Family: Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae)
Red clover is considered to be one of the richest sources of isoflavones, which are water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens (known collectively as phytoestrogens). Red Clover is, therefore, used for hot flashes/flushes, PMS, breast enhancement and breast health, as well as lowering cholesterol, improving urine production and improving circulation of the blood, to help prevent osteoporosis, reduce the possibility of blood clots and arterial plaques and limiting the development of benign prostate hyperplasia. Red clover is used for cancer prevention, indigestion, high cholesterol, whooping cough, cough, asthma, bronchitis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS
PART OF THE PLANT USED: Leaves and Flowers
TEXTURE: The leaves are smooth and succulent. The flowers are soft
COLOR: The leaves are deep green with light green features. The flowers are white with red to pink tips.
AROMA: slightly sweet aroma
FLAVOR: light and sweet
CONSTITUENTS
Red clover contains acids, carbohydrates, isoflavones, flavonins, saponins and a volatile oil (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Isoflavones: biochanin A, formononetin, daidzein, and genistein
Minerals: Iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper, chromium and molybdenum. (Ehrlich, 2015)
Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin B (Ehrlich, 2015) (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015)
Acids: coumaric acid, salicylic acid (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015)
THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
Alterative, antineoplastic, antispasmodic, detergent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, nutritive, phytoestrogenic, and sedative (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Red clover is considered to be one of the richest sources of isoflavones, which are water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens (known collectively as phytoestrogens). Red Clover is, therefore, used for hot flashes/flushes, PMS, breast enhancement and breast health, as well as lowering cholesterol, improving urine production and improving circulation of the blood, to help prevent osteoporosis, reduce the possibility of blood clots and arterial plaques and limiting the development of benign prostate hyperplasia. Red clover is used for cancer prevention, indigestion, high cholesterol, whooping cough, cough, asthma, bronchitis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS
PART OF THE PLANT USED: Leaves and Flowers
TEXTURE: The leaves are smooth and succulent. The flowers are soft
COLOR: The leaves are deep green with light green features. The flowers are white with red to pink tips.
AROMA: slightly sweet aroma
FLAVOR: light and sweet
CONSTITUENTS
Red clover contains acids, carbohydrates, isoflavones, flavonins, saponins and a volatile oil (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Isoflavones: biochanin A, formononetin, daidzein, and genistein
Minerals: Iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper, chromium and molybdenum. (Ehrlich, 2015)
Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin B (Ehrlich, 2015) (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015)
Acids: coumaric acid, salicylic acid (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015)
THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
Alterative, antineoplastic, antispasmodic, detergent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, nutritive, phytoestrogenic, and sedative (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Red clover may interfere with the body's ability to process some drugs that are broken down by liver enzymes. For that reason, you should check with your doctor before taking red clover (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015).
Estrogens, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control pills: Red clover may increase the effects of estrogen (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015).
Tamoxifen: Red clover may interfere with tamoxifen (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015).
Anticoagulants (blood thinners): Red clover may enhance the effect of these drugs, increasing the risk of bleeding (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
FORMULARY
Cleansing Formula
Goal: Infusion to help the body cleanse itself of wastes and toxins.
Therapeutic Action:
Alterative: blood-cleansing agent
Anti-inflammatory: eases inflammation and swelling
Expectorant: promotes the discharge of mucous from the respiratory passages
Preparation Method: (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Infusion, all required constituents are easily extracted with water.
For this cleansing formula, you can prepare an infusion from dried or fresh herbs. Mix the dried or fresh herbs or extracts. Place 1 teaspoon of mixed herbs in one cup of boiling water. Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Ingredients: (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
1-oz burdock Arctium lappa
½-oz dandelion Taraxacum officinale
½-oz licoriceGlycyrrhiza glabra
1-oz red clover Trifolium pratense flowers
½-oz spearmint Mentha spicata
Administration and Dosage: (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Use one cup of infusion four times a day
Contraindications and warnings: (Ehrlich, 2015)
Hot Flash Infusion
Goal: Infusion to ease hot flashes associated with Menopause
Therapeutic Action: phytoestrogenic
Active Constituents of Red Clover: isoflavones (water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants) (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015) (Ehrlich, 2015)
Preparation Method:
Infusion, all required constituents are easily extracted with water.
For this cleansing formula, you can prepare an infusion from dried flowers.
2 tsps dried red clover flowers
8 ounces boiling water
Add Hot water to red clover flowers and let steep for 30 minutes.
Administration and Dosage: Use one cup of infusion four times a day
Contraindications and warnings: (Ehrlich, 2015)
• Red clover isoflavone products are very different than the whole herb, however, and are not recommended for children.
• Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women because of the estrogen-like properties in red clover
• Women with a history of breast cancer should avoid red clover
RESEARCH
Menopause
Baber R, Bligh PC, Fulcher G, et al. The effect of an Isoflavone dietary supplement (P-081) on serum lipids, forearm bone density & endometrial thickness in post-menopausal women [abstract]. Menopause. 1999a;6:326.
