Red clover is a common perennial plant found growing all over Europe and North America, according to Medicinal Herb Info. Its flowers are the medicinal portions of the plant and contain compounds known as phytoestrogens, says the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine or NCCAM website. Before taking red clover or any other medicinal herb, consult your health care provider for instructions. The website for the University of Maryland Medical Center or UMMC lists the uses for red clover as improving cardiovascular health, easing symptoms of menopause, preventing osteoporosis and a possible cancer preventive treatment. The site also says that red clover can be applied topically to skin conditions such as rashes, eczema or psoriasis. The NCCAM site adds to the list of conditions for which red clover is used. It says that red clover is helpful in lowering overall cholesterol levels and increasing the HDL or "good" cholesterol levels in the blood.
Possible Side Effects
According to the UMMC website, people taking red clover supplements for over a year have reported very few side effects. The few that were reported were minor and included headache, nausea and rash.
Cancer Effects
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center or MSKCC website warns that anyone with hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid taking red clover, since it may dangerously impact the cancer cell growth.
Pregnancy & Lactation
The MSKCC site also warns that pregnant or breast-feeding women should avoid the use of red clover. There is not yet enough available evidence that shows how the herb could affect the unborn or nursing child.
Potential Interactions
Drugs.com cautions against taking red clover supplements while also taking oral contraception, estrogen or progesterone therapies. Red clover may either interfere with the actions of the medications or cause dangerous interactions.
Bleeding Issues
The UMMC website also warns against taking red clover if you are taking any form of blood thinner or anticoagulant. The effects of red clover could combine with the medication's effects and may cause excessive bleeding.
More Information
Other than the potential interactions and side effects with red clover, the UMMC site tells us that the herb is fairly safe to take. It even provides a rich source for calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, and P, and zinc. Red clover flowers can be eaten fresh or taken as extract, tablets, capsule or tea, says the NCCAM site. The most potent form to take is the freshly picked flowers themselves, but when those are not available, the other forms are useful as well.
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