What does red clover help with for women? Harvesting, use, beneficial properties and contraindications of red clover (meadow). What does clover look like? Description of the plant


Update: October 2018

Red clover (meadow, honey blossom, trinity, woodpecker, redhead, red porridge, woodpecker, stableweed) - herbaceous perennial from the Legume family. The benefits and harms of the plant have long been studied, so clover is widely used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, antifungal, astringent, wound-healing, expectorant and analgesic, has many beneficial properties and is even eaten.

It is unpretentious to growing conditions and is found almost everywhere throughout Europe, North Africa, Central and Western Asia. In Russia, it is most common in the European part of the country, in Siberia, Kamchatka and the Far East. Clover is sensitive to the influence of anthropogenic factors: under unfavorable conditions it dies and recovers poorly. Grows in dry and moderately wet meadows, clearings, forest edges, in thickets of bushes, along the edges of roads.

It is a valuable honey plant, but only species of bees with long proboscis can obtain nectar, so productivity is no more than 6 kg of honey per hectare of crops. This honey is considered the best in quality and medicinal value; it does not become candied for a long time and retains its properties.

The plant has feed value for farm animals and is planted for decorative purposes. Used as soil fertilizer. It is also used for food purposes: young shoots and leaves are eaten as an additive to salad, and cabbage soup is prepared from them. In the Caucasus, young inflorescences are fermented for the winter. The essential oil of the plant is used in perfumery and cosmetology.

Morphological description

The root is tap root, short in length and produces many shoots. Swells with nitrogen-assimilation bacteria form on the root (they absorb nitrogen and accumulate air from it), so fields are sown with clover to naturally fertilize the soil.

Branched stems reach a height of 20-60 cm, are ascending or erect. The leaves are trifoliate, ovate or elliptical in shape, long petiole, bright green with a light spot in the center. The lower leaves have serrated edges.

Flowering occurs in June-July, and can continue until August. Red clover flowers are zygomorphic, sessile, irregular in shape, 11-14 mm long, located in capitate inflorescences framed by two leaflets. The inflorescence is an elongated ovoid or cylindrical head 1.5-3.5 cm wide and 2-3 cm long. Fruits in July-August: the beans are filmy, ovoid-spherical, with one brown achene.

Chemical composition

The rich chemical composition of the plant determines numerous medicinal properties:

  • flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, pratoletin);
  • phytosterols;
  • fatty oil (especially in seeds);
  • essential oil containing methyl coumarin and furfural - a powerful antimicrobial substance;
  • organic acids (salicylic, p-coumaric, ketoglutaric);
  • amino acids;
  • glycosides (trifolin and isotrifolin);
  • alkaloids;
  • tannins;
  • cellulose;
  • resins;
  • proteins and fats;
  • vitamins E, C, A, P, K, B1 and B2;
  • salts of calcium and phosphorus.

After mowing the grass, nitrogen accumulates in the roots of the plant (up to 150 kg/ha).

Beneficial properties of red clover

How is clover useful? Plant preparations have the following therapeutic effects:

  • astringent;
  • anti-inflammatory;
  • painkiller;
  • wound healing;
  • secretory;
  • diuretic;
  • choleretic;
  • restorative;
  • diaphoretic;
  • expectorant;
  • antiseptic;
  • regenerating;
  • hemostatic;
  • antiatherosclerotic;
  • vaso-strengthening;
  • antitumor.

Collection and preparation

The heads of red clover, which are collected during the flowering period, while they are fresh and juicy, have medicinal value. Withered and drying inflorescences are not suitable for harvesting. It is best to cut the inflorescences with the top leaves, which are also rich in useful substances.

Dry the raw materials in natural conditions- under sheds or in attics. It is important not to overdry the herb, as this will cause the red clover to lose its medicinal properties. Finished dry heads should not fall apart or crumble. They are carefully placed in fabric bags and stored in a dry place for 12 months. The raw material has no odor, but has a bitter taste.

