Clove essential oil - active compounds

Chemical structure of eugenol

The most active compound in clove essential oil is Eugenol – 72% to 90%. This is the compound that is responsible for the aroma of cloves. Eugenol is used in the perfume industry, also, used for flavoring, essential oils and in particular in medicine as a local antiseptic and anesthetic.

Other active compounds found in the essential oil of cloves are: -

·      Acetyl Eugenol

·      Beta-caryophllene

·      Vanillin

·      Crategolic acid

·      Gallotannic acid

·      Methyl salicylate – a pain killer

·      Flavonoids

·      Eugenin

·      Kaempferol

·      Rhamnetin

·      Eugenitin

·      Triterpenoids – oleanolic acid

·      Stigmasterol

·      Ampesterol

·      Sesquiterpenes

Pure pharmacopoeia eugenol 

Of the dried buds of cloves – 15 – 20 percent is essential oil and the majority of it is eugenol.

It takes 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of dried clove buds to yield and approximately ¼ pint or 150 ml of essential oil.

Clove - Syzygium aromaticum

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Plantae 

 Phylum: Angiosperms 

 (unranked): Eudicots 

 (unranked): Rosids 

 Order: Myrtales

Family: Myrtaceae 

 Genus: Syzygium 

 Species: S. aromaticum

BIONOMIAL NAME

Syzygium aromanticum

SYNONYMS

                                                                                 Caryophyllus aromaticus L.

  Eugenia aromatica (L.) Baill.

Eugenia caryophyllus

  Eugenia caryophyllata Thumb. 

(Spreng.) Bullock & S. G. Harrison

    

The clove tree is an evergreen tree and native to the islands of 

Indonesia – the Maluku islands, Malaysia, 

the continent of India, the island of Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

They are aromatic dried flower buds from trees that grow to heights of 8-12 meters. 

Their leaves are large and bear reddish flowers that are clustered. 

They start of pale and when ripe the flowers turn red, ready for harvest.

The cloves are about 1.5 to 2.0 cm – they have a calyx, with four terminating sepals 

and four unbloomed petals that form a small ball in the center.

Clove oil from an Ayurvedic perspective

Cloves have many medicinal virtues. They are stimulant. They are useful in counteracting spasmodic disorders and in relieving flatulence. They help stimulate sluggish circulation and thereby promote digestion and metabolism .In the Indian system of medicine cloves are used in various conditions either in the form of powder or a decoction made of them. Clove oil applied outwardly, has stimulating effects on the skin, producing heat and redness.
The clove herb keeps food fresh because the main active component of cloves is    eugenol, which has long been known to help kill bacteria and viruses" says Gary Elmer, Ph.D., associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle.
By killing bacteria, eugenol helps keep meat fresh and prevents stomach upset, diarrhea, and wound infections.

Healing uses and benefits of Cloves:
•
Mouth Care: Clove oil is suggested for toothaches, and can help freshen breath.You may have tasted the sweet-hot flavor of clove oil in over-the-counter toothache medicines.
Try a drop of this healing oil (available at drugstores and health-food stores) to ease an aching tooth until you can see a dentist.
Relieve indigestion: The herb's usefulness in supporting normal digestive system function has yet to be confirmed in humans, but laboratory studies indicate that it may be effective. Control diarrhea:An ingredient in clove fights the bacteria responsible for diarrhea-the ailment you get from drinking the water in regions where health standards are substandard.
Heals cuts and bites: Studies show that the oil in cloves can help kill several strains of staphylococcus bacteria and one strain of pseudomonas-organisms that can cause skin infections.

By Ayurpatra - Ayurveda India

Managing anosmia holistically

MANAGEMENT - Treatment depends on the cause of a smell or taste disorder. Nasal steams with essential oils offer relief of the blockage and    tonification of the membranes.

Karpooradi oil,Eucalyptus oil can be used in nasal steam.

