Cloves and Respiratory Health: What Does the Science Really Say?

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published September 27, 2026

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Cloves have long been used in home remedies for coughs, sore throats and common colds, but scientific interest in the spice now goes beyond traditional medicine. Researchers have increasingly examined eugenol, the main active compound in clove oil, for its potential effects on inflammation and respiratory health.

Eugenol has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in laboratory studies, as well as activity against certain bacteria, fungi and viruses. These findings have prompted researchers to explore whether the compound could influence inflammatory processes in the lungs and airways, particularly in conditions where inflammation plays a central role.

Some animal studies have produced encouraging results. Research involving experimental models of asthma has found reductions in certain inflammatory markers and improvements in lung tissue changes after eugenol exposure. Other studies have also suggested possible effects on airway hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation.

However, these findings do not mean cloves have been proven to treat asthma, pneumonia or other respiratory diseases. Much of the available evidence comes from laboratory experiments and animal studies, while confirming a treatment for humans requires well-designed clinical trials that establish effectiveness, appropriate doses and possible side effects.

Human research remains limited and highly specific. One clinical study involving intensive care patients examined the use of a mouthwash containing clove extract and reported a lower rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia during the study period. The finding, however, relates to a topical oral product used in a controlled medical setting and does not show that drinking clove tea or using clove oil can prevent or treat pneumonia.

Evidence is even more limited when it comes to common colds, influenza and everyday coughs. There is currently no strong clinical evidence showing that cloves can cure respiratory infections or significantly shorten their duration. A warm clove drink may soothe the throat or provide temporary comfort for some people, but that is different from directly treating a virus or respiratory illness.

Experts also distinguish between using cloves in normal food or drink quantities and consuming concentrated clove oil. Large amounts of eugenol can be toxic and, in severe cases, have been linked to liver damage, neurological complications and breathing problems.

For now, cloves remain an interesting subject of scientific research rather than an established respiratory treatment. The anti-inflammatory properties of eugenol help explain why researchers continue to study the spice, but broader human trials are still needed before cloves can be considered an effective therapy for asthma, pneumonia or respiratory infections.