Indications for use

Despite the well-studied medicinal properties and contraindications of red clover, plant preparations are mainly used in folk medicine for internal and external treatment. What does red clover help with:

  • CVS: atherosclerosis and its prevention, hypertension (lowers blood pressure and also reduces associated symptoms - headaches and dizziness);
  • Hematopoietic system: anemia;
  • Musculoskeletal system: myositis, rheumatism, polyarthritis;
  • Respiratory system: bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, influenza, ARVI, ENT pathologies;
  • Pathologies of the urinary system: urolithiasis disease, cystitis;
  • Reproductive system: inflammatory diseases of the female genital area, especially the ovaries, painful menstruation. Helps well with menopause. Recommended for men for sexual impotence;
  • Oncological diseases. In case of damage to an internal organ, it is taken orally, and in case of skin cancer - externally, in the form of lotions and ointments;
  • Skin diseases: skin lesions with bleeding, fungal infections, burns, ulcers, psoriasis, vasculitis, vitiligo;
  • Inflammatory processes with the formation of purulent discharge: boils, panaritium, purulent wounds, abscesses, ulcers and bedsores.

Plant preparations are recommended as a biogenic stimulant and tonic for prevention viral diseases, with chronic fatigue, vitamin deficiency, sudden weight loss or gain, alcohol intoxication.

Uses of red clover

Recipes traditional medicine:

Decoction and infusion

These are universal dosage forms indicated for all of the above diseases. Besides internal reception, are indicated for external treatment in the form of compresses, lotions, poultices and additives in medicinal baths. A steep decoction helps well with purulent abscesses and accelerates tissue healing.

Decoction: 1 tbsp. l. Pour boiling water (1 cup) over dry inflorescences and boil over low heat for 1 minute, then leave for another hour. Strain and drink half a glass 3 times a day, before meals.

Cool decoction for external use: according to the above principle, just take 3 tbsp. raw materials.

Infusion: 2 tbsp. l. dry inflorescences, pour boiling water (1 cup) and leave for 60 minutes, leave, strain. Take half a glass 3 times a day or ¼ glass 4 times a day, before meals. Especially indicated as an astringent and expectorant.

Decoction from the roots of the plant

Indicated for the treatment of bronchopulmonary pathologies and cancer.

Grind 20 gr. dried roots, pour 1 glass of boiling water over them, place the product in a water bath to simmer over low heat for about half an hour. Cool the resulting broth, strain and add boiled water to the original volume. Take 1 tbsp. l. decoction up to 6 times a day, before meals.

Red clover tincture

Indicated for headaches, tinnitus and high cholesterol with atherosclerosis. Taken for the prevention of influenza and ARVI, for anemia, fatigue, and cancer. Apply externally to treat the throat and oral cavity (dilute half with water). Cannot be used to treat burns open wounds and for dry skin. Take with caution at high blood pressure.

Take 4 tbsp. dry raw materials and pour 500 ml of vodka or alcohol diluted to 40%. Leave in a warm place for 10 days. Take 1 tsp. before meals 3 times a day and 1 more time at night.

Seed tincture

Take 1 tbsp. l. clover seeds and pour 1 glass of red wine, steam the product in a water bath for half an hour. Take for a long time, at least 1 month, 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.

Tea

Taken as a means of strengthening the immune system during the season of colds and ARVI, to improve appetite in children.

1 tsp dry raw materials, pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 5 minutes and take small sips throughout the day.

Juice

Fresh juice has the same effect as infusion and decoction, but is considered more effective. It strengthens the immune system very well. Especially recommended after a long illness, to restore strength after operations. The juice is also used externally, for suppuration of the finger and nail bed, and skin tuberculosis.

Take fresh leaves, inflorescences and stems, pass through a meat grinder and squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Oil hood

It is used to treat the skin for ulcers and wounds, used for the speedy healing of burns and softening skin.

Take 1 part of dry inflorescences and pour 2 parts of olive oil, leave for 2 weeks. Use only externally, for skin treatment and compresses at night.

Fresh crushed leaves

They are used externally to heal wounds, stop minor bleeding, for abscesses, burns and rheumatic pain.

Take fresh leaves, rinse with water and grind them in a mortar or mince, transfer the pulp into a sterile bandage and apply to the skin for 15-20 minutes.

