✵The article records the herb Cloves, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—the plant species Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Cloves, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Flos Caryophylli (Cloves)
Pinyin Name: Dīnɡ Xiānɡ
English Name: Cloves
Latin Name:Flos Caryophylli Properties and Flavor: Warm, pungent
Brief introduction:Flos Caryophylli is the dried flower bud of Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb., used (1) to warm the stomach and relieve vomiting and hiccups due to cold, and (2) to warm the kidney and treat impotence. It is commonly known as Flos Caryophylli, Cloves, or Dīnɡ Xiānɡ.
Botanical source: Classical herbal works define Flos Caryophylli (Cloves) as the dried flower bud of (1) Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. It is a plant of the genus Syzygium Gaertn. (syn. Eugenia L.), family Myrtaceae (myrtle family), order Myrtales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.
Botanical Description:Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. is also known as Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry or Eugenia aromatica Kuntze. It is commonly known as Dīnɡ Xiānɡ. It is an evergreen tree reaching up to 10 m in height. Leaves are opposite; petioles are conspicuous; leaf blades are rectangular-ovate or rectangular-obovate, 5–10 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide; the apex is acuminate or sharply pointed; the base is cuneate and often decurrent onto the petiole; margins are entire.
Flowers are fragrant and arranged in terminal, compound cymes (definite inflorescences). Individual flowers are ~6 mm in diameter. The calyx is hypertrophied, greenish at first and later turning purplish; it is long-tubular with a 4-lobed apex; lobes are triangular. The corolla is white to slightly mauve (lilac), short-tubular, and 4-lobed. Stamens are numerous; anthers dehisce longitudinally. The ovary is inferior and fused with the calyx tube; the style is thick, and the stigma is inconspicuous.
Fruit berries are reddish-brown, rectangular-ovoid, 1–1.5 cm long and 5–8 mm in diameter; the apex bears persistent sepals (calyx lobes). Seeds are rectangular.
Ecological Environment: The tree grows in subtropical to warm-temperate zones—in subalpine and hillside forest margins—and in sunny shrublands of cold-temperate zones.
Growth Characteristics:Eugenia caryophyllata prefers a tropical, humid climate. Young trees are shade-tolerant (sciophilous) and sensitive to intense sunlight, exhibiting slow growth under full exposure. Mature trees require ample sunlight to flower early and profusely; they are intolerant of frost, waterlogging, and strong winds. Cultivation is best carried out in deep, fertile, well-drained sandy loam soils with pH 5.0–6.0.
Characteristics of the Herb: The flower buds are slightly rod-shaped (pestle-shaped), 1–2 cm long. The corolla is spheroidal (globular), 0.3–0.5 cm in diameter. Four petals are imbricated and tightly appressed; color ranges from tan (chocolate brown) to yellow-brown. Stamens and styles are enclosed within the petals; numerous yellow, granuliform (acinose) anthers become visible upon crushing. The calyx tube is terete, slightly oblate—sometimes gently curved—measuring 0.7–1.4 cm in length and 0.3–0.6 cm in diameter; it is reddish-brown or tan (chocolate brown), bearing four triangular sepals (perianth lobes) on the upper portion, arranged in a cruciform (cross-shaped) pattern. The herb has a firm, solid texture and is rich in volatile oil. It possesses a strong aromatic fragrance and a pungent, spicy taste that causes mild lingual numbness.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Stimulates gastric juice secretion, improves digestion, relieves nausea and vomiting, and alleviates abdominal flatulence; (2) Eugenol exhibits analgesic activity; (3) Exhibits anthelmintic activity against Taenia solium (pork tapeworm); (4) Shows inhibitory effects against bacteria and pathogenic fungi; (5) Inhibits influenza virus strain PR8.
Medicinal Efficacy: Warms the middle burner and suppresses adverse-rising Qi; warms the kidney and tonifies Yang. Indicated for spleen- and stomach-deficiency patterns, hiccup and vomiting, anorexia with vomiting and diarrhea, acid regurgitation, diarrhea and dysentery, cold-induced chest and abdominal pain, epigastric cold pain, kidney-Yang deficiency with impotence, coldness in the lumbar region and knees, dorsal furuncles, hypochondriac or abdominal masses, hernia, tinea, etc.
Administration of Flos Caryophylli (Dīnɡ Xiānɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Flos Caryophylli (Dīnɡ Xiānɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 1–3 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 0.3–1 qián (≈1–3 grams), or prepared as pills or powder; externally: apply an appropriate amount of finely ground herb powder as a topical paste; (3) Internally: water decoction, 2–5 grams, or prepared as pills or powder; externally: apply an appropriate amount of finely ground herb powder as a topical paste.
Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Flos Caryophylli should not be combined with Radix Curcumae.
✵The article records the herb Cloves, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—the plant species Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Cloves, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dīnɡ Xiānɡ
Botanical Description: Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. is also known as Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry or Eugenia aromatica Kuntze. It is commonly known as Dīnɡ Xiānɡ. It is an evergreen tree reaching up to 10 m in height. Leaves are opposite; petioles are conspicuous; leaf blades are rectangular-ovate or rectangular-obovate, 5–10 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide; the apex is acuminate or sharply pointed; the base is cuneate and often decurrent onto the petiole; margins are entire.
Flowers are fragrant and arranged in terminal, compound cymes (definite inflorescences). Individual flowers are ~6 mm in diameter. The calyx is hypertrophied, greenish at first and later turning purplish; it is long-tubular with a 4-lobed apex; lobes are triangular. The corolla is white to slightly mauve (lilac), short-tubular, and 4-lobed. Stamens are numerous; anthers dehisce longitudinally. The ovary is inferior and fused with the calyx tube; the style is thick, and the stigma is inconspicuous.
Ecological Environment: The tree grows in subtropical to warm-temperate zones—in subalpine and hillside forest margins—and in sunny shrublands of cold-temperate zones.
Characteristics of the Herb: The flower buds are slightly rod-shaped (pestle-shaped), 1–2 cm long. The corolla is spheroidal (globular), 0.3–0.5 cm in diameter. Four petals are imbricated and tightly appressed; color ranges from tan (chocolate brown) to yellow-brown. Stamens and styles are enclosed within the petals; numerous yellow, granuliform (acinose) anthers become visible upon crushing. The calyx tube is terete, slightly oblate—sometimes gently curved—measuring 0.7–1.4 cm in length and 0.3–0.6 cm in diameter; it is reddish-brown or tan (chocolate brown), bearing four triangular sepals (perianth lobes) on the upper portion, arranged in a cruciform (cross-shaped) pattern. The herb has a firm, solid texture and is rich in volatile oil. It possesses a strong aromatic fragrance and a pungent, spicy taste that causes mild lingual numbness.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Stimulates gastric juice secretion, improves digestion, relieves nausea and vomiting, and alleviates abdominal flatulence; (2) Eugenol exhibits analgesic activity; (3) Exhibits anthelmintic activity against Taenia solium (pork tapeworm); (4) Shows inhibitory effects against bacteria and pathogenic fungi; (5) Inhibits influenza virus strain PR8.
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