Clove Oil — Safety & Interactions

Ding Xiang You · Oleum Caryophylli

Contraindications

  • Undiluted internal use outside professional supervision
  • Hot-pattern vomiting, stomach heat, reflux with burning, or Yin-deficiency heat
  • Application to damaged mucosa or broken skin without careful dilution

Cautions

  • Clove oil is far more irritating than the whole herb and can cause mucosal burning, nausea, vomiting, or skin reactions if used too strongly.
  • Pediatric poisoning and liver injury have been reported with excessive ingestion of eugenol-rich clove oil; this is not a casual internal-use product.
  • Topical use should be diluted and oral use should remain practitioner-directed.

Drug Interactions

Drug Class / Substrate Mechanism Severity Source
Anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs - concentrated eugenol-rich oil may increase bleeding tendency
Hepatotoxic drugs - large internal exposures may add to liver stress

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.