Fresh inflorescences

Freshly picked inflorescences are used as an additive to salads, soups and are recommended for patients with vitamin deficiencies.

Pharmacological drugs

You can buy the following red clover preparations at the pharmacy: drops, capsules, extract and dry raw materials.

  • Drops, 50 ml. Recommended for strengthening and cleansing blood vessels, reducing blood cholesterol levels, preventing atherosclerosis and hypertension. Price – 110 rub.
  • Capsules, 60 pcs. Used when respiratory diseases, anemia, polyarthritis, hormonal disorders in women, with complex treatment atherosclerosis, as well as for therapy skin diseases: eczema, psoriasis, furunculosis, burns and trophic ulcers. Price – 900 rub.
  • Red clover extract tablets 500 mg, 50 pcs. Recommended as food supplement for supporting women's health, strengthening the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems during menopause. Price – 2200 rub.
  • Extract on wax, 100 gr. Indicated for external use for burns, abscesses, eczema, allergic rashes, swelling and inflammation of the lymph nodes. Price – 500 rub.
  • Dry raw materials (grass and flowers), 50 gr. Recommended for colds, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, cough, chest pain, pulmonary tuberculosis, anemia. It is used for headaches and dizziness, insomnia, angina pectoris, hypertension, edema of various origins, inflammatory diseases rectum and vagina. Externally used for wounds, abscesses, burns, scrofula, festering ulcers, and eye inflammation. Price – 20-80 rub.

Features of use in women, men, children

  • For women. The decoction is used externally for douching for inflammatory processes of the vagina, and internally for painful menstruation. During experiments, it was proven that a decoction of the plant helps eliminate the phenomena of menopause due to the content of phytoestrogens - substances that are included in hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Women who took a decoction of the plant during menopause experienced stabilization of mood and a decrease in the frequency of hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.
  • For men. Clover has long been considered a natural aphrodisiac that increases male sexual activity (tincture from the seeds is used).
  • For children. Tea from the plant is used to improve appetite and activate digestion, and helps with colic and abdominal cramps. It works very well for exudative diathesis: you can bathe babies in water with the addition of a decoction or rinse the body with clover infusion after bathing. Alcohol tinctures of clover are contraindicated for children.

Contraindications and precautions

Among the contraindications to the use of red clover:

  • Thrombophlebitis;
  • Phlebeurysm;
  • Acute forms chronic pathologies kidneys and liver;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Estrogen-dependent oncological diseases;
  • Chronic diarrhea and constipation of various etiologies;
  • Children under 18 years of age (for alcohol dosage forms).

In case of severe heart disease, after a stroke, you should consult a doctor about the possibility of treatment with red clover - in these cases, the plant can be harmful to health.

Red clover, medicinal properties and contraindications, the use of which in folk medicine will be discussed below, is popularly known as scrofulous herb, fever herb. The medicinal properties of the plant have been known since the 14th century. The plant is used not only in folk medicine, but also in magic. Its flowers and leaves were depicted in protective embroideries of the Slavs, and the shamrock was used as an amulet that prolongs youth.

Red clover: medicinal properties

Clover is a symbol of Ireland. In this country there is a legend about magic ointment, which the elves prepared from the shoots of young clover. She had the power to break spells and see the enchanted essence of elves. Tincture of clover leaves in whiskey is a remedy for getting rid of blindness sent by the elves. These myths have a basis - the centuries-old history of the use of red clover as medicinal plant from many diseases.

Main active ingredients red clover are isoflavonoid compounds. Studies by various authors have proven therapeutic effect red clover on the condition of patients with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Plant preparations can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by more than 50%. In addition, the antiarrhythmic effect of red clover and its stimulating effect on intestinal motility have been established.

Useful properties for women, men, children

Herbal medicines are of great importance in obstetrics and perinatology, since the main criterion for choosing drugs in these branches of medicine is their safety for the fetus.

