Clover - whether via four cloves of good luck, or a spoon of sweet clover honey - doesn't often get the proper 'spect it deserves as a super(herb)food remedy packing several health benefits. As a member of the legume family, the greens of the plant are often hard to digest and best enjoyed dried, in tea. However the florets of red clover specifically are edible and offer a subtle sweetness.
Internal Health Benefits
- Prostate and Breast Cancer prevention
- Menopausal symptoms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Asthma
External Health Benefits (used as a balm or salve)
- Relieves eczema and psoriasis
- Soothes burns and sores
- Skin cancer preventative
- Ease arthritis
- Anti-inflammatory
- Natural source of salicylic acid
Active Component
The many benefits of clover are a consequence of its isoflavones. These isoflavones exhibit estrogenic effects, so they are called phytoestrogen. Isoflavones have been shown to efficiently treat forms of cancer, and even eliminate cancer cells - one of which being breast cancer. There are 31 isoflavones in the stem and leaves of the red clover (Trifolium pretense). Biochanin A and formononetin are the highest in concentration, which have also shown to provide some cancer preventing benefits. The isoflavones in red clover resembles the structure of the female hormone estrogen, but have shown to disrupt menopausal treatment when taken with such supplements.
Estrogen binds to the estrogen receptors and genes are activated to produce more cells
This can be harmful to someone that has breast cancer because if the estrogen is binding to the estrogen receptors it is producing more cancerous cells. Since the isoflavenes in red clover is similar to the structure of estrogen it binds to the estrogen receptors and inhibits gene activation. Estrogen binds to the estrogen receptors and genes are activated to produce more cells. This can be harmful to someone that has breast cancer because if the estrogen is binding to the estrogen receptors it is producing more cancerous cells. Since the isoflavenes in red clover is similar to the structure of estrogen it binds to the estrogen receptors and inhibits gene activation.
Recommendation Intake & Recipes
Type: Dried Herb (tea)
Amount: 1-2 tsp. dried flower; 8 oz. hot water
How Often: 2-3 cups daily
Type: Tincture (30% alcohol)
Amount: 60-100 drops; may had to hot water for tea
How Often: 3 times per day
Type: Fluid Extract
Amount: 1 mL
How Often: 3 times daily
Type: Topical treatment
Amount: 10-15% flower heads
How Often: Apply as needed