Two review studies found that 40–80 mg of red clover (Promensil) per day may help alleviate hot flashes in women with severe symptoms (5 or more per day) by 30–50%. Once established it’s capable of rapid growth and shows reasonably good persistence up to three years, although ongoing breeding work is being carried out to increase plant persistence. Many proponents of red clover claim it can help with weight loss, cancer, asthma, whooping cough, arthritis, and other conditions. Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense) is a wild edible that is a nutritional powerhouse! This bumblebee has been one of the important pollinators of red clover in South America and other countries such as New Zealand.[7]. Some preliminary research has shown red clover may improve heart health in postmenopausal women. Additionally, there have been a few case reports of rare but dangerous side effects of red clover (20). Furthermore, due to its minor estrogenic properties, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as people with hormone-sensitive conditions or bleeding disorders, should avoid its use. Red clover is usually found as a supplement or tea using dried flower tops. Learn about alternative treatments for osteoporosis. Plus, it’s now popular throughout South America as a fodder crop to improve soil quality (1). The meadow clover is also found in the highlands and can, depending on the area and mountain location, populate heights of up to … Red clover prefers grasslands and wet meadows, where it grows up to 50 centimeters in height, producing spikes of purple-red color. Red clover is also a source of many valuable nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. The dry flowers and seeds can be used to flavor bread. Yet, due to the large number of ingredients, it’s unknown whether red clover played a role in these improvements (16). Most growth occurs in summer and autumn. The flowers are used to make medicine. Red clover extract has been used in traditional medicine to promote skin and hair health. Red clover contains plant oestrogens– also known as phytoestrogens or isoflavones. Most red clover is seeded in late winter to early spring in the northern and central parts of the red clover belt. Warning: Not to be taken by women who are pregnant or are nursing. Red clover is a wild edible plant belonging to the legume family that is … A 2007 report noted a 53-year-old woman had a subarachnoid hemorrhage — a type of stroke — after taking a supplement containing 250 mg of red clover, as well as eight other herbs, to treat hot flashes. Red clover is a herbaceous, short-lived perennial plant, variable in size, growing to 20–80 cm (8–31 in) tall. [9], In alternative medicine, red clover is promoted as a treatment for a variety of human maladies, including symptoms of menopause, coughs, disorders of the lymphatic system and a variety of cancers. Like peas and beans, red clover belongs to the family of plants called legumes. Best suited to well-drained, fertile, slightly acid to neutral soils. Red clover is a herbaceous, short-lived perennial plant, variable in size, growing to 20–80 cm (8–31 in) tall. Finally, it’s widely used as a traditional medicine to treat osteoporosis, heart disease, arthritis, skin disorders, cancer, respiratory problems like asthma, and women’s health issues, such as menstrual and menopausal symptoms. To protect your health, always speak to your healthcare provider before taking red clover. Historically, red clover was used … The flowers It is in flower from May to September, and the seeds ripen from July to October. Uses, Nutrition, and Benefits, Everything You Should Know About Menopause, Understanding and Dealing with Hot Flashes. Red clover contains coumestrol, a phytoestrogen. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Those with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or endometriosis, should speak to their healthcare provider before taking red clover due to its estrogenic activity (32). Learn about its causes, risk factors, and…. We’ll tell you what the research says. As a woman reaches menopause, a decline in reproductive hormones — namely estrogen — can lead to increased bone turnover and a decrease in BMD (4, 5). Red clover is a dark-pink flowering plant that’s used in traditional medicine to treat menopause symptoms, asthma, heart disease, skin disorders, and even cancer. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Moreover, these studies were performed in older, menopausal women. Estrogen is needed for bust growth and this substance helps women’s bodies to increase their breasts in a natural way without dangerous side effects. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a wild flowering plant belonging to the same family as peas and beans. Traditionally an element of hay meadows where it fixes nitrogen in its roots. It will grow in poor soil, but it won’t thrive there. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Red clover is an herb used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of health issues, such as hot flashes, osteoporosis, arthritis, and skin and hair disorders. We also discuss the symptoms of menopause…, Hot flashes bothering you? Despite some promising results, the authors argued that many studies were small in sample size and lacked proper blinding. Harvesting red clover, though, is somewhat complicated and should only be done with knowledge of the plant. Red clover is a common plant of all kinds of grassy areas in the UK, from lawns to pastures, roadsides to meadows. Several cultivar groups have been selected for agricultural use, mostly derived from T. pratense var. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens—compounds similar to the female hormone estrogen. Red clover, a biennial, or short-lived perennial, bears an oval purplish flower head about 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter. Good seed-soil contact helps ensure establishment. Red Clover genus and other classification is necessary information to know for every botanist. They … If you’re in the market for a multivitamin to help with menopause symptoms, consider giving one of these six a try. In particular, red clover may interact with oral contraceptives, methotrexate, hormone replacement therapy medications, tamoxifen, blood thinners like aspirin or Plavix, among others (31, 36). The flower tops are used to make medicine. Red clover is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and most studies have found it to be well tolerated. Red clover is used for symptoms of menopause, weak and brittle bones, high levels of cholesterol, and many other conditions, but … A recent study in 88 women taking the breast cancer medication tamoxifen found red clover did not result in any drug interactions or serious side effects, suggesting it does not interfere with anti-estrogen medications (37). The flowers often are used to make jelly and tisanes, and are used in essiac recipes. It has a deep taproot which makes it tolerant to drought and gives it a good soil structuring effect. Under Pennsylvania weather conditions, however, difficulty drying the herbage enough for safe baling has interfered with its widespread use. Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. Currently, there’s no clear evidence that supplementing with red clover will improve menopause symptoms. We discuss red clover as one herbal remedy of…. [15] It is said to be a blood cleanser. They’re also available in tinctures and extracts. Details Red clover reaches 30-50cm in height and bears trifoliate leaves and rounded clusters of pinkish-red flowers 2-3cm acrossfrom May to September. Stem lengths of medium and mammoth types average 18 inches and 24 to 30 inches, respectively. Another study observed a 73% decrease in hot flashes within 3 months after taking a supplement containing numerous herbs, including red clover. Red clover is effectively treats menopausal symptoms and irregular menses. Red clover is a popular yet underrated flowering plant used for a variety of purposes around the world. Hot flashes can appear suddenly, or you may feel…. One 2015 study in 147 postmenopausal women indicated a 12% decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol after taking 50 mg of red clover (Rimostil) daily for 1 year (27). For comprehensive information (e.g. After stopping the red clover, she made a full recovery (31). This article reviews red clover, its potential benefits, downsides, and uses. Though rare, potential side effects include vaginal spotting, prolonged menstruation, skin irritation, nausea, and headache. Prepared by Marvin H. Hall, assistant professor of agronomy It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. A hot flash is a feeling of intense heat, not caused by external sources. Due to its coumarin derivatives, T. pratense should be used with caution in individuals with coagulation disorders or currently undergoing anticoagulation therapy. Its tender leaves can be used in salads or cooked, contributing with a very big quantity of minerals, especially calcium, potassium and magnesium and amino acids. Red clove as edible plant. Most red clover supplements are found in 40–80-mg doses based on clinical research and safety data. Note, however, that research hasn't shown that the herb is conclusively effective for these or any other health concerns. Facilitating use of Nordic plant genetic resources: Evaluating the Nordic Red Clover Collection for Arctic breeding. please check out our Red Clover PDF magazine. [10][11] There is no evidence in the human trial literature that red clover has been tested for effects on cough, lymphatic system or cancer prevention/treatment. You can buy them in most health food stores or online. It is these plant oestrogens that are interesting in the use of the herb in an extract – in our extract more than 90% of these are in aglycone form. For these reasons, it is used as a green manure crop. Red clover is a plant. Red clover is a native plant to us, whose occurrence extends from Europe to Asia. Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass: Rosidae Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae – Pea family Genus: Trifolium L. – clover Species … The doctors believe red clover interfered with a psoriasis medication known as methotrexate. Red clover is a wild plant belonging to the legume family. Red clover may help decrease menopausal hot flashes, though more research is needed. It is sown as a fodder crop for livestock and has long been used in crop rotation systems because of its ability to fix nitrogen, enriching soils. It grows as a winter annual in the southeastern USA. Plants have hollow, hairy stems and branches. Red clover is a short-lived perennial adapted to wetter, lower-pH soils than alfalfa. It is a vigorous establisher and good yielder in the establishment year. Red clover is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn't enough scientific evidence to determine whether it is effective for any of them. When women reach their menopause, the decrease in oestrogen that occurs affects their body and mood. Some research has shown a connection between isoflavone intake and a decrease in osteoporosis risk (6, 7, 8). Red clover plants grow from crowns. Genus is a group of plants which are related to each other in some or the other way. Despite this, great caution should be used when taking red clover and tamoxifen until there’s more clinical safety data available (38). Still, many studies were funded by supplement companies, which may lead to bias (14, 15). Red clover plant is an herb which when fully mature is about 16 inches tall, with straight, hairy stems, and leaves with three leaflets that are marked with a crescent shape.. It is viewable or downloadable as a .pdf file via this link. What Teas Help with Menopause Symptom Relief? Hence, it has the botanical name Trifolium, which in Latin translates loosely as "tri", meaning "three", with "folium" meaning "leaf". However, a 2015 study in 147 postmenopausal women found that taking 50 mg of red clover daily for 1 year resulted in no improvements in BMD, compared with the placebo group (12). Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes a loss of bone density, which increases your risk of fractures. Ideal seeding depth is approximately 1/4 inch, but error on the side of being shallow rather than too deep. It is very well suited for use as the forage legume in short rotations with corn. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a wild flowering plant belonging to the same family as peas and beans. Due to the wide range of potential drug interactions with red clover and limited data on the subject, always speak with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements. Red clover’s high isoflavone content is believed to help lower menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats. Dietary amounts of red clover are safe, but dietary supplement extracts may cause rash-like reactions, muscle ache, headache, nausea, vaginal bleeding in women, and slow blood clotting.[12]. One review of studies in postmenopausal women taking red clover for 4–12 months showed a significant increase in HDL (good) cholesterol and a decrease in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol (28). In alternative medicine, red clover is said to help with the following conditions. Nevertheless, you should be aware of its side effects, drug interactions, and risks for certain populations. Red clover contains substances called isoflavones. Red clover is a dependable, low-cost, readily available workhorse that is winter hardy in much of the U.S. (Hardiness Zone 4 and warmer). Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, 6 of the Best Multivitamins for Menopause, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, What Is Clover Honey? To make red clover tea, add 4 grams of dried flower tops (or red clover tea bags) to 1 cup (250 mL) of boiling water and steep for 5–10 minutes. Trifolium pratense is used in traditional medicine of India as deobstruent, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, anti-inflammatory and antidermatosis agent. It doesn't seem to work, though, for lowering cholesterol or controlling hot flashes in women. White clover, a low creeping perennial, is often used in lawn-grass mixtures and bears a white flower head often tinged with pink. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes on mountains in the tropics. Compared with the placebo group, there was not an increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial thickness, or hormonal changes (33). 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