History
Native to; the northern Atlantic and central Europe; the Mediterranean region; Balkans, Asia Minor, Iran, India, Himalayas; Russia from Arctic south to east Siberia; Caucasus, and the Far East. It spread to England ca 1650 and was carried to America by British colonists (Taylor and Smith, 1981). Widely introduced and cultivated. It is grown primarily for its value as a nutritionally dense food for grazing livestock. In Russian and Chinese folk medicine the floral tea is used to support bronchial-respiratory health. It has also been used for various skin conditions as a wash, and internally both as a tea and an extract. Because of it's nutritional complexity it has been recommended for convalescence, brewed as a tea from the freshly dried flowers. If you are selecting dried flowers to make tea, it is best to avoid the material if it is brown. This indicates that the material has oxidized probably due to improper drying, and storage.
Function
Red Clover is primarily nutritive, but also used to support proper lymphatic function (alterative), immune support, healthy skin, and proper endocrine function. It does contain genistein, daidzein, and biochannin-A among other isoflavones and concentrated standardized remedies made from this plant deliver these chemicals in an isolated state. Since the plant is so nutritionally complex, it is probably best to use it in its unadulterated form as an extract or tea. Supplements high in these types of flavonoids are generally useful as a tonic for menstrual irregularity and menopause.
Uses of Red Clover
This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.
