☯️Traditional Chinese Medicine

Cloves (Ding Xiang)

Syzygium aromaticum

About Cloves (Ding Xiang)

Cloves (Ding Xiang) (Syzygium aromaticum) is a herb used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine tradition to help with Digestive Issues, Nausea, Pain, and Libido, among 1 other condition it addresses. The flower buds are the part traditionally used, used both internally and topically.

Botanical background

Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Cloves are commercially harvested primarily in Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. Cloves are available throughout the year.

Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist

Parts used

Flower Buds · both
🍵

Tea / Infusion

1–3 cups daily
  • Steep 1–2 tsp of dried Cloves (Ding Xiang) in freshly boiled water for 5–10 minutes.
  • Cover while steeping.
  • Strain and drink.
💧

Tincture

20–40 drops in water, 2–3× daily
  • Pack dried Cloves (Ding Xiang) into a jar and cover with 40–60% alcohol.
  • Seal and steep for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily.
  • Strain and store in a dark dropper bottle.
💊

Powder / Capsule

500 mg – 1 g, 1–3× daily
  • Grind dried Cloves (Ding Xiang) into a fine powder.
  • Fill size 00 capsules or stir into smoothies or honey.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Children

Pregnancy

Use Caution

Culinary use is fine; concentrated clove oil is a strong mucous-membrane irritant and has a traditional uterine-stimulant reputation at medicinal doses — best avoided beyond occasional culinary seasoning.

Breastfeeding

Likely Safe

Normal culinary use is considered compatible with breastfeeding.

Children

Use Caution

Culinary amounts are fine; clove oil is a potent local anesthetic/irritant and should always be heavily diluted, never applied undiluted to a child's gums or skin.

Contraindications

    Warnings

    ⚠️ Allergic Reactions

    Discontinue immediately if you experience rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

    ⚠️ Not Medical Advice

    This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal remedies.

    Drug & herb interactions

    No specific drug or herb interactions are documented for Cloves (Ding Xiang) in our references. This doesn’t mean none exist — always check with a pharmacist or doctor before combining any new herb with prescription medication.

    Where to find in nature

    Native region

    China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan

    Climate

    Temperate to subtropical

    Habitat

    Mountain forests, river valleys, and cultivated herb farms throughout East Asia

    🌿 To see Cloves (Ding Xiang) growing, visit botanical gardens, university plant collections, or specialist herb nurseries near you. If foraging in the wild, always work with an expert identifier — never consume a plant you are not 100% certain of.

    Where to buy

    In store

    • Chinese herbal medicine shops and TCM clinics
    • Chinatown herbal stores and Asian supermarkets with herbal sections
    • Health food stores (Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Holland & Barrett, GNC)
    • Naturopathic clinics and integrative medicine practices
    • Specialist herbal apothecaries and herbalist practices

    Online

    iHerb

    Wide selection of standardised extracts, capsules, and powders with lab testing

    Mountain Rose Herbs

    Premium bulk dried herbs — certified organic, ethically sourced

    Starwest Botanicals

    Large selection of certified organic bulk herbs and powders

    Herb Pharm

    High-quality liquid extracts and tinctures, rigorous quality standards

    Amazon

    Convenient — verify brand certifications and check third-party testing

    Etsy

    Small-batch artisan herbalists, hand-harvested and wildcrafted herbs

    Quality tips

    When buying Cloves (Ding Xiang), look for: certified organic labelling, clearly stated country of origin, third-party lab testing for heavy metals and pesticides, and a batch expiry date. Standardised extracts offer consistent dosing; bulk dried herbs are more economical for regular use. Avoid very cheap, unlabelled products — quality varies enormously.