Red Clover

Common Names: Red Clover, Trefoil, Purple Clover, Pink Clover, Meadow Clover, Cow Clover
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Native To: Europe, parts of Asia, and northern Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia)
Parts Used: Flowers, leaves
Energetics: Cooling and moistening
Flavor: Sweet
Herb Class/Action: Alterative, Lymphatic
Traditional Benefits: Supports the lymphatic system, reproductive health, fertility, pregnancy, immune system, skin health, and circulation.

Botanical Description:

Red clover is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant characterized by its slender, hollow stems and vibrant pink-purple flowers, which attract pollinators like honeybees. It grows 1-2 feet tall, and its leaves feature a distinctive white or pale green V-shaped stripe. Red clover thrives in meadows, fields, and roadsides across North America, South America, Australia, South Africa, and East Asia.

Key Constituents:

Red clover contains isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, formononetin, biochanin A), pterocarpans, volatile oils, coumarins, cyanogenic glycosides, salicylates, polysaccharides, flavones (e.g., quercetin), and important minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium).

Traditional Uses:

Red Clover is renowned for its nutritive properties, offering a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is used for its alterative and lymphatic actions, helping to cleanse the blood and support the body’s detoxification processes, particularly in cases of skin conditions, swollen lymph nodes, and cystic lumps. Its cooling and moistening properties make it an excellent tonic for the skin and immune system.

This herb is particularly valuable in supporting women’s reproductive health. Due to its phytoestrogen content, red clover is commonly used to balance hormones, reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, and support fertility. It is considered one of the best fertility-enhancing herbs, especially for women over 40 or those facing reproductive challenges such as irregular menses or endometriosis.

Red Clover is also used to promote circulatory health, improve skin conditions like eczema, and detoxify the liver. As a mild sedative, it helps with tension, muscle spasms, and even colic in infants. It’s also used to alleviate respiratory conditions, thanks to its expectorant and antispasmodic properties, which soothe dry, irritated tissues in the throat and bronchial passages.

Caution: Red clover’s phytoestrogenic effects mean it should be used cautiously during pregnancy or nursing, as its blood-thinning effects may pose risks to a developing fetus or nursing child.

How to Use:

Red Clover is commonly consumed as a tea or infusion. To make an infusion, steep 1 ounce of dried flowers in a quart of boiling water for at least 4 hours. This infusion can be drunk daily to support overall health and well-being.