RED CLOVER
Botanical name: Trifolium pratense
Synonyms: Meadow clover, purple clover, trefoil
Part used: Flowering tops and leaf
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Isoflavondoids including biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, genistein, and others; flavonoids including kaempferol, quercetin and others; coumarins; carbohydrates, saponins, salicylic acid, and trace vitamins and minerals.
TRADITIONAL AND HISTORICAL USES
Red clover has been used traditionally as an alterative or “blood purifying” herb. As such, it has been included in the treatment of acute and chronic skin diseases, including acne, eczema, and psoriasis, and it is commonly found in herbal formulae for treating cancer, including the infamous Hoxsey formula. Numerous so-called “trifolium compounds” were marketed as blood purifiers to “help clear the body of toxins.” Red clover was listed in the National Formulary as a skin remedy until 1946. It has also been used traditionally for the treatment of upper respiratory conditions including acute and chronic cough, asthma, and pertussis. In recent years it has become an exceedingly popular herb for the treatment of menopausal complaints including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and osteoporosis.
CLINICAL INDICATIONS
Red clover is one of the most popular herbal products in Europe and the United States for the prevention and treatment of menopausal complaints, particularly hot flashes. It is also used to prevent and treat vaginal dryness, osteoporosis, and hypercholesterolemia. Promensil, a commonly used red clover product, is used in many of the red clover clinical trials.
