Is It Safe To Use Clove Oil During Pregnancy?

The right amount of clove oil is important to get only the benefits and not the side effects.

Reviewed by Jyoti Benjamin, MS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD Jyoti Benjamin Jyoti BenjaminMS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Clinical dietitianExperience: 25 years
Written by , B.Tech Ria Saha B.Tech Follow MomJunction on LinkedinMomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Pregnancy and Baby FoodExperience: 9 years
Edited by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
Fact-checked by , MSc Lorraine Teron MSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Health & WellnessExperience: 2 years
Last Updated on
✔ Research-backed

MomJunction believes in providing reliable, research-backed information to you. As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us.

Clove Oil During Pregnancy

Image: ShutterStock

Clove oil is made of cloves and has many medicinal uses. It is used as a home remedy to treat many ailments such as toothache, diarrhea, halitosis, nausea, vomiting, gas, indigestion, and hernia. Still, is it advisable to use clove oil when pregnant? Scroll through our post to know about the types, safety, and side effects of using clove oil in pregnancy.

In This Article

What Is Clove Oil?

Clove is an herb, and its oil, clove oil, is commonly used as a natural medicine for various ailments. It is known for its effectiveness in treating conditions like diarrhea, bad breath, and hernia. Essential oils like clove oil have become increasingly popular in aromatherapy due to their natural healing properties and antiseptic qualities. In some cases, it is also used as a safe alternative to treat conditions like nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and intestinal gas.

protip_icon Quick fact
Eugenol is the major constituent of clove oil and is responsible for its effects (1).

Is It Safe To Use Clove Oil During Pregnancy?

Using small amounts of clove oil is generally safe during pregnancy, as it may help boost immunity and support overall health.

However, it is crucial to consult with your doctor and obtain confirmation before using clove oil. While insufficient information is available to assess its safety during pregnancy, it is best to exercise caution until your doctor advises otherwise to ensure fetal and maternal health and safety.

Using Clove Oil To Treat Tooth Pain While You Are Pregnant

Clove oil may be used to manage toothache during pregnancy

Image: Shutterstock

Once your doctor gives you the go-ahead, you can use clove oil to treat tooth pain at home.

Take a whole clove and chew on the same slowly. The oils that the clove releases will seep into your sore tooth and gums, and help treat your toothache in a safe and natural way. Even though clove oil is available in the market, it is better to use a clove.

Large quantities of clove oil can cause significant damage to the nerve, and trigger many changes in the fetus’s physiology. Make sure you do not chew more than one or two cloves a day. Once the clove oil starts to flow, you will notice a considerable amount of relief from pain as early as within half an hour.

Clove oil has been found to increase the release of oxytocin, which may help in prenatal care and labor pain management. It may also effectively treat acne and stress relief in pregnant women. However, more studies are warranted to confirm the benefits of clove oil for expectant mothers.

protip_icon Quick tip
Alternatively, you may grind four to five cloves with a teaspoon of edible oil (olive oil or coconut oil). Apply the extract on the affected tooth with a cotton ball.

What Are The Types Of Clove Oil?

Types of clove oil include bud oil, leaf oil, and stem oil.

Image: Shutterstock

Clove oil occurs in three variants when you purchase it from the market. Here are the three types:

  • Bud Oil: It is the oil that is derived from the flower buds of the clove plant.
  • Leaf Oil: It is the oil that is derived from the leaves of the clove plant.
  • Stem Oil: It is the oil that is derived from the twigs of the clove plant.

Does Using Clove Oil During Pregnancy Have Any Side Effects?

Clove oil has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and may offer potential benefits for maternal health during pregnancy. But, taking clove oil in large quantities can cause significant side effects and damage your health. It can be harmful when you are pregnant, as it can not only affect you but can also cause health complications in your unborn baby. Here are some of the side effects of using too much clove oil:

  • It can cause significant difficulty in breathing.

    Clove oil may lead to breathing difficulties during pregnancy

    Image: Shutterstock

  • Your heartbeat can increase
  • You may experience sudden sleepiness or dizziness.
  • A sudden episode of diarrhea
  • A sore throat
  • Burns in the mouth or throat
  • In severe cases, it can also lead to bleeding in your intestine as well as kidney or liver failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can cloves cause miscarriage?

There’s currently no evidence that cloves can cause miscarriage. Moderate intake of clove during pregnancy is generally considered safe, but its excessive intake can cause health issues, which may include miscarriage risk.

2. Are cloves beneficial during early pregnancy?

Traditional and folk medicine uses cloves to treat and/or manage several ailments, such as congestion and morning sickness, and is believed to have some health benefits for expecting women. However, scientific evidence on cloves’ benefits during early pregnancy is sparse.

3. Can I drink clove water during early pregnancy?

Clove water’s safety for expectant mothers is unknown. Thus, pregnant women should consume clove water only after consulting with their doctor.

You may use smaller quantities of clove oil when you are pregnant if your healthcare provider permits. Detailed safety information on clove oil is currently not available, and overconsumption may negatively affect pregnant women. This may cause increased heartbeat, breathing difficulties, throat pain, dizziness, sleepiness, and diarrhea. You may chew a clove or use prescription pain reliefs instead of clove oil for tooth pain in pregnancy. Excess amounts can also burn the mouth or throat and cause intestinal irritation and bleeding. Seek immediate medical care for side effects.

Infographic: Adverse Effects Of Using Clove Oil In Pregnant Women

Using cloves can be good for treating toothache during pregnancy but it may have some side effects as well. While not all pregnant women will be affected, it is important to be aware of these potential side effects. So, check out the infographic below to learn about some common side effects of using clove oil when pregnant.

possible side effects of clove oil during (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • Clove oil is made from cloves and has many medicinal uses, particularly treating toothache and nausea.
  • Clove oil is mainly considered safe during pregnancy in small amounts.
  • However, it is best to consult a doctor before using clove oil during pregnancy.
  • Clove oil is mainly used to treat diarrhea, sore throat, bad breath, and hernia.
  • Using clove oil in large quantities during pregnancy can lead to side effects such as breathing difficulties, increased heartbeat, dizziness, and burning in the mouth or throat.

Illustration: Is It Safe To Use Clove Oil During Pregnancy?

Clove Oil When You Are Pregnant_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Eugenol (Clove Oil).
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551727/
Was this article helpful?
Like buttonDislike button

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.

Jyoti Benjamin
Jyoti BenjaminMS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD
Jyoti Benjamin has 25 years of experience as a clinical dietitian and currently works in Seattle. She focuses on teaching people the value of good nutrition and helping them lead healthy lives by natural means.Benjamin has a masters in Foods and Nutrition, and has been a longtime member and Fellow of AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the International Confederation of Dietetic Association.

Read full bio of Jyoti Benjamin
Ria Saha
Ria SahaB.Tech
Ria is a techie-turned-writer and writes articles on health, with special emphasis on nutrition. She did her B.Tech from West Bengal University of Technology and was previously associated with IBM as SAP ABAP technical consultant.

Read full bio of Ria Saha
Swati Patwal
Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA
Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Lorraine Teron
Lorraine TeronMSc
Lorraine is a postgraduate in Life Science from Mount Carmel College and previously worked as a freelance scientific illustrator. As a project associate and lab technician at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Lorraine received valuable insights into Covid-19, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and neuro-degenerative diseases.

Read full bio of Lorraine Teron