Red clover contains phytoantibiotics that normalize microbiocenosis. Thanks to them, the plant has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect both when used internally and when used externally. A substance, trifolysin, which has antifungal properties, was extracted from the roots of the plant. During World War II, baths made from red clover rhizomes saved the feet of many soldiers suffering from fungal foot infections.

Currently, some representatives of the class of bioflavonoids, exhibiting hormone-like, namely estrogen-like properties, are attracting much attention from researchers.

Red clover phytoestrogens act on estrogen receptors in tissues:

  • brain;
  • granulosa membrane of the ovaries;
  • aorta;
  • liver;
  • bones;
  • prostate;
  • mammary gland;
  • uterus.

In addition to affecting estrogen receptors, red clover phytoestrogens also act on dopamine, progesterone, and androgen receptors. Biocanin A and genistein, formed in the intestine during the metabolism of red clover isoflavones, reduce the level of dihydrotestosterone, which is involved in the synthesis of PSA, a prostate-specific antigen. Thus, clover prevents proliferation (cell growth and division) of hormone-dependent tissues, both in the body of women and men. Red clover is used for the treatment and prevention of malignant pathologies of the breast, prostate, uterus, lymphatic system as a supplement to primary treatment.

Tocopherol (vitamin E), obtained from high-quality plant materials, is a mixture of tocopherols (α-β-γ-δ). The vitamin takes part in the metabolism of selenium, which has antioxidant properties and helps protect the cell membrane from the action of free radicals. It protects cell membranes in the placenta, improves the rheological properties of blood and normalizes blood microcirculation. In addition, vitamin E stimulates microcirculation in the ovaries, which activates the production of ovarian hormones. Use of red clover preparations for early stages gestation made it possible to maintain pregnancy in the vast majority of women with threatened miscarriage. And its inclusion in the treatment of placental insufficiency will improve the condition of the fetus and newborn.

Prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the mother, fetus and newborn is carried out using phytoantibiotics and substances with immunomodulatory properties of red clover. Immunomodulatory substances are indispensable in treatment inflammatory processes reproductive system and hormonal imbalance. Red clover substances have an immunomodulatory effect at the cellular level.

Red clover is used in non-hormonal therapy metabolic syndrome, pre- and postmenopausal disorders in women. Research has shown that phytoestrogens have positive influence on proliferation processes in endometrial tissues of the uterus and mammary gland, reducing the risk of malignant diseases. Red clover isoflavonoids reduce the severity of menopausal disorders.

Clover preparations increase the body's resistance to pathological internal and external factors. It has been established that the plant has a pronounced anti-allergic effect, which determines the healing properties of red clover for atopic dermatitis (scrofula) and bronchial asthma.

Clover is used internally and in the form of baths for atopic dermatitis (scrofula) in children and adults.

Ibn Sina recommended a decoction of red clover for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The tannins contained in the plant have astringent properties that help relieve diarrhea. Clover preparations help restore the intestinal and stomach mucosa, cleanse the liver of toxins, and stimulate the formation and transport of bile.

Clinical studies of the medicinal properties of red clover have proven its benefits in the treatment of:

  • Parkinson's disease;
  • osteoporosis;
  • calcification of blood vessels;
  • eye diseases;
  • tuberculosis;
  • intoxications.

In addition to medicine, red clover is widely used in cosmetology. IN Ancient Rus' Beauties used dew collected from clover leaves as a means of rejuvenating their facial skin. Ointments and decoctions were prepared from the infusion of clover leaves to prolong youth and eliminate skin diseases. Men used clover decoction for early baldness caused by excess testosterone production. Clover juice was rubbed into the head to prevent early gray hair.

Clover has a diuretic effect, relieves swelling, promotes lymph outflow, and restores the “swollen” oval of the face. About 50% of potions to restore youth are prepared using red clover.

Use in folk medicine

In folk medicine, 33 countries around the world actively use red clover. From the ground part of the plant - inflorescences and herbs - infusions of water and alcohol are prepared, decoctions are made, and the juice is squeezed out. The rhizomes of the plant are also used both fresh and dried. In Ancient China, Greece, India, and Europe, people knew the benefits of red meadow clover and used it in the treatment of external and internal diseases.

