- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Europe, western Asia and North Africa; spread worldwide as a fodder crop. Trifolium pratense
Europe · Herb · № 99
Trifolium pratense
Herb · Europe
Red clover
Trifolium pratense
Contains isoflavones (plant oestrogens) and is sold for menopausal symptoms. NCCIH concludes there is no convincing evidence that it reduces hot flushes.
Safety notes
Avoid in pregnancy, with hormone-sensitive cancers or with blood thinners unless a doctor agrees.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Not in pregnancy, with hormone-sensitive conditions or with blood thinners.
Preparation
Flower heads as tea; isoflavones in standardised extracts. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
In Western herbalism red clover was a 'blood-cleansing' herb for skin conditions and coughs. Ody also describes its 19th-century use in American herbal formulas.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Cleansing, antispasmodic, diuretic, possibly oestrogenic.
Preparation and amount
Flower tincture for eczema and psoriasis (with heartsease for childhood eczema); syrup for stubborn dry cough and whooping cough; crushed flowers on insect bites; eye bath for conjunctivitis; warm compress for arthritis and gout; ointment for swollen lymph nodes; vaginal douche for itching.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Cleansing, calming, tonic; purifies the blood, decongests swollen lymph nodes, improves circulation and memory/cognitive function, brings calm and well-being.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1–2 tsp per cup, 8–10 min, 1–3 cups a day; tincture 1–3 dropperfuls 1–3 times a day.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
As a blood medicine and in the menopause.
Preparation and amount
Steep the flowers in hot water, do not boil.
Caution: Not in pregnancy, with hormone-sensitive conditions or with blood thinners.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Lust, breaking curses, prosperity, purification, love, luck, protection, success, fidelity, comfort.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
Edible flower.