Herbal teas offer a simple way to obtain health benefits by sipping the hot liquid in which the herbs steep. Red clover, commercially cultivated as cattle feed for its rich nutrients, grows wild throughout much of the United States. As a holistic treatment, red clover tea is available in health food stores. Or, you can harvest your own, if the plant grows nearby. Although the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the sale of herbal teas, many contain medicinal properties, so consult your doctor before using red clover tea to treat a medical condition.
History/Folklore
Steeped in folklore, the triple-leaf of the red clover plant at one time symbolized the Christian Trinity, and adherents wore amulets of red clover as lucky charms, according to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Red clover tea was an important tonic for purifying the blood and for treating chronic coughs, asthma and constipation.
Plant Properties
The rosy, multispiked bloom of the red clover plant makes a fragrant, slightly sweet tea. The plant prefers soil high in phosphorus and calcium and it can reach 2-feet in height, developing a woody main stem and multiple side stems that bear blossoms all summer long. Red clover is a perennial, and a new plant will grow each year on the previous year's rootstock, according to Gale.
Constituents
Red clover tea contains isoflavones, mild plant hormones known as phytoestrogen. Specific isoflavones include biochanin A, formononetin, genistein and diadzein, reports Stockley's Herbal Medicine Interactions. In addition, red clover tea provides vitamin C, calcium, niacin, potassium, thiamine and chromium, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Benefits
Clinical tests supporting the health benefits of red clover tea are lacking but anecdotal evidence suggests that drinking the tea may be beneficial for protecting the heart by increasing HDL, the "good" cholesterol, according to UMMC. Red clover tea may also reduce menopausal symptoms and slow bone loss in post-menopausal women. The isoflavones may also reduce the growth of some cancer cells, reports UMMC, although clinical research is necessary to confirm those benefits.
Dosage
Steep 1 or 2 tsp. dried red clover in 1 cup hot water for 30 minutes and strain before drinking. Red clover tea is available from health food stores in tea bags that contain a similar amount. UMMC suggests drinking up to 3 cups of tea per day, but consult your doctor for specific recommendations.
Considerations
When taken as suggested, red clover tea is generally safe, but mild side effects may occur in some individuals that include nausea, headache and rash, according to UMMC. The tea may also interact with current medications, including anticoagulants, reports Stockley's Herbal Medicines Interactions. Use red clover tea as a medical treatment under a doctor's supervision.
References
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 3"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- "Stockley's Herbal Medicines Interactions"; Elizabeth Williamson; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Red Clover
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