What Does Eating Raw Cloves Do to the Body? Benefits and Risks

December 23, 2025 •

4 min read

Cloves contain a powerful phenolic compound called eugenol, which gives them their distinctive aroma and several potential health benefits. Understanding what eating raw cloves does to the body is crucial for anyone considering using this potent spice for medicinal purposes.

Quick Summary

Eating raw cloves in moderation provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial benefits for digestion and oral health. However, excessive consumption can cause serious side effects like liver damage, blood thinning, and gastrointestinal irritation.

Key Points

Antioxidant Powerhouse: Raw cloves contain eugenol, a potent antioxidant that combats oxidative stress and helps protect cells from damage.
Oral Health Booster: Chewing raw cloves can act as a natural antiseptic, fighting bad breath and harmful bacteria that cause dental plaque and gum disease.
Digestive Aid: In small amounts, raw cloves can improve digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes and relieving issues like bloating, gas, and nausea.
Significant Risks with High Doses: Excessive consumption, especially of concentrated clove oil, is toxic and can lead to severe side effects, including liver damage.
Blood-Thinning Properties: The eugenol in cloves can slow blood clotting, posing a risk to individuals on blood-thinning medication or with bleeding disorders.
Potential for Hypoglycemia: For those managing diabetes with insulin, large doses of cloves could cause dangerously low blood sugar levels.
Moderation is Essential: The key is to consume raw cloves in very small, controlled amounts to reap benefits without triggering serious side effects.

The Powerful Properties of Raw Cloves

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, used for centuries in traditional medicine and cooking across the globe. Their strong, pungent, and warm flavor comes from a concentrated compound called eugenol, which is also responsible for many of their medicinal properties. In addition to eugenol, cloves are rich in other antioxidants and nutrients, but their potent nature means that understanding proper dosage is critical to avoid adverse effects.

Key Compounds and Nutritional Value

In small culinary amounts, cloves offer a surprising nutritional boost. A single teaspoon of ground cloves provides valuable manganese, an essential mineral for brain function and bone health, along with small amounts of fiber, vitamin K, and vitamin C. However, the most significant active ingredient is eugenol, a potent antioxidant that can combat oxidative stress and inflammation.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

The abundance of antioxidants, especially eugenol, is a primary reason for the health buzz around cloves. Antioxidants help protect the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to chronic diseases. Test-tube studies have demonstrated eugenol's powerful antioxidant capabilities, and its anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body.

The Benefits of Eating Raw Cloves in Moderation

When consumed raw in very small, controlled quantities (typically one to two cloves), people report several benefits, though scientific evidence is often preliminary or requires larger human studies.

Improved Oral Hygiene and Pain Relief

Natural mouth freshener: The strong antimicrobial properties of cloves can kill odor-causing bacteria in the mouth, providing natural, long-lasting fresh breath.
Toothache remedy: Eugenol has a natural numbing, or analgesic, effect that can offer temporary pain relief for toothaches and sore gums.
Combats infection: Their antiseptic qualities can help fight gum disease and reduce harmful bacteria that contribute to dental plaque.

Digestive Health Support

Stimulates digestion: Chewing raw cloves can increase saliva and stimulate digestive enzymes, which may lead to more efficient digestion.
Alleviates discomfort: For some, it can relieve common digestive issues like gas, bloating, and nausea.
Protects the stomach: Animal studies suggest cloves can increase gastric mucus production, potentially protecting against stomach ulcers.

Potential for Blood Sugar Regulation

Some research indicates that compounds in cloves may help regulate blood sugar levels. A 2019 study showed that clove extract helped lower blood glucose after meals in individuals with and without prediabetes. However, this effect, while promising, also poses a significant risk to those on diabetes medication.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Excess Consumption

Consuming raw cloves in excessive amounts can have serious health consequences due to the high concentration of eugenol. The side effects are often linked to a high intake, especially from concentrated sources like essential oil, which is extremely unsafe to ingest orally.

The Dangers of Eugenol Overdose

High doses of eugenol are toxic and can cause liver damage. This is particularly concerning for children, where even small amounts of clove oil can cause seizures, liver injury, and fluid imbalances. People with pre-existing liver conditions are also at a higher risk.

Blood-Thinning Concerns

Eugenol acts as a natural blood thinner. For individuals on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (like warfarin or aspirin), consuming too many cloves can increase the risk of bruising, nosebleeds, and other bleeding complications. Healthcare providers recommend stopping clove use at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery.

Digestive Irritation and Allergic Reactions

While small amounts can aid digestion, excessive intake can irritate the digestive tract, leading to nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and diarrhea. Some individuals may also experience allergic reactions, such as oral irritation, rashes, or swelling, particularly if they are sensitive to other spices.

Raw Cloves: Moderate vs. Excessive Intake


Feature	Moderate (1-2 raw cloves/day)	Excessive (High dose/Concentrated oil)
Effect on Digestion	Aids digestion, reduces bloating and gas.	Irritates stomach, causes nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea.
Effect on Oral Health	Freshens breath, kills bacteria, provides temporary pain relief.	Can cause oral irritation, burning, and damage to gums.
Effect on Liver	Supports health via antioxidant effects.	Potentially causes liver damage or failure.
Blood Clotting	No significant effect with food amounts.	Slows blood clotting, increasing bleeding risk.
Blood Sugar	May help regulate levels.	Risk of dangerous hypoglycemia, especially for diabetics.

Conclusion: Balance and Caution are Key

Eating raw cloves in moderate amounts, such as a single bud as a mouth freshener, offers several potential health benefits, particularly for oral hygiene and digestion. The potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties make this spice a compelling natural remedy. However, the risks associated with excessive consumption, primarily due to high levels of eugenol, are significant and should not be overlooked. Serious side effects like liver toxicity, severe blood thinning, and hypoglycemia pose risks for vulnerable populations and those with certain health conditions. For safety, always exercise caution and consult a healthcare provider before using cloves for medicinal purposes beyond typical food seasoning. As with any potent natural remedy, moderation is the definitive key. For further reading, explore the health benefits and risks outlined by reputable sources like the Cleveland Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chewing one or two raw cloves daily is generally considered safe for most healthy adults, but moderation is key. Regular excessive consumption could lead to serious side effects like liver damage or digestive irritation.

It is best to limit intake to a very small amount, such as one to two raw cloves per day. Large or concentrated doses are toxic due to the high eugenol content and should be avoided.

Raw cloves contain eugenol, which can slow blood clotting. While small food amounts are safe, excessive intake or concentrated clove oil can increase the risk of bleeding, especially for those on blood-thinning medications.

Yes, several groups should avoid or be cautious with raw cloves, especially in large doses. This includes children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals on blood thinners, those with diabetes, and people with liver disease.

Yes, the eugenol in cloves has a numbing effect that can provide temporary pain relief for a toothache. You can place a whole clove on the affected area, but prolonged use or application of concentrated clove oil can cause irritation.

Chewing raw cloves can aid digestion by stimulating enzymes and relieving gas and bloating in small amounts. However, excessive consumption can have the opposite effect and cause gastrointestinal upset.

Eating too many raw cloves can lead to immediate side effects such as mouth irritation, burning sensations, nausea, vomiting, or an upset stomach due to the high concentration of eugenol.