Recipes for various diseases

In order to extract isoflavonoids from plant materials as completely as possible, ethyl alcohol and hot water are used. The alcohol infusion is prepared with 70% ethyl alcohol. The raw material must have a particle size of 0.5-1 mm. The raw materials need to be infused for 6-12 hours. Under these conditions, the extraction of useful substances from red clover is 40-43%. When using the maceration method - infusion of crushed raw materials in hot water with stirring, the yield of isoflavonoids and other useful substances is 55%.

Clover infusion on water

To prepare the infusion take:

  • 3 tsp. clover grass (dry);
  • 1 cup boiling water.

The herb is crushed into powder, placed in a thermos and poured boiling water for ½ hour. The resulting infusion is filtered and taken ¼ cup 4 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The warm decoction is taken in sips, slowly. A glass of infusion per day provides a daily dose of estrogen, removes toxins, relieves excess liquid, facilitates expectoration, treats gastrointestinal diseases - peptic ulcers, gastritis, colitis, diarrhea. The infusion helps with depression, anemia, vitamin deficiency, and the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Clover pads

Brew fresh red clover grass (3-4 tbsp) with boiling water, wrap in gauze or thin cotton cloth. The pads are used as an anesthetic and poultice for the treatment of acne and boils. Cooled pads are used in the treatment of wounds, including purulent wounds and burns.

Decoction of clover inflorescences

To prepare the decoction, take 10 fresh inflorescences of the plant, add 100 ml of water and bring to a boil over low heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Strain the resulting broth, drink 1 tbsp. l. every 4 hours. The decoction is used as an emollient, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory agent. They are used to rinse the mouth for stomatitis and gingivitis, and the throat for sore throat. The decoction is drunk for asthma, bronchitis, and cough. It helps with shortness of breath, fever, dizziness, cancer. The flower heads can be used as a lotion to relieve puffiness under the eyes. Pads made from inflorescences will relieve eye fatigue and inflammation. Lotions from the decoction will eliminate fungal diseases.

Clover juice

To obtain juice, take the above-ground flowering part of the plant. Fresh grass with inflorescences is ground in a meat grinder. The juice is squeezed through linen or cotton cloth. The resulting juice is instilled into the ears for otitis media, tinnitus, and deafness. A few drops of juice in the eyes restore visual acuity, soothe burning and stinging, and treat inflammation. I use the juice orally. For the treatment of internal diseases, take ¼ glass per day. To improve the taste, you can add honey - no more than 1 tbsp. spoons.

Foot baths

For leg pain, take 10-20 clover inflorescences with grass, place the raw material in a saucepan with 5 liters of water, bring to a boil. Boil for 5-10 minutes. Strain the broth, cool to 38-40°C, add 1 tbsp. l. kerosene and steam your feet for 3-4 days.

Rhizome decoction

To obtain a decoction take:

  • 2 tbsp. l. chopped roots;
  • 1 tbsp. boiling water

The roots are boiled in a sealed container for ½ hour, filtered through several layers of cloth, and the raw materials are squeezed out. The resulting decoction is taken 1 tbsp. l. 4-5 times a day before meals for inflammation of the ovaries, as an antitumor agent.

Red clover tincture with vodka: indications for use

A tincture of red clover with alcohol or vodka is prepared as follows:

  • 4 tbsp. l. inflorescences;
  • 0.5 liters of vodka or 40% alcohol.

The inflorescences are crushed, poured with vodka and infused in a warm place for 14 days. Strain the resulting tincture and squeeze out the raw materials. Take 1 tsp. before lunch and before bed.

Used for treatment:

  • atherosclerosis;
  • liming of blood vessels.

The course of treatment is 6 months. The first course is 3 months, after each month of using the tincture, take a break for 10 days. The treatment is repeated.

Alcohol infusion is used to treat:

  • rheumatism, bursitis, arthritis, radiculitis as a rubbing treatment;
  • colds, whooping cough, bronchitis, pneumonia;
  • ovarian, lung, prostate cancer;
  • sleep disorders;
  • diseases of cardio-vascular system;
  • uterine bleeding and painful periods;
  • anemia.

