### What Is Red Clover?
Red clover (Trifolium pratense), also known as cow clover, meadow clover, or wild clover, is a legume native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa. This plant contains isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen similar to the hormone estrogen. While its benefits are often highlighted for women, red clover offers advantages for men as well.
Red Clover Benefits & Uses
Historically, red clover has been used to treat conditions like asthma, whooping cough, skin sores, indigestion, gout, and even severe illnesses. Its flowers and leaves are edible and can be added to salads or brewed into tea. Ground red clover flowers can soothe itchy skin when added to bath water or applied topically in a salve. Many also take red clover in capsule or liquid extract form. Here are some well-documented benefits:
# Reduces Symptoms of Menopause
Research suggests that red clover can help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Menopause, marked by the end of menstrual cycles, brings changes such as interrupted sleep, dry skin, vaginal dryness, weight fluctuations, and hot flashes. Like vitamin E and sage, red clover may reduce hot flashes and other symptoms. Additionally, it can enhance mood and libido in women.
# Improves Bone Strength
Aging often leads to bone density loss, particularly in post-menopausal women due to hormonal changes. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can prevent bone loss and osteoporosis, it also increases the risk of breast cancer and heart disease. Red clover, however, supports normal bone mineral content and strength without these adverse effects.
# Promotes Skin Health
Your skin, the largest organ, is exposed to environmental damage such as sun exposure, heating, and air conditioning. Red clover, taken orally or applied topically, can soothe various skin conditions and promote a healthy complexion. It may improve skin texture, moisture levels, and scalp health when taken orally.
# Encourages Normal Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits in artery walls, raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Red clover helps maintain balanced cholesterol levels, which is beneficial for heart health. Studies have shown that red clover can normalize “bad cholesterol” (LDL) levels in men, although women’s cholesterol levels did not respond similarly. This suggests that previous studies showing no link between red clover and cholesterol might have been skewed by female test subjects.
# Helps Heart Health
Beyond its cholesterol-lowering effects, red clover supports heart health by helping to regulate blood pressure. Unchecked high blood pressure can lead to blood clots and strokes, but red clover supplementation may stabilize blood pressure levels. Red clover also has protective properties that guard against serious cardiovascular diseases by thinning blood, which helps prevent clotting.
# Promotes a Happy Mood
If you struggle with anxiety and depression, red clover might help. Over 75 percent of women taking red clover extract reported mood improvements. A review of studies on herbal remedies for mental wellness, including red clover, kava, and fennel, found promising results for red clover in enhancing mood and promoting calm.
# Supports Prostate Health
Red clover offers significant benefits for men’s health, particularly prostate health. Prostate-specific antigens (PSA) are proteins produced by the prostate gland. Elevated PSA levels can indicate prostate issues, including enlargement or inflammation. Red clover extract helps maintain normal PSA levels in men, improving prostate function without adverse side effects.
# May Help Male Pattern Baldness
Many men experience “pattern baldness,” a genetic condition causing hair loss, typically affecting the front and top of the head. In a small study, men applied a cream containing red clover and a “biomimetic peptide” for four months. This cream increased hair growth more than a placebo, suggesting that red clover helps stimulate protein creation in hair growth areas and reduces inflammation in hair follicles.
How to Make Red Clover Tea
Herbal tea is a simple way to enjoy red clover. You can buy red clover tea bags or make your own with dried red clover flowers.
Ingredients:
– Red clover flowers, dried
– Hot water
– Raw local honey
Directions:
1. Add one tablespoon of dried red clover flowers to a tea bag or metal mesh infuser.
2. Pour boiling water into a teacup with the red clover tea bag (or infuser) and steep for 15 minutes.
3. Sweeten with honey if desired.
You can also add red clover flowers directly to boiling water and strain before drinking. Enjoy red clover tea up to two or three times per day.
Precautions & Side Effects
While natural remedies can seem harmless, they may interact with medications, supplements, and certain health conditions. For instance, red clover tea can soothe menstrual cramps by acting as a uterine stimulant, but pregnant women should avoid it due to the risk of miscarriage. Similarly, breastfeeding women should not use red clover. As a phytoestrogen, red clover mimics hormones and should not be taken by those with hormone-sensitive conditions like breast cancer, uterine or ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids without a healthcare provider’s guidance.
Points to Remember
Red clover offers numerous therapeutic qualities, easing symptoms of many conditions. It supports mental wellness and heart health, reduces menopausal symptoms, and promotes normal blood pressure. For men, red clover can positively affect cholesterol levels, male pattern baldness, and prostate health.
