Sexual Benefits Of Cloves For Men And Women

Clove is one of the most ancient and highly prized spices. It has a long and fascinating history of use dating back at least 2000 years. Ancient authors and experts from different eras wrote about its benefits. When a kid was born, parents in certain ancient civilizations are said to have planted a clove tree in the belief that if the tree grew, the child would as well.

Today, cloves are still widely used in many cuisines, particularly those from Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean regions. They are also employed in traditional medicine and natural remedies.

What are cloves?

The word “Clove” means the symbol of dignity. It is an unopened flower bud that grows on a tree that was originally from the Moluccas Islands, also known as Spice Island. Clove buds are a typical ingredient in spice cabinets all around the world and have a strong scent and flavor. They are deep brown in color and have a rich, aromatic scent that is warm, spicy, very sweet, and barely bitter.  This spice has vitamins, minerals, and proteins among other components.

In addition to its culinary uses, the clove buds offer a wide range of medical purposes. Eugenol, one of its primary ingredients, is in charge of giving it its therapeutic qualities.

What are the sexual benefits of cloves?

Sexual benefits for men:

Effects on sexual activity

Researchers investigated how male mice interacted sexually after being exposed to cloves. The findings revealed a marked improvement in male mate performance and sexual motivation. They came to the conclusion that this impact could be due to the cloves’ nervous system-stimulating properties.

Effects on fertility and action on sperm

Another experiment conducted on adult male rats revealed that clove extracts, when used in small doses, boosted sperm count and viability. It was further proven to improve the quality of sperm. According to these results, individuals with sexual difficulties could take a clove supplement in moderate doses to improve their fertility but only after consulting with a healthcare professional.

Effects on premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) is considered as the most common sexual disorder in men. It is a condition where the ejaculation occurs earlier than desired. This issue might have a negative impact on one’s fertility and quality of life with a global prevalence estimated to be around 30-40% considering that it is an under-reported disorder.

A study where individuals with PE were asked to apply clove oil in the penile area before intercourse showed that it greatly improved this ailment along with intercourse satisfaction.

Furthermore, it has been suggested that the impact of clove oil on premature ejaculation might be associated with nervous system stimulation and its effects on neurotransmitter levels.

Effects on erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual problem in men characterized by the inability or difficulty to achieve or maintain an erection during sexual intercourse or even masturbation.

Clove buds restore the sexual performance of men suffering from ED by improving erectile responses and causing relaxation in the penile muscle. Its use in experiments yielded remarkable results.

Sexual benefits for women:

Effects on postmenopausal symptoms

Women experience a variety of irritating symptoms as menopause gets closer (often between the ages of 45 and 55), including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal atrophy, depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and so on. The most frequent issue among them has been reported to be the hot flashes, which are mostly linked to a drop in hormonal levels in the body, specifically estrogen levels. Hormone therapy has been the mainstay of treatment for these signs since it helps to restore estrogen levels and is, according to research, a very successful therapy.

A study on the benefits of red cloves on these symptoms revealed a significant decrease in hot flashes frequency in postmenopausal women. The body’s estrogen levels, nevertheless, may have an impact on these positive effects, with larger positive effects in women with lower estrogen levels (postmenopausal women) and negative effects in the opposite situation. This suggests that premenopausal women who still have significant amounts of estrogen yet nevertheless have these symptoms would not benefit from this medication.

In addition to reducing hot flashes, the same study found that red clove consumption also greatly reduced symptoms of vaginal atrophy. However, it had less of an impact on other symptoms including sleeping difficulties, psychological issues, and sexual problems.

Sexual benefits for both men and women:

Effects on testosterone levels

The data of one study demonstrated that clove consumption (at low doses) raised the levels of testosterone. The latter, frequently referred to as the sex hormone, has a significant impact on sexual behavior since it increases arousal and sexual desire in both men and women. Therefore, the elevated testosterone level caused by clove use may result in increased sexual pleasure and drive.

Effects on the blood flow

Different components of clove oil have numerous effects (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and so on) which was demonstrated to improve blood circulation.

This implies that clove can enhance sexual arousal and activity which requires a good blood flow in the genital areas.

Effects on sexual desire and behavior

Sexual behavior tests were performed on subjects exposed to clove extracts (Ethanolic extract). They showed strong sexual function boosting action in terms of sexual desire (libido) and potency.

The effect on sexual libido and potency were evaluated by testing the effect of clove on multiple elements such as:

• The recovery from exhaustion after mating, which was shown to be greatly reduced by clove extract.
• The frequency of penile reflexes such as erection, among others, which showed their rise.

