What is red clover? What are its benefits and ways to use it?

Red clover and its benefits

Surely you’ve heard of green clover before, but have you ever heard of red clover? Get acquainted with us, through the following paragraphs, about red clover, its potential health benefits, how it can be used, and how to prepare red clover tea, in addition to some of its potential harms and many other interesting information.

What is red clover?

Red clover is a natural plant with flowers that belongs to the same family as peas and beans, and is widely used in many countries. The flowering part of the red clover plant is used as a garnish in food or an extract or oil is used separately. There are many therapeutic benefits of red clover and affects different parts of the body, and we will learn next about the most prominent of these benefits.

Benefits of red clover

It should be noted first that the research that has studied the health benefits of red clover is not numerous, and the matter still needs more evidence, and here are the most prominent health benefits of this plant:

1- Promote bone health

Red clover contains isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen that has an effect similar to estrogen in the body, and some studies have found a relationship between increasing the intake of isoflavones in the body and reducing the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women, but more studies are still needed. .

2- Strengthening the health of the skin and hair

A random study conducted on more than 109 postmenopausal women found that the use of red clover for a certain period of time helped in strengthening hair and skin texture and appearance. Despite these promising results, more evidence is still needed.

3- Support heart health

Some preliminary studies indicated that the use of red clover helped support and promote heart health by increasing levels of good cholesterol in the body, and reducing levels of bad cholesterol and fats in the body, but some experts argued that these studies were insufficient and were conducted on a small group of people, so It still needs more research.

4- The benefits of red clover for women

It is believed that the high level of isoflavones in red clover can reduce and relieve symptoms of perimenopause or menopause such as hot flashes or night sweats. Other studies suggest that it can also help mildly reduce other symptoms of menopause, such as anxiety, depression, and vaginal dryness.

How to use red clover

This plant is usually available in the form of supplements that can be taken orally, or the flowers can be used and dried to make and eat red clover tea. It is also available in the form of tinctures or extracts that can be added to different foods or used in other ways.

Notice: It is advised not to use this plant for any therapeutic purpose without consulting a doctor first, to find out its safety and effect.

How to make red clover tea

Red clover tea can be made by drying the flowers of the plant, and it is made in the following way:

  • Use 1 to 3 teaspoons of dried red clover.
  • Put the amount in a cup (250 ml) of warm water, preferably unboiled water.
  • Leave the mixture for 15 minutes.
  • Can drink 1 to 3 cups a day.

Red clover damage and side effects

The FDA has stated that this plant is safe to use, and many studies have found that most people can tolerate this plant, but there are some side effects that, although rare, should be watched out for:

  • Vaginal discharge or vaginal spotting.
  • long menstruation
  • skin irritation
  • Nausea.
  • Headache.
  • Collywobbles.
  • vomiting.

There is not enough data to indicate the safety of using this plant for pregnant and lactating women, so it is advised to avoid it during pregnancy or lactation. It has also been found that it can cause blood clotting, so it is advised to avoid using this plant for people with bleeding disorders.

Red clover interactions with drugs

Natural herbs interfere with the effectiveness of some medications, so it is not recommended to take any herbs or herbal supplements with the following medications:

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