Many of us will be cooking with sweet, spicy cloves this holiday season, but did you know that cloves have an ancient and respected history as healers and beauty-promoters, as well? During the ancient Han dynasty of China, for instance, cloves were called “tongue spice,” valued for their breath-freshening powers, and courtiers were required to hold them in their mouths when talking to the emperor.

Find out how you can use cloves to freshen your breath (we include a great mouthwash formula), heal indigestion, fight airborne germs, and alleviate stress and exhaustion–all very timely during the holidays.

To Fight Airborne Germs
Place 2 to 3 drops essential oil of cloves in a diffuser.

Mouthwash for Bad Breath
Place 1 drop essential oil of clove in a cup of water, stirring to mix well. Swish in mouth, spit out, then rinse with clear water.

Simple Breath Freshener
Hold a clove in your mouth, or chew it.

To Help Alleviate Exhaustion and Stress
Put 2 to 3 drops of essential clove oil in a diffuser. This will also help to strengthen mental function.