Red Clover Uses and Benefits

Crunchy Christian Podcast

Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses red clover uses and benefits. Find out how this common plant has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Red Clover

History

Red clover, whose scientific name is Trifolium praetense, was first grown in Europe and has been used for at least 400 years. Ancients called it Triphyllon, meaning “three leaves”. This term also relates to the common name, Clover, which stems from “clava”, meaning “three-leaved”. While pagans have associated the three leaves with their goddess mythology, Christians have associated the three-lobed leaves with the Trinity. They associate the less common four-leafed clover with the four points of the cross. The Irish, as commonly portrayed, associate the rare four-leaf clover with luck. An old Irish rhyme dating back to the Middle Ages says a four-leafed clover has “one leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth, one for a faithful lover, one leaf for glorious health.”

As Europeans spread throughout the world to trade and conquer, red clover traveled with them. As new peoples in North Africa, central Asia, and North America encountered the pretty little herb, they quickly learned about red clover uses and benefits. And so, red clover was adopted by Russian herbalists, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, and indigenous North American healers for its ability to support healthy skin.

Additional Modern Background

Today, these pretty, little red blossoms dot the landscape everywhere from backyards and vacant lots to prairies and fields. Julie has many fond memories of red clover and shares about them in her podcast. In addition, farmers recognize red clover’s uses and benefits and plant it as fodder for their animals and to fix nitrogen in the soil. That means that it helps enrich the soil for other crops. When farming or gardening, using clover as a cover crop in fallow fields can in effect, provide natural fertilizer for the crops grown the following year. Like soy, it contains isoflavones, a phytoestrogen. And, like other legumes, can make animals who graze on it too much sterile.

Red Clover Uses and Benefits

Eating young red clover sprouts in salads can give you a boost of Vitamins A, B-Complex, C, and antioxidants. Red Clover also contains the minerals Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Copper, Selenium, Molybdenum and Tin.

In addition to red clover uses and benefits to the skin as noted by the Native Americans, it also was one of the ingredients of the famous Hoxsey anti-cancer formula of the 1920’s and 30’s. Harry Hoxsey, ND who started the first cancer clinic in Mexico, used Red Clover in his treatments. He wasn’t the only one, though. Thompsonian herbalists also use Red Clover in their anti-cancer formulas. The fact that Red clover thins the blood and improves circulation are reasons why it is such a great cancer fighter.

In addition to helping the body with skin conditions and issues and cancer, other Red clover uses and benefits include the lungs. It can be used to treat lung congestion, bronchitis and whooping cough, weak chest and wheezing. This herb also has antibiotic qualities and can also be used as a gargle for throat soreness, swelling and infections.

Warning

May be contraindicated for estrogen dominant cancers, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control because it contains phytoestrogens. Because of its activity in cleansing and purifying the blood, it may interfere with the drug Tamoxifen and anti-coagulants. Generally safe otherwise.

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