. To make a high-quality infusion for rinsing, you need to dissolve half a teaspoon of fresh clove powder in a glass of boiled water at 80°C and let it brew for about 30 minutes.

Rinsing is carried out up to 4 times a day - 2-3 “sips”. Before using the infusion, it can be heated in a water bath until warm. When using a microwave oven, you need to be careful, since food heated in this way often takes some time to “reach” - do not rinse for another 2 minutes so as not to burn your throat.

You can also gargle with a saline solution, and then drink a milk-honey drink with cloves, not rushing to swallow the drug, but as if letting it lubricate your throat.