Today's protagonist is the plant specially mentioned in our essential oil class — clove. Clove has been widely used in both modern medicine and the ancient Eastern and Western worlds.
The Wide Uses of Clove From Ancient Times to Present
A Water-Soluble Medicine for Sterilization and Pain Relief
Clove contains eugenol, which inherently possesses sterilizing and analgesic effects, so it is often used in modern medicine's water-based painkillers.
The Chewing Gum of the Nobles
In the ancient Eastern world, ministers would chew cloves to maintain fresh breath, avoiding bad breath while reporting to the emperor so as not to displease him.
An Elven Plant to Ward Off Evil and Dispel Negative Energy
In the ancient Western world, clove was rumored to be an elven plant that could only be obtained through a trade with elves. The condition of the trade was whether a person possessed pure goodness, and it was also known as "Tears of the God of Love." When my essential oil teacher explained this, I blankly asked: "Why cry...?" The teacher immediately caught my point and laughed: "From being moved! You don't just cry when you're sad!" Additionally, many Western magic practices use clove; it is a gentle application for dispelling negative energy and warding off misfortune.
Practiced What We Preach!
Purification/Evil-Warding Healing Candle
The amazing part is that even before I got to know this plant, one of my healing candles for purification and warding off evil already used clove. I still remember how my teacher was surprised when she learned about my formula. She said it was a great match but didn't elaborate; now I finally understand why.
An Extreme Soul Experiment (or Joke) - Surviving in the Cracks
As someone who is used to acting things out and whose soul leans towards extremes, I conducted an experiment that I didn't find funny but my teacher and classmates found hilarious 🥹. Thinking that our ancestors chewed cloves, I decided to taste the cloves my teacher had (?). Let me just give the biggest conclusion about cloves first: If I had a cat, it would need to have nine lives, otherwise, it would easily lose its life due to my curiosity... 😔
Upon biting into it... Wow, I really didn't expect it to be so intense. Where was the promised gentleness?? In class, it was mentioned that its exorcism effect was relatively mild compared to another plant, so my mind just kept thinking: "Mild means there is no danger," completely failing to connect it to the fact that it is an "analgesic anesthetic." Instantly, saliva filled my mouth, and it was all spicy! Because I bit the clove with my right teeth, the right half of my mouth gradually went numb (anesthetic effect confirmed). For the first time in my life, I felt grateful that teeth have height. I held the clove between my upper and lower teeth so that it wouldn't directly contact the oral mucosa or my tongue—practicing a literal "survival in the cracks". I still kept the clove in my mouth to see if a second bite would yield an aftertaste or something even more amazing. In that moment, I silently paid my highest respects to my own experimental spirit 🫡.
Confirming "Edibility" After Risking My Life 😇
The clove's intense effect, which hadn't yet faded, left me speechless—because I couldn't swallow my saliva at all! It was so spicy... If I needed to speak, I would unavoidably lisp and drool. At this point, I deeply and genuinely marvel at the ancients. It turns out that when literature always showed them as tall and burly, they were truly physically strong 💪🏻. Anyway, I believe it now. After my "intimate contact" with clove, I don't think it is possible to erase this from my brain's database in this lifetime. A classmate asked if there were cases of students from other classes trying it directly. The teacher laughed and said: "No, there really haven't been. Now I can share this with other students in the future." The inner thought occupying my mind but which I couldn't express: How could there not be? Lastly... [⚠️ Friendly Reminder: Please do not try this lightly, and never consume anything directly just because it's "edible"!]