Jala Neti-- Blockages can sometimes be resolved through    naso-specific therapy--a way of realigning the nasal cavities.Neti can be called a "nasal douche". Take warm water, which is slightly above the body temperature. Add salt to this water at the rate of half a teaspoon per glass of 300 ml. This is equal to the salinity of the mucous secretions in the respiratory system. Saturated salt water has
high osmotic pressure. It is a law in physics that fluid flows from low osmotic pressure to higher osmotic pressure. In inflammatory conditions of nasal cavity including sinuses, there is congestion and edema of nasal mucosa. Naturally during " Jalaneti" fluid from mucosal cells comes out which relieves the congestion and edema very fast. This helps in better functioning of    mucosal cells and also opens up closed openings of the sinuses in nasal cavity.
In our nose there are nerve endings of olfactory nerve, which are responsible for our sense of smell. During " Jalaneti" these nerve endings are stimulated by saline that give us very pleasant sensations. These pleasant sensations have a very beneficial effect on    centre of emotions located in limbic systems of brain. Thus    Neti improves sensitivity of the olfactory nerves, helping to restore lost sense of smell, and thereby benefits the relationship with taste and the digestive processes.

Nasya -It is a process by which drug is administered through the nostrils.    Nasyakarma enhance the activity of sense organs and prevent the diseases of head (    urdhwanga). The nose is the gateway to the brain and to consciousness. Prana or vital energy enters the body through breath taken in through the nose. Nasal administration of medication helps to correct the disorders of    prana affecting the higher cerebral, sensory and motor functions.    Nasya is indicated for dryness of the nose, sinus congestion, hoarseness, migraine headache,    neurodegenerative conditions (i.e. multiple sclerosis), convulsions and certain eye and ear problems.

Shiroabhyanga - The head massage serves to open the    srotas in the head, neck and shoulder regions. This treatment nourishes the five senses by focusing on the    ‘marma points’, many of which are located around the head. These points, when gently massaged have a hugely calming and balancing effect throughout the body and nervous system.
Herbs and formulations – Tulsi,Ginger,Garlic,Cloves,Vyoshadi    vati,, Agastya haritaki, Lavangadi churna,Panchamrit ras, Nardiya Laxmivilas Ras are useful herbs and combinations in this disorder.

You may consult our Ayurveda experts through on line consultation or personally.

By Ayurpatra - Ayurveda India

Cause and symptoms of anosmia

Anosmia occurs from either an obstruction in the nose or nerve damage. An obstruction prevents odors from reaching the delicate nerve fibers of the nose. The most common cause of    anosmia is nasal occlusion caused by rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal membranes). If no air gets to the olfactory nerves, smell will not happen. In turn,    rhinitis and nasal polyps (growths on nasal membranes) are caused by irritants.

Anosmia can also follow a head injury or an acute or chronic attack of allergies. Many medications may change or decrease the ability to detect odors. The sense of smell is often lost with disorders like tumours, or surgery of the brain. It may also be due to zinc deficiency. Tobacco smoking is the most concentrated form of pollution that most people will ever be exposed to. It impairs the ability to identify odors. Hormonal disturbances or dental problems are also a cause.    Anosmia can occur as a part of other loss of function of the brain.

With the loss of sense of smell there can also be a loss of taste. Distortion of function-foods or odors that normally are pleasant may taste or smell odd or distorted, perhaps with an unpleasant smell. Victims may not be able to distinguish    flavours .

By Ayurpatra - Ayurveda India

Ayurveda and the pathology of smell

Ayurveda says that everything in this universe is made up of 5 elements so is our body.
From Akasha (Ether) came the Shrotendriya (organ of hearing) 

From Vayu (Air) came the Tvagindriya (organ of touch) 

From Agni (Fire)came the Chakshrindriya (organ of vision) 

From Jala (Water)came the Jihvendriya (organ of taste) 

and From Prithvi (Earth)came the Ghranendriya (organ of smell).

