Clove is the flower bud of the evergreen tree plant Syzygium aromaticum in the Myrtaceae family, also known asCloveThe flower buds are collected and dried, resembling nails in shape and possessing a strong fragrance, hence the name, also known asCloveWhen its fruit matures, it resembles a chicken's tongue in shape, hence it is called chicken tongue clove, also known as mother clove. Generally, for medicinal purposes, its flower buds, known as male clove, are used more often because they contain a higher content of aromatic volatile oils, making them more potent. It is cultivated in the Guangdong region of China, typically harvested when the flower buds turn from green to bright red. After removing the flower stalks, they are dried and used for medicinal purposes. They are often used in their raw form.
I. The Efficacy of Clove:
Clove has a pungent taste and warm nature. It belongs to the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians. Its effects includeWarming the middle to descend counterflow, warming the kidneys to support yangIts characteristics include warming the middle and assisting kidney yang to replenish the life gate, known as the essential medicine for stomach cold and vomiting.
Commonly used inSpleen and stomach deficiency cold, hiccup and vomiting, reduced food intake with vomiting and diarrhea, cold pain in the heart and abdomen, kidney deficiency impotenceTreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Famous Works by Renowned Authors:
Yao Xing Lun: "Treats cold qi abdominal pain."
Shu Materia Medica: "Effective in treating vomiting and retching."
Rihuazi Materia Medica: "Treats bad breath, regurgitation; treats kidney qi, rushing piglet qi, yin pain; strengthens yang, warms the waist and knees."
Compendium of Materia Medica: "Treats deficiency-induced hiccups, vomiting and diarrhea in children, and smallpox with stomach deficiency, grayish-white appearance, and failure to erupt."
Jade Carving Medical Explanations: Clove is pungent, potent, warm, and drying. It expels cold and drains dampness, warms the middle and supports the earth, descends counterflow and lifts sinking. It excels at treating counterflow stomach with intestinal slippage, and patterns of cold accumulation with abdominal pain.
Ben Cao Bei Yao: Pungent and warm, pure yang. It drains the lung and warms the stomach, greatly capable of treating the kidney, strengthening yang functions, and warming the yin portal. It treats stomach cold with distension and fullness, vomiting, retching, and hiccups, abdominal masses and running piglet, abdominal pain, and halitosis.
II. Compatibility and Application of Clove:
1. Used for stomach cold vomiting, hiccups, diarrhea, and other syndromes. Clove warms the middle and dispels cold, especially effective in descending adverse qi and stopping vomiting, making it a key herb for treating stomach cold vomiting and hiccups. For treating deficiency cold hiccups, it is often combined with persimmon calyx, ginseng, and ginger, namelyClove and Persimmon Calyx Decoction。
If treating stomach cold vomiting, reduced food intake, and loose stools, it is often combined with herbs such as Amomum villosum, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Pinellia ternata.
For treating cold pain in the epigastric and abdominal regions and diarrhea, cloves are often combined with cinnamon to enhance their therapeutic effects mutually, that isDing Gua San。
Now there isDinggui Erqi TieIt is made by combining cloves with cinnamon, long pepper, and other herbs. When applied externally to a child's navel or lower abdomen, it has the effects of strengthening the spleen, warming the middle, dispelling cold, and stopping diarrhea.
Clove can also be used for symptoms such as indigestion and halitosis caused by deficiency and cold of the spleen and stomach, leading to impaired transportation and transformation. It can be used alone or combined with aromatic dampness-resolving herbs such as osmanthus, agastache, amomum fruit, and eupatorium.
2. For kidney yang deficiency, impotence and weak feet, cold-dampness in the waist and legs, etc. Clove can warm the kidney and assist yang, often combined with aconite, cinnamon, morinda officinalis, etc.
In addition,Clove is also a fine seasoning spiceIt is used in the processing of various food seasonings and baijiu, often through secret methods that are not disclosed to outsiders.
III. Usage and Dosage of Clove:
Clove is pungent and warm, with a strong aromatic scent. It is more suitable for internal or external use as a powder, and can also be used in decoctions. Regardless of the method of use, the dosage should not be excessive. For decoctions, a common dosage is a few grams; for external use, an appropriate amount is sufficient.
IV. Application Precautions for Clove:
Clove is pungent, warm, and drying, which easily damages yin, thereforeYin deficiency with internal heat or vomiting and hiccups due to heat should avoid taking it。
Since ancient times, there has been a saying that cloves fear turmeric, but it has now been confirmed that these two herbs can not only be used in combination, but also possess unique and excellent abilities, complementing each other perfectly.
Wang Ang said, "Heat syndromes are contraindicated."
