Benefits Of Red Clover Blossoms

The common clover is widely used as fodder for animals and as a cover crop to restore fertility to soil in between planting food crops. However, its pretty red flowers historically have found a place in medicine as well, as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic and blood thinner.

Inflammation

Red clover blossoms are used to treat skin inflammations of all types. Fresh, the flowers can be crushed and applied to insect bites and stings to reduce swelling and itching. A compress made from the infusion is useful for reducing swelling in sprains and bruises, as well as easing pain associated with arthritis and gout. Ointment made from fresh flowers can help reduce lymphatic swelling. Taken internally, the tincture is used to reduce inflammation of the lungs and liver, and can help with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Coughs

Red clover has antispasmodic and antiseptic qualities, making it a good treatment for coughs. It does not encourage the production of phlegm on its own, however, so when used for coughs associated with an infection such as influenza or bronchitis it is best to combine it with a strong expectorant such as mullien. Syrup made from red clover blossoms can be used by itself to quiet dry, stubborn coughs where producing excess phlegm is not desirable.

Blood Thinning

Red clover blossoms contain a compound called coumarin, and several coumarin-like molecules. As described in the journal Chest, coumarin prevents blood clotting by imitating vitamin K, which is required for the blood clotting enzymes to function. Blood thinning is of benefit to those with hypertension and atherosclerosis; however, if blood is prevented too strongly from clotting, small cuts or bruises can result in uncontrolled, potentially dangerous bleeding. The amount of coumarin in fresh or dried clover is generally insufficient to cause this degree of blood thinning, but various molds which grow on clover can convert the coumarin-like compounds into coumarin, increasing the coumarin content of the clover to dangerously high levels. Care should be taken to ensure clover never becomes moldy.

Not Useful for Cancer

Red clover has been used since the 1930s as a treatment for certain kinds of cancer, but studies reported in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health indicate that it is probably ineffective, and possibly dangerous. Red clover contains two isoflavones called biochanin A and formononetin, which your body converts to the isoflavones genistein and daidzein, the same isoflavones found in soy. Genistein and daidzein can mimic estrogen, and it has been thought that they can block estrogen from stimulating those kinds of cancers, such as certain breast cancers, which require estrogen to grow. However, the evidence for this has been inconclusive. It is even thought that by mimicking estrogen, genistein and daidzein can stimulate cancer themselves. Red clover should not be taken by those with estrogen-influenced cancer until this has been resolved.