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Lavanga लवङ्ग
Syzygium aromaticum · Myrtaceae
Also known as: Clove, Laung, Long, Lavang
Part used: Flower bud
Lavanga (Syzygium aromaticum) is the clove, a dried flower bud that is both a kitchen spice and a genuine local anaesthetic. Ayurveda uses it for toothache, nausea, cough and indigestion. Its eugenol content is the reason a clove pressed against an aching tooth actually works.
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Syzygium aromaticum
- Part used: Flower bud
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Bud powder 0.25–1 g, or clove oil externally for toothache; used in digestive and respiratory formulas.
Lavanga in other languages
Introduction
Lavanga (clove, Syzygium aromaticum) is the aromatic flower bud used for toothache, nausea, cough and digestion. Pungent yet cooling in effect, it is a potent, fragrant medicinal spice.
Classification
Of the Myrtaceae family, Lavanga is grouped among the Deepana and Chardighna (antiemetic) dravyas. Its pungent taste, penetrating quality and cooling potency settle the stomach and clear Kapha.
Uses & benefits
Clove is used for toothache, applied locally, and internally for nausea, vomiting and poor appetite. It is also a Kasahara drug given in cough with thin, watery sputum. Its oil is strongly heating and is used in drop doses.
Lavanga for toothache
The best-known use worldwide. Eugenol is a genuine local anaesthetic and antiseptic — clove oil is still used in dentistry.
Lavanga for nausea
A classical anti-emetic, chewed or taken as a powder for nausea and vomiting.
Lavanga for cough
Sucked slowly or taken with honey for cough and throat irritation, its warmth easing congestion.
Lavanga for indigestion
Deepana and Pachana, used for poor appetite and bloating.
Lavanga for bad breath
Chewed after food as an antiseptic aromatic, a use as old as the spice trade itself.
Lavanga for hiccups
Named in Hikka in the classical texts.
Lavanga for sore throat
Used as a gargle in the decoction, or the bud held in the mouth.
Lavanga for asthma
Used in Shwasa within respiratory compounds such as Sitopaladi and Talisadi.
Lavanga for headache
Clove paste applied to the forehead is a traditional remedy for cold-type headache.
Lavanga in Lavangadi Vati
The lead drug of the classical cough tablet, sucked slowly for throat and cough complaints.
Dosage — how much to take
Bud powder 0.25–1 g, or clove oil externally for toothache; used in digestive and respiratory formulas. Follow your Vaidya's advice.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Lavanga?
The citations held for Lavanga in this catalogue are: Charaka Samhita (Chardi & Kasa context); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Karpuradi Varga).
What does the Charaka Samhita record about Lavanga?
Cited for nausea and cough. Reference: Charaka Samhita — Chardi & Kasa context.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Lavanga?
Described as Deepana and Chardighna (antiemetic). Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga.
What is Lavanga traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Clove is used for toothache, applied locally, and internally for nausea, vomiting and poor appetite. It is also a Kasahara drug given in cough with thin, watery sputum. Its oil is strongly heating and is used in drop doses.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Lavanga?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Lavanga classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Lavanga carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Lavanga is used medicinally?
The part used is Flower bud.
How much Lavanga is taken, and how?
Bud powder 0.25–1 g, or clove oil externally for toothache; used in digestive and respiratory formulas. Follow your Vaidya's advice. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Lavanga be avoided?
Safe as a food spice; clove oil is potent — use externally with care.
Where does Lavanga grow?
Clove is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, cultivated in the humid tropics of southern India.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakash Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga
Described as Deepana and Chardighna (antiemetic). - Charaka Samhita — Chardi & Kasa context
Cited for nausea and cough.
Modern research
-
Clove Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction, Chemical Composition, Food Applications, and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health
(see source). Nutrients (2021)
A review of clove (Lavanga) essential oil documenting its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and analgesic (including dental) bioactivity, driven by eugenol.
View study doi:10.3390/molecules26216387
Safety & precautions
Safe as a food spice; clove oil is potent — use externally with care.
Where it grows
Clove is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, cultivated in the humid tropics of southern India.
Frequently asked questions
Does clove really help toothache?
Yes — this is one traditional remedy with clear pharmacology behind it. Eugenol is a local anaesthetic and antiseptic, and clove oil is still used in dentistry. Press a whole clove against the tooth or apply diluted oil, and see a dentist: it relieves pain but does not treat the cause.
What is the dose of Lavanga?
Bud powder 125–500 mg per day — a small dose, since it is potent. One or two whole cloves chewed after food. Clove oil is used externally, diluted, and only a drop at a time.
Is clove oil safe to put on gums?
Diluted, and briefly. Undiluted clove oil burns the gum and mucous membrane and can damage tissue with repeated use. Dilute it in a carrier oil, apply a small amount on cotton wool, and do not use it continuously for more than a day or two.
Can clove help nausea?
It is a classical anti-emetic and chewing a clove or taking the powder with honey is a standard remedy for nausea, including in pregnancy at culinary quantities.
Who should avoid clove?
Medicinal doses should be avoided in pregnancy and by anyone on blood thinners, since eugenol affects clotting. Do not give clove oil to children — ingestion has caused liver injury and seizures in small children.
What is Lavanga called in Hindi?
Laung. In English it is clove. The spice is the dried unopened flower bud, which is why it has that distinctive nail shape — clove comes from the Latin clavus, meaning nail.
Is clove warming or cooling?
Warming (Ushna virya), so it suits cold, congested conditions and may aggravate Pitta and hyperacidity in quantity. It is one of the warmer aromatics, unlike cardamom.
