Plant Description: Clove trees are generally found in Molucca and Pemba, but can also be seen in the East and West Indies, Sumatra, Jamaica, Mauritius and Brazil. A relatively small evergreen tree, they grow to be about 15-30 feet tall. It has bright green opposite, ovate leaves that are quite large on short foot-stalks. Light green buds appear on the trees early on in the rainy season. Its flowers, when allowed to develop, are peach colored or red and white, and bell-shaped, and grow in terminal clusters. The fruit is a one or two-seeded berry.

Medicinal Properties & Uses: Clove contains volatile oil, gallotannic acid, gum, resin, fiber and two crystalline principles, Caryophyllin and Eugenin. The oil used as a local irritant stimulates peristalsis. Taken in powder form or infusion, it is an excellent treatment for nausea, flatulence, indigestion and dyspepsia. Clove is known to be a germicide, an antiseptic, and an expectorant used to treat bronchial ailments. As a powerful local antiseptic and mild anaesthetic, it may be used topically to help alleviate the pain of toothaches.