Red clover is an herb that serves as a source of nutrition for grazing cattle and may also have medicinal benefits in humans. The red flower produced by the red clover, or Trifolium pratense herb, is typically dried and used as a tea, tincture or extract. Red clover may also be available in capsule form or as a topical ointment. Talk with your medical provider about the potential medical benefits associated with using red clover supplements before beginning treatment.
Skin and Wound Healing
Treatment with red clover ointment may be beneficial for people who have certain types of inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Additionally, red clover ointment has traditionally been used to increase how quickly the skin heals after injury. Despite these potential benefits, additional clinical studies in humans are necessary to verify the skin-healing properties of red clover.
Menopause Symptom Relief
Though controversial, menopause symptom relief is a potential benefit of red clover supplements. The isoflavones in red clover may mimic the action of the hormone estrogen in the human body. Consequently, treating menopausal women with red clover may serve as a form of hormone-replacement therapy and may help reduce hot flashes or other menopause symptoms. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that the results of several studies examining the effects of red clover in menopausal women have been mixed, with several studies finding no beneficial red clover effects on menopausal symptoms.
Cancer Prevention
Red clover contains isoflavones, a compound that may help prevent the growth of cancerous cells in your body. If used in conjunction with anti-cancer drugs, this supplement may also impart protective effects on healthy cells and tissues during cancer treatment. Preliminary research studies demonstrate that red clover may kill cancer cells in a laboratory environment or limit cancer cell growth, the UMMC says. Additional studies examining the effects of red clover in humans are necessary to determine how this supplement affects cancer cells. It is also unclear which forms of cancer red clover supplements are effective against. The estrogen-like nature of isoflavones may actually contribute to the growth of certain forms of cancer -- especially breast cancer or other reproductive cancers in women. In fact, health professionals with RxList do not recommend red clover treatment for women who have breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis.
Increased Bone Density
As women age, their hormone levels decrease, which increases their risk of developing extensive bone loss -- a condition called osteoporosis. The estrogen-like nature of red clover may help improve bone density while inhibiting bone loss. Additional clinical research is necessary to further examine this medicinal benefit of red clover.
Cough Relief
Historically, red clover has been used as expectorant to help reduce respiratory symptoms associated with bronchitis, whooping cough or asthma, the NCCAM says. Expectorants help thin out mucus in the lungs, which helps break up congestion and clear the respiratory tract. Clinical trials in humans are necessary to further substantiate this purported benefit of red clover.
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