What happens if you soak a few cloves in water and drink it before going to sleep?
This simple nighttime drink has become increasingly popular, especially among adults over 50 who are interested in natural ways to support their health.
Some people claim that clove water can improve digestion, reduce inflammation, strengthen immunity, and even help them sleep better.
But does it really work?
Cloves contain natural plant compounds with interesting properties, but drinking clove water before bed hasn’t been proven to cure diseases or produce dramatic overnight health benefits.
Here’s what science suggests, what remains unproven, and how to prepare this traditional drink safely.
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1. Clove Water Contains Natural Plant Compounds
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree, Syzygium aromaticum.
Their distinctive flavor comes partly from eugenol, a naturally occurring compound studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Laboratory experiments have produced promising findings, but these results don’t establish that drinking clove water prevents illness or treats inflammation in humans.
The amount of eugenol that enters homemade clove water also depends on how many cloves are used and how long they’re steeped.
2. It May Feel Comforting After Dinner
A warm, caffeine-free drink can be a pleasant way to finish the evening.
Clove water has a strong, aromatic flavor that some people enjoy after meals.
Although cloves have a history of traditional use for digestive complaints, there isn’t strong clinical evidence that clove water relieves bloating, acid reflux, or constipation.
If you have frequent digestive discomfort, identifying its cause is more useful than relying on a nightly herbal drink.
3. It Won’t Automatically Make You Sleep Better
One popular claim is that drinking clove water before bed helps people fall asleep faster.
However, no convincing human clinical research has established clove water as an effective insomnia treatment.
The relaxing feeling may come from the warm beverage and the bedtime routine rather than the cloves themselves.
If nighttime urination interrupts your sleep, drinking a large cup immediately before bed may actually make things worse.
Try enjoying your drink earlier in the evening instead.
4. Cloves Have Been Studied for Their Antimicrobial Properties
Eugenol and clove extracts have demonstrated activity against certain microorganisms in laboratory settings.
But laboratory findings don’t mean that drinking clove water can eliminate infections inside the body.
It isn’t a substitute for antibiotics, dental treatment, or other appropriate medical care.
If you have a persistent sore throat, fever, or signs of infection, seek medical advice rather than increasing the strength of your clove drink.
5. Clove Water Is Not a Proven Blood Sugar Treatment
Some online videos suggest that drinking clove water every night can dramatically lower blood sugar.
Although researchers have investigated clove compounds and glucose metabolism, evidence is insufficient to recommend clove water for managing diabetes.
If you have diabetes, continue your prescribed treatment and follow your healthcare professional’s dietary advice.
Never replace diabetes medication with herbal remedies.
6. It Doesn’t Detoxify Your Liver or Kidneys
Another common claim is that clove water flushes toxins from the body while you sleep.
There is no reliable evidence supporting this idea.
Your liver and kidneys already process and eliminate waste through complex biological systems.
Drinking enough fluids supports normal bodily function, but cloves don’t create a special overnight detoxification effect.
In fact, concentrated clove oil can be toxic and may cause serious liver damage if swallowed.
Never add clove essential oil to drinking water.
7. More Cloves Are Not Necessarily Better
Cloves are highly aromatic, and a little goes a long way.
Using a couple of whole cloves to flavor water is different from consuming concentrated extracts or essential oils.
Large medicinal doses may cause adverse effects.
Eugenol can affect platelet function, so people taking blood-thinning medications should be particularly cautious about concentrated clove products.
Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should also avoid medicinal doses without professional advice.
How to Make Clove Water at Home
Simple Homemade Clove Water
Preparation: 10 minutes | Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 cup water (250 ml)
- 2 whole dried cloves
- A small slice of lemon, optional
Instructions
- Bring the water to a gentle simmer.
- Add the two whole cloves.
- Simmer for approximately 3–5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Strain out the cloves completely.
- Add lemon if desired.
- Enjoy warm, preferably earlier in the evening if nighttime urination is a concern.
This is a lightly flavored herbal drink, not a prescribed treatment or proven therapeutic dose.
What Can You Realistically Expect?
| Popular claim | What the evidence suggests |
|---|---|
| Helps you relax before bed | A warm, caffeine-free drink may feel comforting |
| Improves sleep quality | Not established for clove water |
| Reduces inflammation | Laboratory findings exist, but human benefits remain uncertain |
| Lowers blood sugar | Not proven as a diabetes treatment |
| Fights infections | Laboratory activity doesn’t establish clinical effectiveness |
| Detoxifies the body | No reliable scientific support |
| Provides antioxidants | Cloves contain antioxidant compounds, but health effects from the drink are unclear |
Who Should Avoid Using Clove Water as a Remedy?
Most people can enjoy cloves in ordinary culinary amounts, but concentrated or frequent medicinal use deserves caution.
People taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines, those with bleeding disorders, and anyone with significant liver disease should seek medical advice before using clove preparations regularly.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or preparing for surgery, avoid concentrated clove products unless approved by a healthcare professional.
Children should never be given clove essential oil to drink.
And if you experience nausea, irritation, or another unpleasant reaction after drinking clove water, stop using it.
The Bottom Line
Clove water is a simple, aromatic drink that can be enjoyed as part of a relaxing evening routine.
Cloves contain eugenol and other plant compounds that scientists continue to study, but the evidence for specific health benefits from drinking clove water remains limited.
A cup of clove water before bed won’t magically cleanse your organs, cure infections, reverse diabetes, or guarantee better sleep.
If you enjoy its flavor, keep the preparation mild and remember that good sleep, balanced nutrition, and appropriate medical care matter far more than any single nighttime remedy.
Further reading: MedlinePlus — Clove Oil Poisoning; NIH NCCIH — Complementary Health Information; CDC — About Sleep.
Curious about more traditional bedtime remedies? Take a look at what happens when you eat honey and cloves before bed, then explore castor oil and rosemary for hair and skin and things to know about applying castor oil before bed.
