Eat cloves every day, but avoid this common mistake!

We all have that one spice tucked away in the back of our cupboard that we barely touch. For many, it’s clove — tiny, dark, and often forgotten. But this little bud has a powerful reputation, known for easing pain, calming inflammation, and even helping the heart. Still, like anything strong, it can work for you or against you. And it all depends on how you use it.
Let’s talk about seven common clove mistakes — the kind that can turn a simple home remedy into an unexpected problem.

Mistake #1: Thinking Numbness Means You’re Allergic

It usually starts like this: someone tells you cloves are great for toothaches. You chew one out of curiosity. Seconds later, your tongue goes numb. Panic sets in — “Am I allergic?”

That numbness is normal. Clove has a natural oil called eugenol, which temporarily blocks pain. Dentists actually use it. The numbing fades in 20–30 minutes and only affects the area that touched the clove.

But here’s the real issue: people spit it out, panic, and never touch cloves again. Meanwhile, they miss out on one of nature’s most affordable anti-inflammatory tools — all because of a misunderstood reaction.

Mistake #2: Bad Storage That Kills the Good Stuff

If they’ve been sitting in a bright jar near your stove for a year, probably not. Eugenol, the helpful compound in cloves, fades quickly in heat, light, and moisture. After three months of bad storage, half the benefits may be gone.

Want to keep cloves potent? Use dark glass jars or ceramic containers with tight lids. Store them somewhere cool and dry — like a pantry, not a kitchen counter. Whole cloves last longer than ground ones, but even they have limits.

A quick test: smell them. Good cloves have a sharp, bold scent. Weak smell? Weak power.

Mistake #3: Thinking More Is Better

Chewing one or two? Fine. Making mild tea with a couple cloves? Great. But some people go overboard — adding 10 to a cup of tea or popping them like candy throughout the day.

That’s when eugenol goes from helpful to harmful. It can irritate your stomach, cause nausea, or worse — overload your liver. The liver processes everything you consume, and too much eugenol can damage it.

Rule of thumb? One to two whole cloves a day is enough. With clove, more doesn’t mean better — it means trouble.

Mistake #4: Mixing It with Diabetes Meds

Cloves can help lower blood sugar — a good thing, right? But if you’re already on medications like metformin or insulin, this natural effect can amplify the drug’s power.

That can push your sugar levels too low, leading to dizziness, confusion, or weakness.

If you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic, talk to your doctor before adding cloves to your routine. And if you do start, track your blood sugar closely in the beginning.

Mistake #5: Using It Instead of the Dentist

Yes, cloves can soothe a painful tooth. Their numbing effect is real. But here’s the mistake: using cloves as a long-term solution instead of seeing a dentist.

That clove on your molar may dull the ache, but it doesn’t kill the infection. You might feel better, but the bacteria keep eating away inside — until one day the pain comes back worse, and now you’ve got a bigger problem.

Think of cloves as a short-term helper. They buy you time, not a cure.

Mistake #6: Misusing Essential Oil

This is the one most people don’t expect. Clove essential oil is extremely concentrated. Just one drop equals dozens of whole cloves.

Some folks put it directly on their skin or gums. Big mistake. Pure clove oil can burn — literally. It needs to be diluted in a carrier oil (like coconut or jojoba), and even then, only in tiny amounts.

Drinking it? Absolutely not. It’s dangerous. Even a small amount can cause liver damage. This isn’t superstition — it’s a real, documented medical risk.

Clove oil belongs in aromatherapy diffusers or mixed in massage oils. It’s not something you eat or drop into drinks.

Mistake #7: Ignoring Medication Interactions

Lastly, cloves can thin your blood. That’s helpful if you’re at risk for clots, but risky if you’re already taking blood-thinners like warfarin or aspirin — or planning surgery.

The problem? Most people don’t even realize cloves have this effect. So, they keep using them right through surgery or alongside meds, and it creates unexpected bleeding risks.

Your body doesn’t care if something’s natural or not. It reacts to everything the same way: chemically. If you’re on meds, always check for interactions — even with something as simple as a spice.