Herbs For Health: Red Clover

Red Clover, known as (Trifolium pratense), interestingly is a member of the pea family. It’s a native plant to Europe and North Africa, but it’s also naturalized to a number of places across the world including North and South America. It grows 2-3 feet in height, has pinkish-purple flowers and a chevron pattern on its leaves. You can often find it in its favorite places to grow like fields, meadows, roadsides and often on your own lawn. When using it as plant medicine, the upper leaves and flower heads are included.

Red Clover is a cool energetic herb, often pairing well with those who naturally run more “hot”. It’s considered an alterative herb, meaning it's helpful in cases where there may be poor lymphatic movement, helping the body to eliminate metabolic wastes. Our body has natural processes it performs everyday to eliminate wastes and toxins, and incorporating alterative herbs like our friend Red Clover, can further assist those processes.

Red Clover is commonly used as an alterative to support skin health in both internal and external uses. It has uses for a variety of skin ailments that are often connected to the body’s toxic load, from psoriasis to eczema, and acne. It has historical usage for scrofula, a disease that characterizes lymphatic swelling and is related to a form of tuberculosis. It’s commonly used in formulas with other alterative herbs including burdock, dandelion, chickweed and nettles.

Red Clover As A Phytoestrogen

Phytoestrogens, which are a naturally occurring compound found in plants, offer benefits to women experiencing hot flashes and other menopause-related hormonal changes, including vaginal dryness, night sweats and osteoporosis. There have been a number of studies on the isolated compound isoflavones found in Red Clover, that have shown promising benefits for breast and prostate cancer. More studies and research needs to be done using the whole Red Clover, rather than just the isolated constituents (1,2,3). It also offers other hormone-related support in cases of hormonal imbalances and PMS symptoms like sore breasts.

Red Clover As A Nutritious Herb

Red Clover blossoms are rich in phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals including calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium and manganese (4). The flowers have a fresh and sweet taste that can be added to salads and used in teas - making a nice-tasting nourishing infusion.

Red Clover For Whooping Cough

Red clover has traditional use as a remedy for whooping cough in children and proves useful in chest problems especially when used in formulas with other beneficial herbs like thyme, marshmallow root, plantain, violet or licorice.

Other Uses For Red Clover

A tea can be made with Red Clover and used as a skin rinse for persistent sores, inflamed skin, and swollen insect bites. The flowers can also be decocted (requiring a longer steep infusion time) and applied, while warm, to swollen and tender glands. It may also be a beneficial herb to consider in cases of autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis and swollen lymph glands.

Cautions and Considerations

Red Clover thins the blood and should be avoided for those who are pregnant, have estrogen-receptor positive cancer or who may have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinning medication. Be sure to get high quality sources of Red Clover, with vibrant colors of purple and green and good scent for best results.

References

1. Myers, S P, and V Vigar. “Effects of a Standardised Extract of Trifolium Pratense (Promensil) at a Dosage of 80mg in the Treatment of Menopausal Hot Flushes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Phytomedicine: international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology 24 (2017): doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2016.12.003.

2. Shakeri, F, S Taavoni, A Goushegir, and H Haghani. “Effectiveness of Red Clover in Alleviating Menopausal Symptoms: A 12-week Randomized, Controlled Trial.” Climacteric: the journal of the International Menopause Society 18, no. 4 (2015): doi:10.3109/13697137.2014.999660.

3. Ghazanfarpour, M, R Sadeghi, R Latifnejad Roudsari, I Khorsand, T Khadivzadeh, and B Muoio. “Red Clover for Treatment of Hot Flashes and Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology: the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 36, no. 3 (2016): doi:10.3109/01443615.2015.1049249.

4. Jungbauer, Alois, and Svjetlana Medjakovic. “Phytoestrogens and the Metabolic Syndrome.” The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 139 (2014): doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2012.12.009.