Taking red clover tincture reduces appetite, increases immunity, and tones the body after serious illnesses.

Based on red clover extract extracted with alcohol, drugs for the treatment of heart pathologies “Atheroklefit”, “Cardiin” and their American analogue “RedCloverPlus” are made.

Herbal ointment - how to use?

Clover ointment is prepared according to two recipes. The easiest way is clover oil.

To obtain healing oil take:

  • clover inflorescences (dry raw materials);
  • cold-pressed vegetable oil (sunflower, olive, flaxseed).

The raw materials are crushed to obtain particles with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm and poured with vegetable oil heated in a water bath in a ratio of 1:3, respectively. The resulting oil is infused in a dark bottle for 20-30 days, shaking occasionally. Strain and store in a cool, dark place, tightly closed.

The second recipe is more complicated.

To prepare the ointment take:

  • 3 tsp fresh inflorescences;
  • 1 tbsp. boiling water;
  • 200 g fat base – rendered butter, lard, lanolin ointment.

The inflorescences are poured with boiling water and the liquid is evaporated over low heat. Soft flowers are ground in a mortar to form a paste and mixed with a fat base.

Ointment and oil are used for burns, wounds, ulcers, malignant tumors, and also as a cosmetic product. A cloth is soaked in oil for compresses, the ointment is applied under a bandage or used as a greasy anti-wrinkle cream.

Red clover preparations – strong remedy, which must be used carefully, observing the dosage. Before treatment, you must familiarize yourself with contraindications, restrictions and consult a doctor.

Contraindications for use

Since clover contains phytoestrogens, its preparations cannot be used for:

  • tumors of hormone-dependent tissues, since during treatment, taking drugs from clover can worsen the patient’s condition;
  • gestation and lactation, as it can disrupt hormonal homeostasis;
  • blood diseases associated with impaired coagulation function: cause bleeding; provoke the formation of blood clots.

It is not recommended to take red clover preparations during exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. Concomitant use clover and some medicines may cause inhibition or stimulation of their effects.

Red clover is a perennial herb that grows throughout almost all of Europe, America and Asia. It belongs to the legume family and is known for improving the soil in pastures.

In addition, its flowers and leaves contain natural compounds that may make red clover potentially useful as a remedy for a number of health problems. It has long been used in folk medicine of many peoples as a blood purifier and is included in many medications produced by the pharmaceutical industry.

IN Lately it has interested doctors and scientists as a flower that can help prevent and treat cancer, especially breast cancer. Its ability to be used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause in women is being studied.

What does clover look like? Description of the plant

As mentioned, red clover is a grass that grows throughout much of Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. It was brought to Australia and North America by settlers from Europe.

Red clover is a perennial plant that grows up to 40-50 cm. It has branching stems and leaves typical of clover species. Clover flowers are pink-red in color and consist of tiny individual tubular flowers collected in a head.

Clover is widespread in meadows, forest clearings, lawns and blooms from May to September (in warmer climates to October).

Red clover contains many nutrients and is traditionally used in medicinal purposes. Beginning in the early 1930s, it began to attract the attention of scientists for its potentially beneficial anticancer properties.

It is used throughout the world to treat a variety of diseases. In China it is traditionally used for colds and flu, in Germany it is used to treat whooping cough and stomach cancer. In our country, red clover has always occupied a special place in folk medicine and has been used for everything from colds to the treatment of more serious diseases.

Red clover beneficial properties for women

The flowers and leaves of red clover contain many beneficial components for the body of women. They contain:

Vitamins C, niacin, thiamine, nicotinic acid;

Minerals: chromium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and others;

Isoflavones;

Antioxidants;

Coumarins;

Saponins;

Alkaloids;

Flavonoids;

Essential oil;

Tanning compound.

Particular attention is paid to isoflavones, natural chemicals whose properties are similar to the female sex hormone. Such compounds are called phytoestrogens. Red clover isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and affect blood vessels, bones, bladder, heart.

The presence of a high content of calcium and magnesium allows you to relieve or reduce night cramps and menstrual cramps.

