RED CLOVER

Botanical Name: Trifolium pratense

Family: Fabaceae

Other Common Names: Purple clover, trefoil, cleaver grass, cow grass

Parts Used: Aerial parts (especially flower heads)

Energetics: Neutral

Thermal Properties: Cool

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, alterative, diuretic, expectorant, lymphatic, mild laxative, nutritive

Taste: Salty, sweet

Plant Uses: Various skin conditions, menopausal support, bone health, brain health, spasmodic cough, cancer, lymphatic congestion, food, agricultural uses (cover crop, nitrogen fixer, erosion protection, animal feed)

Plant Preparations: Nourishing herbal infusion, tea, tincture, capsule, food

Toxicities/Warnings: May potentiate effects of blood thinning drugs. Avoid plants that show signs of mold or are otherwise unhealthy.

Humans and clovers have a long history together. We’ve been eating them since prehistoric times. We have long-held traditions of using red clover as a medicine, as well. Red clover is used in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly as a cleansing herb. In European and American herbal traditions, red clover was used to treat tumors and other growths, coaxing the tumors to move outward until they were pushed out of the body.1)

Clovers have been symbolic of many things throughout history. They are a traditional symbol of luck, especially the rare 4-leaf variation that pops up as a result of mutation. They have been used as a symbol of Christianity, with the leaves being used to represent the Holy Trinity. During the Middle Ages, a clover was thought to be a charm against witches. And in the Victorian era, red clover was also a symbol of industry.

The scientific name for red clover, Trifolium pratense, means “three leaves of the meadow.” This is an appropriate, if not overly simple, naming. Clovers tend to thrive in open fields and have been used by farmers to feed livestock and control erosion. As members of the pea family, clovers also help to enrich the soil by serving as host to special bacteria that can pull nitrogen from the air and infuse it into the soil.

With the invention of chemical fertilizers, clovers became less popular as a green fertilizer, though the seeds remain readily available at feed stores. Whether you find them in the field or the feed store, red clover is a plant worth bringing home.

Benefits of Red Clover

Female Health: Red clover supports reproductive health at all ages.2)

Male Health: Promote prostate health without lowering testosterone levels.3)

Child Health: Red clover is a safe and effective herb for children.4)

Skin Problems: Use red clover for eczema, psoriasis, rashes, acne, fungal infection, and all other types of skin complaints.5)

Respiratory Health: Soothe spasmodic cough and break up congestion with red clover tea.6)7)

Bone Strength: Red clover is a potent source of bone- and tooth-building minerals.8)

Detox: Red clover stimulates the removal of toxins from the body, enhancing overall health.9)

Cancer Fighter: Studies show red clover to be a fighter of various cancers, including prostate and breast cancer.10)11)

Brain: Support healthy brain function with red clover.1