It must be borne in mind that Indriya does not mean the physical organ,these are are sense perception medias. Thus it carries connotations of dominance or control. For example, the nose is an organ. In it is situated a subtle Indriya called Nasa (nose). If this Indriya is defective, the person will not be able to smell although his nostrils are normal. Just as Prana is vital for the
physical body,Indriyas are vital for the organs of perception. It should therefore be understood that the subtle elements give rise to the Indriyas and not the organs."
The Ayurvedic texts define the source of all disease and suffering as    pragyaparadh, or "the mistake of the intellect." This occurs when individuals (or even single cells) "forget" their connection with the wholeness of life and believe themselves to be isolated entities. Creating, and then eating, genetically engineered foods exposes us to    pragyaparadh.
We are all threads in the fabric of creation, say ancient    Ayurvedic texts. To believe ourselves to be the weavers, capable of successfully manipulating nature's intelligence, is a symptom ofpragyaparadh—and the assumption reveals our ultimate    naiveté.The genetic program of a living organism is vastly more powerful and more complex than limited human intelligence.
To keep our nasal strength good we all must be very careful for the smells. Be it in the form of perfumes, aromas, spices, cooking, fumes, or smoke.

By Ayurpatra - Ayurveda India

Anosmia - lost of smell

ANOSMIA comes from the Greek; an [no] - osmia [smell]. 

Of the five senses, smell ranks fourth in importance for humans, although it is much more pronounced in other animals. Taste, considered the fifth sense, is mostly the smell of food in the mouth. 

The sense of smell originates from the first cranial nerves (the olfactory    nerves). A small area on the mucous membrane that lines the nose (the olfactory epithelium) contains specialized nerve cells called smell receptors.

The sense of smell originates from the first cranial nerves (the olfactory    nerves). A small area on the mucous membrane that lines the nose (the olfactory epithelium) contains specialized nerve cells called smell receptors.
These receptors have hair like projections (cilia) that detect odors. Airborne molecules entering the nasal passage stimulate the cilia, triggering a nerve impulse in nearby nerve fibers. The fibers extend upward through the bone that forms the roof of the nasal cavity ( cribriform plate) and connect to enlargements of nerve cells (olfactory bulbs) that form the cranial nerves of smell (olfactory nerves). The impulse travels through the olfactory bulbs, along the olfactory nerves, to the brain. The brain interprets the impulse as a distinct odor. Also, the area of the brain where memories of odors are stored —the middle part of the temporal lobe —is stimulated. The memories enable a person to distinguish and identify many different odors experienced over a lifetime.

A reduced ability to smell ( hyposmia) and loss of smell ( anosmia) are the most common disorders of smell and taste. Because distinguishing one flavor from another is based largely on smell, people often first notice that their ability to smell is reduced when their food seems tasteless.

By Ayurpatra - Ayurveda India

Restoring the memories - a formula

The following is excerpted from Aromatherapy: A Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley.

‘The brain remains a mystery in many ways. Scientists are still puzzled about the multitude of functions and capabilities the human brain possesses. Memories can be triggered by any of the senses, but the strongest association is made through the sense of smell.’

Energize Me

A stimulating foot bath:
2 drops Pine essential oil Pine-8
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
1 drop Clary Sage essential oil
1 drop Peppermint essential oil
2 Tablespoons of Bath Salts (Even Epsom salts will work)
Basin of cold water
A Towel

Mix the essential oils in the bath salts. Add the aromatic salts to the basin of cold water and stir with your hands. Sit comfortably in a chair, allowing your feet to soak in the foot bath for 20 minutes. Sit quietly while doing some deep breathing exercises. Page 252.

Reversal of Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease

From healthblog.net by Art Writ, December 1st, 2011

The loss of sense of smell or olfaction, which was one of the earliest known impairments caused by Alzheimer’s disease, can be restored by removing a plaque-forming protein in a mouse model of the disease, according to a study led by a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researcher. The study confirms that the protein, called amyloid beta, causes the loss.
Daniel Wesson, assistant professor of neuroscience at Case Western Reserve and lead investigator stated that the findings indicate we can use the sense of smell to determine if someone may get Alzheimer’s disease, and use changes in sense of smell to begin treatments, instead of waiting until someone has issues learning and remembering, as well as knowing if therapies are working. He also stated that understanding smell loss would hold some clues about how to slow down this disease.
Currently, there is no effective treatment or cure for the disease, which is displayed by eroding senses, cognition and coordination, leading to death. Wesson and his team found out that a tiny amount of amyloid beta, too little to be seen on today’s brain scans, causes smell loss in mouse models. Amyloid beta plaque accumulated first in parts of the brain associated with smell, before accumulating in areas associated with cognition and coordination.

