Clove 

Cloves (Syzygium Aromaticum), many medicinal uses have been most famously applied to toothache, and for mouth and throat inflammation (1).

More than just a counterirritant though, the German Commission E Monographs list cloves as having antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties (2) (3).

What is behind Cloves’ various properties? One of the main constituents of clove oil (eugenol) exhibits broad antimicrobial activites agains both Gram-positive, Gram-negative and acid-fact bacteria, as well as fungi (4) (5).

Cloves are well known also for their antiemetic (relieves nausea and vomiting) and carminative properties (4) (6) (7) (5).

The oldest apparent medicinal use of cloves was in China, where it is reported that they were taken for various ailments as early as 240BC. Cloves were taken over the centuries for diarrhoea, most liver, stomach and bowel ailments, and as a stimulant for the nerves (8).

Traditionally cloves have been used to treat flatulence, nausea and vomiting (1) (9).

In tropical Asia cloves have been given to treat such diverse infections as malaria, cholera and tuberculosis, as well as scabies (10).

Traditional uses in America include treating worms, viruses, candida, various bacterial and protozoan infections (11).

Laboratory tests on cloves identify eugenol as being the possible reason for the antimicrobial actions, and confirm cloves’ effectiveness in inhibiting food-borne pathogens as well as other bacteria and fungi (12).

The volatile oil of cloves (about 85-92% eugenol) was highly active against a range of test microorganisms, being classified as bactericidal in nature (13).

is a blend of natural ingredients traditionally used in Asia, Europe, America and India to help the body rid itself of unhealthy organisms and to support a healthy digestive system. The 12 active herbal ingredients in are well known for their internal cleansing effects on the human digestive system.

Extensive research has gone into producing - a chewable tablet containing essential anti-parasitic herbs. Only natural sweeteners have been used. Taste tests with children as young as 2 years old has proven very successful. (They like it so much they ask for more!)

VITAKLENZ is NOT recommended for pregnant women and breast feeding mothers

REFERENCES

(1) Jellin JM, Batz F, Hitchens K. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Third Edition. Stockton, California: Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2000.

(2) Blumenthal M, et. al. ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin: American Botanical Council, 1998.

(3) Gruenwald J, et.al. PDR for Herbal Medicines. First Edition. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

(4) Lueng AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Foord, Drugs and Cosmetics. Second Edition. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons, 1996.

(5) Bisset NG. ed. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Translated from Second Edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1994.

(6) The British Pharmacopoeia (2001), Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

(7) British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (1996). Fourth Edition. British Herbal Medicine Association Scientific Committee, West Yorks, England.

(8) Gordon L. A Country Herbal. Devon, England: Webb & Bower (Publishers) Ltd. 1980.

(9) Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants. Second Edition as Translated by Caroline K. Hatton. Paris: Lavoisier Publishing, 1999.

(10) Chevallier A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Revised Edition. Sydney, Australia: Dorling Kindersley. 2001.

(11) Duke JA, et. al. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Second Edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 2002.]

(12) De M, Krishna De A, Banerjee AB. Antimicrobial screening of some Indian spices. Phytother Res. 1999 Nov; 13 (7): 616-8.

(13) Dorman HJD, Deans SG. Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils. J Appl Microbiol 2000, 88; 308-316.