Red Clover's Nutritive Support & Hormone Balance

Red Clover’s Latin name is Trifolium pratense, meaning three leaves, as the leaves form in sets of three. It is a member of the Fabaceae family, which is also known as the Legume family, Red Clover makes a great cover crop, fixing nitrogen in the soil with it’s long roots. Not to be confused with Crimson Clover, Red Clover is actually closer in colour to pink or purple and is typified with its spherical, or globular blossom, sitting at the very top of the stem. Its leaves are an ovate shape around the stem in sets of three and the most distinguishing feature is that each of the leaflets have a chevron, or V shape in a lighter shade on the leaflet.

Native to Europe and the Mediterranean it is now found throughout most temperate regions of the planet, spread overtime through trading routes. It grows in abundance in meadows, fields, along fences and in disturbed soil from Spring to Fall, blossoming in the Summer.

Red Clover was highly regarded in the ancient world as a cleansing medicinal herb, especially when chronic disease had set into the lungs or the skin. Red clover, in Celtic folklore, is considered one of the hot herbs, believe to arouse passion and often were put into love charms and spells, it was thought to energize people by stimulating the heart and cleaning the blood. Folk healers and traditional Chinese physicians have long applied Red Clover for asthma, bronchitis and to clear the lungs.

Gathered long ago by children for a sweet treat, each tiny flower stalk was pulled out and

the white end squeezed with the front teeth to remove the ‘sugar’. Herbalist Matthew Wood likes to say that 'Red Clover exudes childlike optimism—her little flower heads look just like “Little Red Riding Hood”! Her gift to you is helping you tap into and express your inner child, waking up an innately hopeful and lighthearted outlook and connecting you to your own well of love that exists inside of you . . .'

In modern times Red Clover is known to be a nutritive tonic, rich in calcium, chromium, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C & thiamine, it is a great food source as well as medicine.

Just like other nutritive plants such as Nettles, Oat straw and Raspberry leaf, Red Clover makes a rich, nourishing infusion when steeped overnight as a strong tea to extract its minerals. Apple cider vinegar is superior in its ability to extract mineral contents from plants and so this is another method which can be used when working with Red Clover for a more concentrated form, or even as an oxymel for a sweeter version.

Red Clover’s sweet taste is reflective of it’s nutritive qualities and its phytosterol compound helps to nourish hormones, particularly estrogen, bringing levels back into balance, whether estrogen is too high or too low. It can help women who are experiencing infertility, helping to thicken and tone the uterus. It also makes an excellent choice for women going through menopause, as it can help ease menopausal symptoms. Red Clover’s ability to support bone health is also beneficial, as when estrogen levels begin to decrease, it can cause bones to become more brittle.

Red Clover Actions

Alterrative action - helping to remove metabolic waste from the fluids of the body, enhancing the detoxification processes through the lymphatic system and liver to remove toxic waste products. Also referred to as a “blood cleanser”, or “blood purifier”, providing organs and tissues with fresh, nutrient-rich blood.

Inflammation modulator - calms inflamed skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema and is also effective for arthritic joints and gout.

Anti-spasmodic – particularly good for both dry or wet coughs and considered a lung tonic for asthmatics when taken on a daily basis.

Anti-catarrhal - remedy for ailments of the chest such as bronchitis and whooping cough.

Nervine - in small doses Red Clover has a mild tonic effect on the nerves and can assist with easing indigestion, nausea and headaches.

Deobstruent - Removing obstructions; having the power to clear, or open natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body.

Most of the nutrients and medicinal properties are found in the blossom. It is sweet, slightly astringent and cooling, best harvested when the bloom is ripening, but before it is fully open. Pinching off the top blooms will encourage new growth and enable you to come back and harvest again.

Normally, harvesting herbs after dew evaporation is the best practice, to prevent molding, but Red Clover is one of the few exceptions. If you pick Clover when it’s dry it will turn brown, so early morning is best before the morning dew has evaporated. Place the blossoms in a basket, or on a drying rack and place in a dark, warm, ventilated, and dry place. Ensure that the blossoms are well spaced and not touching each other, and turn frequently while drying. Depending on conditions, your clover will be dry in 1 – 2 weeks. The blossoms and seed sprouts also make beautiful additions to salads.

Be mindful of where you are harvesting from,

avoid areas near roadways due to pollution

and be sure to leave plenty of blossoms for the pollinators:)

RECIPES

Weigh out 1 ounce of dried Red Clover and place it in a pint jar. Boil water and pour it over the herb, filling the jar. Seal the lid and shake it up. Set the jar aside for at least 4 hours, though overnight is ideal. Now strain out the herbs and rebottle the infusion. Sip it throughout the day. This type of infusion will remain potent for around a day without refrigeration or around 3 days with refrigeration.

Rosemary Gladstar has a breast health version of this infusion that also encourages healthy lymph flow. Make the infusion as described above, but use the following herbal ratio:

2 parts Calendula

2 parts Red Clover

1 part Cleavers

1 part Lady’s Mantle

Spearmint or Peppermint for flavour

Menopause Formula Tea, by Rosemary Gladstar in her book ‘Medicinal Herbs’

The below formula helps regulate the symptoms of Menopause, make the infusion as above with the following:

2 parts Red Clover flower

1 part Lemon Balm tops

1 part Mother Wort leaf

1 part Sage Leaf

General Oxymel Instructions

Works well for infusing a variety of dried herbs.

• Fill a pint jar 1/4 full of Red Clover, or your choice of herbs.

• Cover with equal parts apple cider vinegar and honey to fill jar.

• Stir to incorporate.

• Wipe any liquid off the rim and top with a tight-fitting plastic lid. Alternatively, place a piece of parchment paper under a metal canning lid and ring to keep the vinegar from touching the metal.

• Shake jar until thoroughly mixed.

• Store jar in a cool, dark place to extract for two weeks. Shake jar at least twice a week to assist in extraction.

• Strain out herbs through a fine mesh strainer, retaining liquid and setting herbs aside to compost.

• Pour strained oxymel into glass storage jars or bottles.

• Label and date.

• Store in cool, dark place until ready to use. When stored properly, shelf life is approximately 6 months.

When you’ve made your first amazing oxymel, try adding some to warm water as a comforting drink to pull you through the sniffle season. Or, use a splash or two to flavour bubbly water on a hot summer day for a refreshing boost. You also might find you like it as a topping on pancakes or added to a vinaigrette for a garden salad.

Red Clover should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as anyone on blood thinners or due to have surgery as its chromium compound makes it a blood thinner and prevents coagulation of the blood.