Early on, the olfactory bulb, where smell information from the nose is processed, became hyperactive. Over time, however, the level of amyloid beta increased in the olfactory bulb and the bulb became hypoactive. Despite spending more time sniffing, the mice failed to remember, identify, and detect smells and became incapable of differentiating odors. This same pattern of olfaction loss is seen in people with Alzheimer’s. They become unresponsive to smells as age progresses. While losses in the olfactory system occurred, the rest of the mouse model brain (including the hippocampus being the center for memory) continued to act normally early in the disease stage. Wesson concluded that this shows the unique vulnerability of the olfactory system to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

The team then attempted to reverse the effects. Mice were administered a synthetic liver x-receptor agonist, a drug that clears amyloid beta from the brain. After two weeks on the drug, the mice could process and distinguish smells normally. After withdrawal of the drug for a week, the olfactory impairments returned. Wesson and his team are now following-up and expanding on these findings to determine how amyloid spreads throughout the brain, to learn methods of slowing progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Related tags

• Alzheimer’s disease • Alzheimer’s • Alzheimer\s reversal • Alzheimer synthetic liver x-receptor agonist • Alzheimer’s reversal • Alzheimer’s reversal by restoring sense of smell • newest Alzheimer’s drugs • olfaction • Reversal

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Extraction Methods: Solvents

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide CO2 Extraction

This is the first choice for aroma extraction, decaffeination, defatting, pesticide removal, phytoextraction, and sterilization. It has become an important commercial and industrial method to extract chemicals due to its low toxicity and environmental impact.

The process uses a relatively low temperature and with the stability of CO2 it allows for compounds that are extracted from plant sources like essential oils to encounter limited damage or chemical denaturing.

Supercritical CO2 is the fluid state of carbon dioxide and it is temperature and pressure is held at or above its critical stage. When this happens CO2 can adopt properties midway between a gas and a liquid. It begins to behave as a supercritical fluid, expanding to fill a container like a gas but with a density that of a fluid.

Supercritical fluid is where distinct liquid and gas phases are non-existent.  It causes molecules to go through solids like a gas and dissolve materials like a liquid.  Small changes in pressure and temperature when close to its critical point – where phases in boundaries do not exist it will allow for many properties to be re-fined within that extracted material.

The common solvents used in this method of extraction instead of chemical solvents are CO2 and water as supercritical fluids.

The cost can be prohibitive however the yield of the essential oils is superior in quality and sterilization.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercritical_carbon_dioxide

Extraction methods of essential oils

Extractions methods are the most important aspect of getting the highest quality yield of an essential oil. The best extraction methods usually will minimize damage to the plant material and the essential oil.

The wrong application of extraction to a particular plant material can and will destroy the chemical signature and damage the oil.

These are some of the methods of extraction that are used:

1.    CO2—1st choice for aroma extraction, decaffeination, defatting, pesticide removal, phytoextraction, and sterilization.

2.    Distillation - converts the volatile liquid (the essential oils) into a vapor and then condenses the vapor back into a liquid.

It is the most popular, and cost effective method in use today in     producing essential oils. There various methods within this category:

a)   Water distillation

b)   Steam distillation

c)    Hydro diffusion

d)   Cohobation

e)   Rectification

f)     Water and steam distillation

g)   Fractional distillation

3.    Expression - is a cold pressed method of extraction, which is       mostly used in the extraction of citrus essential oils.

a)   Sponge expression

b)   Ecuelle a piquer

c)    Machine abrasion

4.    Solvent extraction – this is a method where solvents are used to coax the essential oils out of the botanical material and there are various ways are also used in this method.

a)   Maceration

b)   Enfleurage

c)    Solvent

d)   Hypercritical Carbon dioxide CO