Red clover is an herb native to grasslands and prairies, and it is commonly used to feed livestock. According to the National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), it is a member of the legume family, along with beans and peas. Red clover has been used for hundreds of years as a traditional medicine--it was thought o help purify the body's blood, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Red clover is high in isoflavones, which produce estrogen-like reactions in the body. This makes it useful as a modern herbal medicine in a number of applications.
Cardiovascular Health
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, researchers believe red clover can help protect against heart disease, although medical studies have failed to strong evidence to support this theory. The believed benefit is due to the isoflavones present in red clover--the consumption of isoflavones is associated with increasing healthy cholesterol levels in women. The UMMC also refers to one study revealing more flexible and resilient arteries in women taking red clover as opposed to those that don't. Red clover may also prevent blood from clotting while also improving blood flow.
Menopause
While studies on this point have proven inconclusive, it is believed that red clover may help reduce the symptoms of menopause. Menopause is marked by a steep drop in estrogen levels in the female body, which causes uncomfortable symptoms to develop. Isoflavones in red clover may be able to imitate this lost estrogen, softening the effects of the condition. Multiple studies have also suggested that an extract of red clover isoflavones can create a significant drop in hot flashes among menopausal women.
Osteoporosis
Red clover's benefit in treating osteoporosis is tied to its believed benefit to menopausal women. The onset of menopause can also sharply increase the risk of a woman developing osteoporosis. This risk of lost bone density is tied to the loss of estrogen in the body. Taking red clover as an herb or as an extract may slow bone density loss, and may actually improve mineral density. However, the evidence suggesting this benefit is preliminary, and more studies are needed to develop a conclusion.
Cancer
There is some preliminary evidence, according to the UMMC, of red clover's benefit in the prevention or treatment of cancer. Red clover may be effective at slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells, and it may be capable of killing cancer cells in a test tube environment. As with its benefits to osteoporosis, more research is needed to make a determination.
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