Red Clover Benefits
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Red Clover Benefits People, Animals, Soil
Red clover is a common plant, and familiar to many of us, with its showy dark pink flowers and attractive broad trifoliate (3 leaflets) leaves.
Red clover is grown mostly for agricultural purposes, but it's also one of the common herbal remedies used to promote womens health (menstruation, fertility, menopause) and a variety of other health problems, from asthma and bronchitis to cancer (red clover is one of the herbs in the 8-herb version of Essiac tea).
The botanical name for red clover is Trifolium pratense. Trifolium comes from the Latin "tri" or "3", and "folium" is "leaf" (think of "foliage"). Pratense is Latin, meaning "found in meadows". Red clover is found growing mostly in fields and meadows. It's native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, but as with many common, hardy plants, it has spread to North America as well.
We have a small patch of Red Clover growing along our driveway that I thought the previous owners had planted as an ornamental clover -- it's lovely when in bloom and can be added as a nice accent to garden areas. But it's more likely that our little patch was self-planted (a volunteer!), although I welcome it in our yard!
Drawing originally from National Geographic Magazine, June 1917, and now in Wikimedia Commons, in the public domain
Red clover is grown mostly for agricultural purposes, but it's also one of the common herbal remedies used to promote womens health (menstruation, fertility, menopause) and a variety of other health problems, from asthma and bronchitis to cancer (red clover is one of the herbs in the 8-herb version of Essiac tea).
The botanical name for red clover is Trifolium pratense. Trifolium comes from the Latin "tri" or "3", and "folium" is "leaf" (think of "foliage"). Pratense is Latin, meaning "found in meadows". Red clover is found growing mostly in fields and meadows. It's native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, but as with many common, hardy plants, it has spread to North America as well.
We have a small patch of Red Clover growing along our driveway that I thought the previous owners had planted as an ornamental clover -- it's lovely when in bloom and can be added as a nice accent to garden areas. But it's more likely that our little patch was self-planted (a volunteer!), although I welcome it in our yard!
Drawing originally from National Geographic Magazine, June 1917, and now in Wikimedia Commons, in the public domain
Red Clover -- Healing Herb
Health Benefits of Red Clover
Although mostly grown for its agricultural uses, my interest is in the health benefits of red clover as a nutritious, healing herb.Red clover has many nutrients, including the minerals calcium, chromium, magnesium, and potassium, and vitamins such as niacin, thiamine and vitamin C. It's also high in isoflavones. Isoflavones are water soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in plants of the legume (bean) family, including soy beans. Because of its isoflavones, red clover is often used for women's health issues concerning fertility and the menstrual cycle, and menopausal symptoms.
Another major health benefit of using red clover is that it may prevent or slow down heart disease. A few studies (not definitive yet) show that taking red clover may lower the levels of "bad" cholesterol and raise the levels of "good" cholesterol. It may increase the production of bile. More bile production usually means that more cholesterol is used; therefore less cholesterol circulates throughout the body. Also red clover contains small amounts of coumarin, a blood thinner, which reduces plaque build-up in the blood vessels. Red clover may help to keep arteries strong and flexible which also contributes to the health of the heart and circulatory system.
Other health benefits of red clover:
- May limit the growth of prostate cancer in men, and has been shown to limit non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.
- Helps people to stop smoking.
- Improves urine production
- Eases coughs and respiratory conditions.
- Stimulates the immune system; good as an overall tonic
- May fight some cancers (is an ingredient in the 8-herb version of Essiac tea, known for its cancer-fighting properties)
- Clears up skin problems
Agricultural Uses For Red Clover
The two main uses of red clover are as food for livestock, and as a cover crop that makes soil more fertile.There are records that indicate that red clover was cultivated in Europe in the 3rd and 4th centuries. It was brought to the temperate regions of North America by early settlers as an excellent source of food for livestock, being high in protein and other nutrients. It's often grown mixed in with grasses, and the combination is used for hay, silage and grazing.
Red clover is sometimes called a green manure -- a natural fertilizer. "Green manure" refers to a cover crop that's grown and then plowed into the soil to add nutrients and organic matter, improving the soil for other crops. Red clover adds nitrogen to the soil in a form that can be used by other crops.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons, in the public domain
Red Clover for Women's Health
Menstrual, fertility, and menopause health
I mentioned earlier that red clover contains isoflavones, which act as phytoestrogens in mammals. Phytoestrogens are compounds that mimic estrogen and can be used to regulate estrogen levels.
The isoflavones in red clover are thought to displace some natural estrogens in the body, which may ease estrogen-related PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) symptoms including breast pain and swelling.
It's this same effect that may help with endometriosis and reduce the possibility of developing estrogen-related cancers (such as cancer of the endometrium) A review of nearly 1000 women suggests that red clover may interfere with an enzyme that promotes the progression of endometrial cancer (note: I found the previous statement a number of times online, but couldn't find the original source).
Red clover promotes milk production in lactating women.
The use of red clover may reduce hot flashes and other symptoms in perimenopausal and menopausal women, and may slow bone loss or even increase bone density in pre- and perimenopausal women. (Unfortunately, this benefit hasn't been seen in men or in post-menopausal women.)
There is some controversy whether or not pregnant women should take red clover because of its estrogenic effects. The same is true for women who have had breast cancer. It may be best to avoid red clover until more studies are done to determine whether it's helpful or harmful in these situations.
