If you haven't become familiar with the leaves of red clover while looking for a four-leaved clover, then you are probably familiar with the round and red ball-shaped flowers that cover many lawns. Despite the red clover plants' abundance in lawns, it is not a weed. The plant can potentially have healing benefits in your body.
Description
Red clover grows in the meadows of North America and Europe and is abundant in Asia, the Mediterranean and even the Arctic Circle. The plant reaches up to 2 feet in height and can be identified by the arrow-shaped white patterns that adorn the leaves. The purple-to-red-colored flowers are dried and used medicinally. There is also another variety of clover that has white-colored blooms. The white clover can typically be found close to the red clover in meadows.
Uses/Benefits
Red clover has been used medicinally in Western folk medicine and Chinese medicine. Traditionally, the flowers have been used for coughs and as a diuretic. They were also believed to help skin conditions. There is some evidence that red clover may help with menopause and osteoporosis, according to the University of Michigan. However, studies on the plant have had insufficient or contradictory results. Cattle often graze on the red clover plant.
Side Effects
Red clover is considered to be safe, but it may cause side effects that could include a rash, nausea or headache, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Red clover that has been fermented could cause bleeding. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid the use of red clover. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that red clover has caused animals to become infertile when they grazed on large amounts of the plant.
Interactions
If you are taking any type of medication, you should consult your doctor before using red clover. The plant can interfere with drugs as they are being broken down by the enzymes in the liver, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Red clover can increase the risk of bleeding if you are taking blood-thinning medications, ginger, ginkgo, garlic or vitamin E. It may alter the effects of hormone replacement therapy. You should also avoid use of the plant if you take drugs for diabetes or are using tamoxifen.
Dosage
A tea of the dried flowers can be made by steeping 2 or 3 tsp. of the herb in a cup of water for 15 minutes. The tea can be used up to three times a day, according to the University of Michigan. A dosage of 60 to 100 drops of a tincture, or 1ml of an extract can be used up to three times a day, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Red clover can also be used topically for skin conditions. Typically, ointments, extracts or homemade infusions are used topically.
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