Baber RJ, Templeman C, Morton T, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of an isoflavone supplement and menopausal symptoms in women. Climacteric. 1999b;2(2):85-92.
Cleansing
Flythe, M., & Kagan, I. (2010). Antimicrobial effect of red clover (trifolium pratense) phenolic extract on the ruminal hyper ammonia-producing bacterium, clostridium sticklandii. Current Microbiology, 61(2), 125-31. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00284-010-9586-5
NOTES AND MEDIA
The fluid extract of Trifolium is used as an alterative and antispasmodic. An infusion made by 1 OZ. to 1 pint of boiling water may with advantage be used in cases of bronchial and whooping-cough. Fomentations and poultices of the herb have been used as local applications to cancerous growths (Greive, 2014).
REFERENCES
Alterative Herbs, 2015. Retrieved from http://myachsclass.org/re/DotNextLaunch.asp?courseid=11631944
Ehrlich, S. D., 2015. Red Clover, University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/red-clover
Greive, M., 2014. Clover, Red. A Modern Herbal. Retrieved from https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/clovrd75.html
What is Trifolium pratense,Red Clover?History,Phytochemicals and Remedy Uses of Red Clover Blossoms.Red Clover Extract, 2015. Retirieved from http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/clove/data03.html
Red clover may interfere with the body's ability to process some drugs that are broken down by liver enzymes. For that reason, you should check with your doctor before taking red clover (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015).
Estrogens, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control pills: Red clover may increase the effects of estrogen (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015).
Tamoxifen: Red clover may interfere with tamoxifen (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015).
Anticoagulants (blood thinners): Red clover may enhance the effect of these drugs, increasing the risk of bleeding (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
FORMULARY
Cleansing Formula
Goal: Infusion to help the body cleanse itself of wastes and toxins.
Therapeutic Action:
Alterative: blood-cleansing agent
Anti-inflammatory: eases inflammation and swelling
Expectorant: promotes the discharge of mucous from the respiratory passages
Preparation Method: (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Infusion, all required constituents are easily extracted with water.
For this cleansing formula, you can prepare an infusion from dried or fresh herbs. Mix the dried or fresh herbs or extracts. Place 1 teaspoon of mixed herbs in one cup of boiling water. Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Ingredients: (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
1-oz burdock Arctium lappa
½-oz dandelion Taraxacum officinale
½-oz licoriceGlycyrrhiza glabra
1-oz red clover Trifolium pratense flowers
½-oz spearmint Mentha spicata
Administration and Dosage: (Alterative Herbs, 2015).
Use one cup of infusion four times a day
Contraindications and warnings: (Ehrlich, 2015)
- Red clover isoflavone products are very different than the whole herb, however, and are not recommended for children.
- Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women because of the estrogen-like properties in red clover
- Women with a history of breast cancer should avoid red clover
Hot Flash Infusion
Goal: Infusion to ease hot flashes associated with Menopause
Therapeutic Action: phytoestrogenic
Active Constituents of Red Clover: isoflavones (water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants) (What is Trifolium pretense, 2015) (Ehrlich, 2015)
Preparation Method:
Infusion, all required constituents are easily extracted with water.
For this cleansing formula, you can prepare an infusion from dried flowers.
2 tsps dried red clover flowers
8 ounces boiling water
Add Hot water to red clover flowers and let steep for 30 minutes.
Administration and Dosage: Use one cup of infusion four times a day
Contraindications and warnings: (Ehrlich, 2015)
• Red clover isoflavone products are very different than the whole herb, however, and are not recommended for children.
• Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women because of the estrogen-like properties in red clover
• Women with a history of breast cancer should avoid red clover
RESEARCH
Menopause
Baber R, Bligh PC, Fulcher G, et al. The effect of an Isoflavone dietary supplement (P-081) on serum lipids, forearm bone density & endometrial thickness in post-menopausal women [abstract]. Menopause. 1999a;6:326.
Baber RJ, Templeman C, Morton T, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of an isoflavone supplement and menopausal symptoms in women. Climacteric. 1999b;2(2):85-92.
Cleansing
Flythe, M., & Kagan, I. (2010). Antimicrobial effect of red clover (trifolium pratense) phenolic extract on the ruminal hyper ammonia-producing bacterium, clostridium sticklandii. Current Microbiology, 61(2), 125-31. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00284-010-9586-5
NOTES AND MEDIA
The fluid extract of Trifolium is used as an alterative and antispasmodic. An infusion made by 1 OZ. to 1 pint of boiling water may with advantage be used in cases of bronchial and whooping-cough. Fomentations and poultices of the herb have been used as local applications to cancerous growths (Greive, 2014).
REFERENCES
Alterative Herbs, 2015. Retrieved from http://myachsclass.org/re/DotNextLaunch.asp?courseid=11631944
Ehrlich, S. D., 2015. Red Clover, University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/red-clover
Greive, M., 2014. Clover, Red. A Modern Herbal. Retrieved from https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/clovrd75.html
What is Trifolium pratense,Red Clover?History,Phytochemicals and Remedy Uses of Red Clover Blossoms.Red Clover Extract, 2015. Retirieved from http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/clove/data03.html
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