Cloves contain one compound that is particularly potent, called eugenol. This component acts in a very similar manner to cinnamaldehyde.

Eugenol works by inhibiting an enzyme that’s responsible for causing an inflammatory response. This is actually the same enzyme that those NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), making cloves and clove oil one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatories that you can find.

Dosages of clove oil can be effective at reducing inflammation topically with as little as a single drop.