General Description
Red clover (also known as trefoil, wild clover, or purple clover)
is a perennial legume common in fields and meadows throughout North
America, Europe, and central and northern Asia. The plant has several
reddish, white-haired, branching, 1 to 2 feet stems arising from
a single root. Red clover has compound leaves composed of three
green ovate leaflets, 2 to 3 centimeters in length, with whitish,
heart-shaped interior markings. The dense, globular flowers range
from pale red to purple in color.
Health Applications
- General tonic
- Menopause
- Blood purifier
- Skin health
History and Traditional Use
Red clover is believed to have originated in Southeastern Europe
and Asia Minor, where it was highly valued as a forage crop for
livestock. From there it was eventually introduced to Spain and,
by 1500, to Holland. By 1600, red clover was widespread throughout
the British Isles and most of Europe. It was introduced to the
New World shortly thereafter, where it gained so much appreciation
among northeastern dairy farmers that it would eventually be named
the state flower of Vermont. In addition to its primary use as
livestock feed, red clover was used in numerous traditional herbal
remedies. Seventeenth century British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper
recommended red clover ointments and poultices for a variety of
applications such as inflammation, snake and insect bites, and
tumors.1 Other traditional herbalists used
red clover extract as an alternative and antispasmodic.2
In the early 1900s, red clover extracts were sold widely as remedies
for sexually transmitted diseases, although they have no demonstrated
benefit for these conditions.3 Red clover
was also an ingredient in "Hoxsey's herbal tonic," a popular cancer
remedy of the 1950s, which also has no demonstrated clinical benfit.
Chemical Composition
Red clover contains natural plant estrogenic isoflavones, or phytoestrogens,
including formononetin, biochanin-A, genistein, and daidzein,
along with protein, beta-carotene, and numerous other vitamins
and minerals. Red clover isoflavones have demonstrated the ability
to bind to both estrogen and progesterone receptors in vitro,4
leading some researchers to suggest that the herb may be useful
in treating menopausal symptoms and other hormone-related health
conditions. One preliminary test on 17 subjects suggests that
red clover isoflavones may improve cardiovascular function in
post-menopausal women.5 Research on laboratory
animals suggests that red clover may help lower cholesterol and
triglyceride levels,6 however the herb has
no demonstrated lipid-lowering effect in humans. Some studies
suggest that red clover isoflavones may also possess anticancer
activity,7,8 but whether these effects can
be reproduced in humans remains to be proven.
Dosage/Toxicity
Red clover is consumed in teas, tinctures, dried herb capsules,
and standardized extracts, all of which may vary in potency. Red
clover tea is not associated with any known toxicity, even at
high consumption levels; however, high doses of concentrated extracts
may have the potential for adverse side effects. Most red clover
tinctures and extracts have recommendations for safe dosages printed
on the label instructions. |