When studying red clover, scientists suggested that it may influence enzymes that promote the development of endometrial cancer.

In men, red clover may block enzymes that support the development and growth of prostate cancer. It has also shown effects associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Although it is not a cancerous condition, an enlarged prostate can lead to problems related to urination.

Red clover is known to have blood purifying properties and improve blood circulation. The beneficial properties of red clover include its ability to:

Improve the condition of oily skin;

Ability to fight bacterial strains;

Calming properties due to the presence of magnesium;

The ability to cleanse the body of mucus and harmful substances;

Alkalinize the body;

Have a tonic effect on the body.

Preparations with red clover have:

Sweatshops;

Antiseptic;

Antispasmodic;

Diuretic;

Expectorants;

Anti-inflammatory;

Choleretic;

Knitting;

Blood thinners;

Antisclerotic;

Antibacterial

properties.

Red clover healing properties for menopause

The changes that occur in a woman’s body upon the onset of menopause are inevitable. Every woman faces them and nothing can be done about it. But it is possible to alleviate the symptoms and reduce the negative manifestations of menopause. Using red clover can help a woman move through this phase of her life more easily.

Thanks to the presence of natural phytoestrogens, it helps a woman feel better, relieves discomfort and prolongs youth.

Much research has been done in this area and it has shown that for most women, its use in this period justified. The use of clover during menopause can:

Improve libido;

Relieve the symptoms of hot flashes;

Reduce breast pain and swelling associated with changes in breast tissue;

Reduce itching in the vulva and discomfort when urinating;

Reduce irritability, mood swings and improve sleep;

Increase performance and reduce fatigue;

Increase appetite;

Eliminate dizziness;

Improve the condition of skin, hair, nails.

In addition, red clover isoflovones (9 of which are found in it) may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and thinning bone tissue.

During menopause, many women suffer from hot flashes. Research shows that most women taking clover supplements experienced a reduction in the frequency of hot flashes compared to the group who did not take them.

Isoflavones have a very strong effect on the female body, imitating the female sex hormone, which helps balance hormonal changes, which in turn reduce the symptoms of menopause. Unlike traditional treatments, red clover has fewer side effects.

Taking red clover supplements may also improve other health outcomes, including lowering low-density lipoprotein levels.

Preparations with it can be used both internally and topically. Usually during menopause it is drunk in the form of tea, infusions and decoctions.

Red clover healing properties for women

In addition to helping women going through menopause, red clover can be used for many other health problems. It has the property of stimulating the liver and gall bladder, which has an effect on the entire digestive system and improves appetite.

Decoctions and infusions will help cope with a cough, regardless of the cause of its occurrence, relieve inflammation and reduce sore throat due to swelling and infections.

It has long been considered one of the best home remedies for cleansing the blood, which can be especially useful as you age. As you know, years do not add to our health. Its blood thinning properties are due to the presence of coumarins. Viscous blood can be the source of many serious diseases, including cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and degenerative changes.

At external use It can be used to wash various skin lesions, including burns, wounds, psoriasis, and eczema.

Red clover has played an important role in maintaining and restoring health for many centuries. This seemingly innocent-looking flower has many healing properties, including for women.

Red clover for cholesterol

Red clover not only helps improve cholesterol levels in women during menopause, but also in women of all ages. It also copes well with this problem in men.

High cholesterol is not such a rare problem, and quite at a young age. High level Low-density lithoprotein, or LDL, means an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other related diseases. Taking medications with red clover can improve blood composition and reduce the risk of many diseases.

Read on topic: Red clover healing properties for cholesterol

Red clover for hypertension

Because red clover contains anti-inflammatory compounds, it can reduce inflammation throughout the body. In addition, it improves blood composition, which improves the condition of blood vessels in general, which in turn reduces arterial pressure. Decline arterial hypertension helps reduce risk coronary disease hearts and all kinds of cardiovascular diseases.

Red clover for the prevention of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects most women, especially during the postmenstrual period. According to statistics, every fifth woman in the world after 70 years of age is susceptible to this disease. And after 90 years, two thirds of women have osteoporosis.

