Herb of the Month

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Marianne Hughes, with illustration by Hazel Brady

This triple-leafed herb was sacred to a variety of ancient cultures. Both the Greeks and the Romans associated it with the triad goddesses. Celtic priests were reminded of their three-lobed symbol of the sun. The Druids believed the blossoms could ward off nasty spells and evil spirits. In Ireland, St Patrick is believed to have used the threeleafed Clover to illustrate the idea of the Christian trinity.

By the Middle Ages, legumes such as Peas (Pisum sativum), Beans (Phaseolus spp.), and Vetches (Vicia spp.) were commonly grown as fodder and food crops. From the midseventeenth century, farmers added deeprooted White Clover (Trifolium repens) and Red Clover (T. pratense) for these purposes (Bown, 2008). Although the Latin ‘pratense’ suggests a plant found in meadows, Clovers are still used today as a green manure crop, to enrich and protect soil. Through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria, Red Clover fixes nitrogen in nodules in its roots. This nitrogen becomes available to other plants, and so enhances the nutrient value of meadows. The resulting high content of trace minerals in the plant’s roots is also beneficial in medicinal preparations.

In the 1930s, Red Clover had a reputation for curing cancer, and by the 1990s it had become a popular ingredient for relieving menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes. While its ability to cure cancer may be debateable, there is evidence that Red Clover can promote the development of a membrane around the tumour, containing its growth (Wood, 2008). This can be particularly helpful where there is to be surgery, for example for breast cancer (Wood, 2008). In an overview of new findings (Mohsen et al, 2021), compositions of Red Clover were found to promote antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. Additionally, they were found to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function and to improve symptoms of menopause. Red Clover contains isoflavones— a type of phytoestrogen compound with a chemical makeup similar to the oestrogen hormone. So, the addition of Red Clover may help to balance hormone levels during the menopause. These findings (Mohsen et al, 2021) echo a recent meta-analysis of research into the lipid profile of perimenopausal and post-menopausal women, conducted by Kanadys et al (2020). They were specifically interested in the impact Red Clover extract could have on cholesterol levels, and found that Red Clover did reduce total concentrations of cholesterol. This, in turn, would impact positively on cardiovascular health.

Red Clover is often referred to as an ‘alterative’ herb. Alterative herbs restore vitality by helping to support the body's own natural processes. Red Clover works gently to assist the body to rid itself of toxins. For example, its diuretic action increases the flow of urine, and its expectorant action moves mucus from the lungs. The work of Red Clover is slow and steady, so for the most effective results it is usually taken over a long period of time (Bruton-Seal and Seal, 2008).

And what of the beauty of Clover? A Clover lawn heralds the summer, is loved by bees, and by small children who delight in gently pulling apart the flower and discovering the joy of sucking at the sweet nectar. As adults, we can enjoy Clover flowers and leaves in salads and, of course, that occasional cup of Clover wine.

References:

Bown, D. (2008) Encyclopaedia of Herbs. Royal Horticultural Society, Dorling Kindersley: London

Bruton-Seal, J. and Seal, M. (2008) Hedgerow Medicine: Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies. Merlin Unwin: Shropshire

Kanadys, W. (2020) ‘Effects of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavones on the lipid profile of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women-A systematic review and meta-analysis’, in Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, (132): 7-16

Mohsen, A. (2021) ‘Pharmacological and therapeutic properties of the Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.): an overview of the new findings’, in Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 41(4): 642-649

Wood, M. (2008) The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants. North Atlantic Books: California