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Herbal Glossary | Medicinal Glossary | Herbal Preparations | Ayervedic Formulas | Chinese Formulas Red CloverContents:Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Scientific Names
Common Names
Parts Usually UsedFlowers
Description of Plant(s) and CultureWild or red clover is a perennial plant; its short rootstock produces several reddish stems, 1-2 feet high, with close-pressed whitish hairs. The palmate leaves, some basal and come along the stems, have 3 oval to oblong-oval or obovate leaflets which are minutely toothed and sometimes blotched with white. The rose-purple or magenta (to nearly white in some varieties) flowers grow in a dense, ovoid head subtended by a leaf. May to September.
Where FoundCommon in meadows, fields, on lawn edges, and roadsides all over North America and Europe.
Medicinal PropertiesDiuretic, expectorant, antispasmodic, alterative, anti-tumor, mild stimulant
Biochemical InformationBiotin, choline, copper, coumarins, glycosides, inositol, magnesium, manganese, selenium, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, and P, and zinc.
Legends, Myths and StoriesClover, one of the first plants cultivated by man, has been highly regarded since ancient times. The three-leaf clover was associated with the Christian Trinity, and in pre-Christian eras with the triad goddesses of the Celts. The Middle Ages considered clover a charm against witches. Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is considered by some authorities to be the true shamrock planted by St. Patrick in Ireland, instead of clover.
The rare four-leaf clover, also a Christian symbol representing the cross, was said to enable its wearer to ward off evil and witches, to see fairies and various spirits, to heal illnesses, to have good fortune, and to escape military service. One leaf stood for fame; the second, wealth; the third for a faithful lover; the fourth for good health. The five-leaf clover was said to be unlucky and the two-leaf clover was to enable a maid to see her future lover.
UsesA sweet herb that is a blood purifier, and antibiotic used for tuberculosis and to fight other bacteria. A relaxant, an appetite suppressant. Good for inflamed lungs, colds, flu, cough, fever, whooping cough, and other inflammatory conditions related to gout and arthritis, most glandular ailments, gastric trouble, skin disorders, headaches, neuralgia, and the AIDS virus. Has positive effects on cancer patients when taken with chaparral. A syrupy extract of the flowers can be used externally for persistent sores, burns, abscesses, fever sores, and ulcers, also believed to prevent cancer or arrest tumors. A poultice of the plant can be tried for athlete’s foot and other skin problems. The flowers were formerly smoked in anti-asthma cigarettes. Science has not confirmed traditional uses, though the plant contains many biologically active compounds, including estrogen.
Formulas or DosagesThe flower heads should be eaten raw (about a dozen daily), or dried and made into an infusion. Infusion: steep 2 tsp. flowering tops in 1/2 cup water for 10 minutes. Take 1 to 1 1/2 cups a day, with or without honey, a mouthful at a time. Tincture: a dose is from 5-30 drops, taken in water. Nutrient ContentVitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, and P, and zinc.
How SoldCapsules: take one, 2 or 3 times a day.
WarningFall or late-cut hay in large quantities can cause frothing, diarrhea, dermatitis, and decreased milk production in cattle. Diseased clover, externally showing no symptoms, may contain the indolizidine alkaloid slaframine, which is much more poisonous than castanospermine, now being studied for anti-AIDS and antidiabetic activity.
Resource LinksLiveStrong.com: Information on Red Clover Blossoms & Herbs LiveStrong.com: Red Clover Dangers LiveStrong.com: Thistle & Clover LiveStrong.com: Red Clover & Hot Flashes University of Maryland Medical Center: Red Clover Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Red Clover National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Red Clover PubMed.gov: Treatment strategies for reducing the burden of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms. Bibliography
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Cleaver grass
The Herb Book
, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.
, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994Copyright © 1996-2010 Lynn DeVries, all rights reserved.