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Claim: Several Facebook posts claimed that cloves soaked in hot water could put an end to female infertility and other hormonal issues.
Verdict: False! Findings from research reports and medical experts showed no scientific evidence to support the claim.
Full Text
Recently, some social media users circulated posts claiming that cloves soaked in hot water have the potential to help cure female infertility and encouraged women to try it out.
The posts, which all contained the same wording and picture, stated that the mixture of hot water and cloves helped to restore menstruation, tighten the vagina, and cure yeast infections.
According to the posts, other benefits of the mixture include boosting libido and cleansing ‘stale blood’ from the womb. It was also claimed to enhance male libido and desire. Users were encouraged to drink the mixture in the morning and the evening for better results.
But is this true? DUBAWA probed the claim to ascertain its veracity.
Verification
Clove is a natural spice used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Further research into its use and effectiveness is still being carried out. It is said to possess potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
A study on the effect of clove, sophora flower bud, and Chinese yam with a ratio of 15:6:10 on the fertility of aged female mice proved effective. The researchers found that the treatment could alleviate the retarded ovarian function in aged mice through changes in serum hormone levels, over-expression of antioxidant factors, under-expression of inflammation-related factors, and reduced apoptosis in the ovaries.
The researchers, however, noted the need for a cohort study to evaluate the effect of clove, sophora flower bud, and Chinese yam on reduced fertility in middle-aged women.
Another study in Reproductive Sciences conducted on the effect of cloves and their constituents on the reproductive system explained that more studies are needed to understand the properties of cloves. It, however, added that different parameters affect the pharmacological activity of cloves, including the type of extract, dose, and duration of administration, as well as the primary cause of the disorder.
DUBAWA contacted an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Qudus Lawal, who explained that the claim was misleading and false.
The doctor said there is no proof in medical science to back the claim. He explained that some studies had been carried out on animals in the past, but while some showed some improvement, others reported worsening male fertility.
Conclusion
The claim that cloves – when soaked in hot water – can treat infertility and hormonal issues, particularly in women, is unsubstantiated and therefore false.