Red Clover in field photo by Flare, CC BY-ND 2.0
Red Clover Harvest
Herbalist Susun Weed of the Wise Woman Tradition talks about Red Clover. This video shows a large tray of drying red clover flowers.
curated content from YouTube
Red Clover Infusion
Herbalist Susun Weed makes a nutritious red clover herbal infusion, and tells about the health benefits of red clover.
curated content from YouTube
Edible Red Clover Flowers
The red clover flowers are edible and slightly sweet. Did you ever, as a kid (or even recently!), pluck off the red clover florets and suck out the nectar? You can pull out the individual florets and add them to summer salads or to iced tea. One suggestion is to serve mint iced tea with a slice of lemon and a few red clover florets floating on top -- a refreshing, elegant tea!Honey bees like the sweetness of red clover flowers too. It's one of the more common types of honey.
Raw clover honey (unpasteurized) has more health benefits than the pasteurized honey that's sold in regular grocery stores. It's a natural anti-microbial and antioxidant, and contains more nutrients than pasteurized honey.
Photo by Tony Wills, Creative Commons license
Red Clover Honey
Honey bees love red clover!
White Gold Honey, 23-Ounce Container (Pack of 2)
Amazon Price: $23.54 (as of 06/03/2012)
You can buy regular pasteurized clover honey (heated) in any grocery store.
White Gold Honey is raw honey, and hasn't been heated during processing and packing (not pasteurized). Raw honey retains pollen impurities, and may help to reduce hay fever symptoms.
Raw honey has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It also has many nutrients.
White Gold Honey is spreadable.
Red Clover tea bags
You can easily make your own red clover tea by picking a few flower heads and steeping them for a few minutes. You can also buy tea bags, for more ease.
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Red Clover Supplements
Current News Items About Red Clover
- Eating and exercising your way through menopause
- With this combination, you'll keep your bones and your body healthy. During menopause you might also consider adding a red clover phytoestrogen supplement (such as Promensil) to your diet. Phytoestrogens are compounds found in plants which act like a ...
- Cover crops, livestock assist no-till
- Hard red spring wheat, corn, red clover, winter triticale, hairy vetch, peas and oats were considered his "cash crops," but they also planted crops like annual ryegrass, canola, radishes, turnips, lentils, sweet clover, phacelia, sub clover, ...
- Do the job properly and reap the benefits
- ?Most farmers use clover in their grass swards to some degree, but more are recognising the importance of red and white clover for reducing fertiliser needs and replacing protein in the diet rather than buying costly concentrates.
Read More About Edible Weeds and Healing Herbs
There are many common weeds that have nutritional and health benefits. You may be interested in checking out the following!
If You Want to Read More About Red Clover
Here are the major sources I used to write this.
- Red clover Benefits & Information
- Overview of Red clover Benefits & Information. Important for women's health and for men's health.
- HowStuffWorks "Red Clover: Herbal Remedies"
- Red clover can be used as an herbal remedy to treat the immune system and congestion. Learn about this herb and how to make red clover herbal tea.
- Red clover: University of Maryland Medical Center/Complementary Medicine
- Red clover has many nutrients, and has been used medicinally for many ailments.
- Red Clover Plant: Information on Facts, History & Uses of Red Clover Plant at Herbalist.com
- Red Clover is considered a fine expectorant and anti-inflammatory. It is the best mucus-clearing sources in nature. Get information on the facts, uses, history and side effects of red clover at Herbalist.com
- How to Make Red Clover Tea | eHow.com
- How to Make Red Clover Tea. Red clover blossoms can easily be used fresh or dried to make herbal tea. Red clover tea has traditionally been drunk to treat the following ailments: breathing problems, problems of the female...
- Trifolium pratense - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Trifolium pratense is the Latin name for red clover. Red clover is wide spread and used for fodder, to enrich soil, and for it's medicinal properties.
- Red Clover Tea Benefits
- Red Clover Tea Benefits are discussed at TeaBenefits.com, your comprehensive guide to the healthy properties of tea, nature's wonder drug.
- Red Clover in the Twenty-First Century
- Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is one of the leading forage legumes in the U.S., Canada, and northern and eastern Europe.
- Red Clover May Be Best Alternative Therapy for Treating Enlarged Prostate
- Urologist reviews published studies of five popular herbs and reports that isoflavones relieve symptoms of BPH.
Have you used red clover as a healing herb?
Leave your comments. I'd love to hear from you!
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LiteraryMind
Apr 23, 2012 @ 12:37 pm | delete
- Thak you, this lens is very informative
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Tea4UandMe
Apr 23, 2012 @ 11:10 am | delete
- I really learned a lot from this lens - I had no idea red clover had so many benefits.
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daria369
Feb 18, 2012 @ 9:51 am | delete
- This winter (in Central Florida) I'm growing red clover all around the house, even in planters. I just hope it will start blooming before the hot days return.
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GreenfireWiseWoman
Jul 5, 2011 @ 6:08 am | delete
- Great lens. Very informative. Thank you.
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A-Redneck
May 21, 2011 @ 7:37 am | delete
- I am a big fan of red clover but more for agricultural use than herbal. The one time I tried to harvest red clover I had taken it into the house to work on it in the morning and awoke to find a chipmunk sitting there dining on it (IN THE HOUSE). So after chasing the chipmunk around for a half hour to try and scoot him out the door that was it for my clover picking days. I am so glad to see a lens on the importance of red clover at squidoo.
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Healing Herbal Teas
A Complete Guide to Making Delicious, Healthful Beverages
Healing Herbal Teas: A Complete Guide to Making Delicious, Healthful Beverages
Amazon Price: $10.77 (as of 06/03/2012)
From front cover:
A renowned herbalist teaches the fine art of blending and brewing therapeutic teas, with profiles of 45 common yet extraordinary herbs that encourage healing, nourish the body, build the immune system, lift the spirits, and taste great!
