Who Cannot Eat Cloves? Key Precautions for Health and Safety

Approximately 20% of Saudi women report using herbal treatments like cloves during pregnancy, perceiving them as safer than conventional medicines. However, certain groups should be extremely cautious or completely avoid cloves, especially in concentrated forms like supplements and oils, to prevent serious health risks.

Quick Summary

This guide details the specific individuals and medical conditions that warrant avoiding clove consumption, particularly in high doses or concentrated oil form. It covers risks associated with blood thinners, diabetes medications, liver disease, and potential harm to children.

Key Points

• Children Under 2 and Clove Oil: Clove oil is highly toxic to infants and toddlers and should never be ingested, as it can cause liver damage and seizures.

• Blood Thinners and Eugenol: The eugenol in cloves has blood-thinning properties, so individuals on anticoagulant medication must avoid high-dose consumption to prevent increased bleeding risk.

• Pre-Surgery Precautions: All clove products, especially supplements, should be discontinued at least two weeks before any surgery due to their effect on blood clotting.

• Diabetic Medication Interactions: Cloves can lower blood sugar, and when combined with diabetes medications, this effect could lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).

• Liver Disease Risk: Concentrated clove intake can harm the liver, and people with existing liver disease should strictly avoid high-dose clove supplements and oils.

• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: It is best to avoid medicinal doses and clove oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to a lack of safety data.

• Allergies and Irritation: Sensitive individuals can experience allergic reactions or severe skin and oral irritation from cloves, particularly concentrated oil.

Understanding the Potency of Cloves

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, used globally as a fragrant spice and in traditional medicine. Eugenol is the primary compound responsible for their flavor and biological effects. While culinary amounts are generally safe, the high concentration of eugenol in clove oil and supplements poses risks for certain populations.

Populations That Must Avoid Cloves

Concentrated clove products are not suitable for everyone. Specific groups should avoid cloves or use them with extreme caution:

• Children: Clove oil is highly toxic to young children and unsafe to ingest. Even small amounts can cause seizures, liver damage, fluid imbalances, and coma. Keep clove oil out of reach of children. Culinary use is generally safe, but remove whole cloves due to choking hazards.
• Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Culinary amounts are typically safe, but medicinal or supplemental doses lack sufficient safety data. Eugenol may affect fetal development or pass into breast milk. Avoid clove oil and supplements.
• Individuals with Bleeding Disorders or on Blood Thinners: Eugenol has anticoagulant properties, slowing blood clotting. Avoid cloves, especially concentrated forms, if you have bleeding disorders or take medications like warfarin or aspirin. This combination increases the risk of bleeding.
• Patients Before and After Surgery: Due to blood-thinning effects, stop using clove products, including supplements, at least two weeks before surgery to reduce bleeding risk.
• People with Diabetes: Cloves may lower blood sugar. When combined with anti-diabetes medications, this can lead to dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Consult a physician if using medicinal amounts of cloves.
• Individuals with Liver Disease: High doses of eugenol, particularly from clove oil, can damage liver cells. Ingesting concentrated clove oil has caused acute liver injury. Avoid high-dose clove use if you have liver conditions unless directed by a doctor.

Risks Associated with High Doses and Allergies

High doses of cloves can cause side effects for anyone, and allergic reactions are possible.

• Digestive Issues: Eugenol can irritate the stomach, leading to nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea with excessive intake. Use moderate, culinary quantities.
• Oral and Skin Sensitivity: Undiluted clove oil can cause burning and irritation. In the mouth, it can lead to gum damage and inflammation. Dilute clove oil and perform a patch test before topical use.
• Allergic Reactions: Although rare, some are allergic to cloves. Symptoms include rashes, swelling, and digestive issues. Those allergic to Balsam of Peru or allspice may also be sensitive.

Clove vs. Clove Oil: A Critical Comparison

This table highlights the safety differences between culinary cloves and concentrated clove oil.

Feature	Culinary Cloves (as a Spice)	Clove Oil / Supplements
Eugenol Concentration	Low, generally safe in food amounts.	High, potentially toxic in large doses.
Safety Profile	Widely recognized as safe in typical culinary quantities.	Risk of severe side effects, especially for vulnerable populations.
Suitability for Children	Safe for babies over 6 months in ground form (remove whole cloves).	Unsafe for children; linked to seizures and liver damage.
Impact on Blood Clotting	Minimal effect in food quantities.	Significant blood-thinning effect; dangerous with anticoagulants.
Use During Pregnancy	Considered safe in food amounts.	Avoid due to insufficient safety data for high concentrations.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety Over Supplementation

While cloves are a flavorful spice with potential benefits, concentrated forms are not suitable for everyone. The eugenol in clove oil and supplements poses significant risks to children, pregnant women, individuals with bleeding disorders, liver disease, and those on certain medications. Moderate culinary use is generally safe, but at-risk groups should exercise caution and seek medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe for pregnant women to have cloves in food?

Yes, it is generally considered safe for pregnant women to consume cloves in the small, culinary amounts found in food. However, they should avoid high-dose supplements or concentrated clove oil due to a lack of safety data.

Why is clove oil unsafe for children?

Clove oil is toxic to children and can cause severe side effects, including seizures and liver damage, even in small oral doses. It should never be given to infants or toddlers.

Can I eat cloves if I am taking blood-thinning medication?

No, you should avoid cloves if you are on blood-thinning medication. The eugenol in cloves slows blood clotting, and combining it with anticoagulants like warfarin can increase the risk of dangerous bleeding.

How do cloves affect people with diabetes?

Cloves can lower blood sugar levels. This effect, combined with anti-diabetes medications, can cause blood sugar to drop too low, resulting in hypoglycemia. Always consult a doctor before using medicinal amounts of cloves if you have diabetes.

What is the risk of using clove oil on the gums for a toothache?

Applying undiluted clove oil directly to gums can cause significant irritation, burning, and tissue damage. While used traditionally, it's safer to use diluted forms cautiously and under medical supervision to avoid adverse effects.

Should I stop eating cloves before a surgical procedure?

Yes, it is recommended to stop using all clove products at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery. This is because of their potential to interfere with blood clotting and blood sugar levels during the procedure.

Can excessive consumption of cloves cause digestive problems?

Yes, consuming large amounts of cloves or concentrated clove products can irritate the digestive tract due to the high eugenol content, leading to symptoms like nausea, heartburn, or diarrhea.