Therefore, this study revealed that clove extract produced a marked increase in sexual stamina and possesses sexual function improving property. 

Furthermore, an examination of the extract indicated that it includes components that may account for its aphrodisiac properties.

Effects on other hormonal levels

A research on clove’s effects on bucks found that it enhanced hormones that stimulate the genital organs (FSH in this case), resulting in greater sperm production. Prolactin, on the other hand, was shown to decrease with higher doses of clove extract, indicating that this latter might be utilized to extend the duration of mating, since a fall in prolactin levels has been shown to boost the duration of mating.

Finally, modest amounts of the extract may improve steroidal hormone levels while also aiding in achieving conception.

Effects on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Cloves possess an antiviral activity. Its major component, Eugenin, when isolated from clove buds, showed antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex virus which is a frequent sexually transmitted disease.

Given the multiple challenges that STDs pose in terms of sexual health and activity, this feature of cloves may enhance one’s sexual life.

Is it safe to use clove? Can it be dangerous or cause reverse effects?

Studies assessed the advantages and risks of cloves usage as a treatment:

On the one hand, some experts reported that clove doesn’t have any side effects. In the light of this, it may be regarded as a natural supplemental therapy in diverse sexual issues. Others, on the opposite hand, asserted that it might be poisonous at large dosages, deteriorate the testicles, and affect sperm production.

Additionally, it was reported that while low doses of clove increased testosterone production, higher doses caused its reduction leading to various sexual problems.

Therefore, these studies advocate the use of this flower bud as an aphrodisiac with caution.

It is always crucial to consult with a qualified health expert before utilizing any substances in the aim of treating health disorders including natural products.

Other health benefits of cloves

Along with their aphrodisiac activity, cloves were found to have various other benefits for health in general, including:

• Antimicrobial activity: It has been discovered that clove oil is quite powerful against a number of germs. 
• Antiviral activity.
• Chemopreventive activity: The incidence of cancers was effectively reduced by the usage of cloves.
• Hepatoprotective activity: Clove extract restored the activity of liver enzymes in serum towards normal values.
• Antioxidant activity: Clove may be looked upon as a champion of all antioxidants.
• Antidiabetic activity: Clove extract acts like insulin as they regulate the expression of many of the same genes in a similar manner.
• Anti-inflammatory activity
• Anti-platelet activity: It was found that some active constituents of clove were more potent than aspirin in inhibiting platelet aggregation.
• Anti-stress activity: The clove extract reduced the development of cold restraint-induced gastric ulcers and prevented the biochemical changes induced by sound stress. Clove extract was also effective in increasing the latency of anoxic stress-induced convulsions.
• Antipyretic effect: Eugenol, the chief constituent of clove oil, was more effective in reducing fever than some medicine. It reduced fever primarily through a central action similar to that of common antipyretic drugs.
• Anesthetic effect
• Mosquito repellent and insecticidal activity

Furthermore, Clove is demonstrated to be efficient for animals’ health problems. It has been promoted as part of a larger herbal formula to treat different ailments in pets.

References:

1. Parle, Milind & Khanna, Deepa. (2010). Clove: A champion spice. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. 2.
2. M. Ghazanfarpour, R. Sadeghi, R. Latifnejad Roudsari, I. Khorsand, T. Khadivzadeh & B. Muoio (2016) Red clover for treatment of hot flashes and menopausal symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 36:3, 301-311
3. Tajuddin, Ahmad, S., Latif, A., & Qasmi, I. A. (2003). Aphrodisiac activity of 50% ethanolic extracts of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) and Syzygium aromaticum (L) Merr. & Perry. (clove) in male mice: a comparative study. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3(1), 6.
4. Mishra, R. K., & Singh, S. K. (2008). Safety assessment of Syzygium aromaticum flower bud (clove) extract with respect to testicular function in mice. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 46(10), 3333–3338.
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6. Tajuddin, Ahmad, S., Latif, A., & Qasmi, I. A. (2004). Effect of 50% ethanolic extract of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. (clove) on sexual behaviour of normal male rats. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 4, 17.
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8. Okukpe, K.M. & Adebisi, Adeyina & Alli, O.I. & Ajao, B. & Odesanmi, Oluwatoyin & Olaniyi, A. & Adua, M.. (2020). Hormone inducive effects of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) extract on the reproductive performance of Bucks. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production. 45. 52-57.
9. Ofoego, Uzozie & Liman, Fatima & Nnabuihe, Ezejindu & Ekwujuru, Ezinne & Chijioke, Akudike. (2015). The Effects of Methanolic Extract of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove bud) on the Histology of Testis in Adult Male Wistar Rats.