The most common form of the disease is bone loss associated with hormone deficiency during menopause. Tests conducted on rats show that supplemental intake of isoflavones significantly improved bone turnover, increased bone density and hip bone mass.

Studies have shown that taking red clover not only reduces the risk of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women, but also helps bones heal.

Red clover benefits for the liver

The liver is a vital organ, filtering toxins from the blood and producing bile to digest fat. When liver function is impaired, it cannot effectively remove toxins from the body and process fat, which in turn can lead to a condition called fatty liver. Red clover helps cleanse the blood and remove toxins, which improves blood function. In addition, it stimulates the production of bile, which helps improve fat metabolism.

Red clover for colds

Clover has traditionally been used to treat respiratory illnesses, coughs and other respiratory ailments. Its natural cleansing properties, as already mentioned, help cleanse the body of toxins, as well as help in the removal of phlegm and reduce discomfort during illness. Due to its expectorant properties, when used as a tea, it is ideal for treating coughs and clearing the bronchi.

Read on topic: Red clover used in folk medicine

Red clover and cancer

Red clover is beneficial for both men and women when it comes to reducing the risk of cancer, but for men it may be even more important since it is known to reduce the likelihood of prostate cancer.

This is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer for men. Red clover blocks certain enzymes that can cause prostate enlargement. Although some types of prostate enlargement are benign, reducing their size is important for a person's long-term health.

Research shows that red clover isoflavones help stunt growth. cancer cells and possibly induce apoptosis and self-destruction of cancer cells. Isoflavones are associated with the possibility of using clover for breast cancer. However, to date, there is not enough research in this area to draw a clear conclusion.

Red clover how to use for women

The healing properties of red clover have been discovered in the flowers and leaves of the plant. Decoctions, infusions, and alcohol tinctures are prepared from clover. You can add fresh flower heads to salads.

How to use red clover during menopause

Clover infusion for menopause

You need to take 3 teaspoons of crushed clover inflorescences and pour a glass of boiling water. Leave for about an hour. Strain and drink 100 ml 3-4 times a day before meals. The daily intake of this infusion should be no more than 2 glasses per day.

Infusion for douching

Vaginal dryness is one of the problems that women face during menopause. To cope with this problem, brew 40-50 grams of clover grass with a glass of boiling water. Leave for an hour and strain. Use for douching. The course of treatment is 7-8 days.

Decoction for hot flashes

Brew 1 tablespoon of clover with a glass of boiling water and place in a water bath. Leave for half an hour and remove from the stove. Cool to room temperature and strain. Add the resulting broth to the original volume (250 ml). Drink 2 tablespoons of the decoction 4 times a day.

Clover tea

Pour 2-3 teaspoons into a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. You can drink up to 3 glasses of clover tea during the day.

Red clover tincture for atherosclerosis

To prepare the tincture at home, you need to take a liter jar filled to the middle with red clover flower heads and fill it with 0.5 liters of vodka.

Wrap the jar in paper and place it in a dark place (cupboard) to infuse for 2 weeks. Shake the jar daily while preparing the tincture.

After steeping, strain through several layers of gauze and pour into a dark bottle.

Drink the tincture in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening, an hour and a half after the last meal, 1 tablespoon diluted with water.

Red clover infusion for high cholesterol

To prepare the infusion, take 2 tablespoons of clover grass and brew with a glass of boiling water. Leave for 2 hours and filter.

Drink 2 tablespoons three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month. Then take a break.

Preparations based on red clover for menopause

In the pharmacy chain you can buy several drugs that contain red clover. But you should take such drugs after consulting your doctor first. We must not forget that they belong to hormonal drugs, albeit herbal ones.

So, at the pharmacy you can buy two drugs based on red clover: Feminal and Femiwell. The first contains isoflavones only from red clover. The second preparation, in addition to clover extract, contains proteins and soybean extract.

Contraindications and side effects

Despite its medicinal properties, red clover may have contraindications. With prolonged use, this can lead to cycle disruption and impotence.

Taking red clover is strictly contraindicated for:

The presence of diseases associated with blood clotting problems, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis;

Estrogen-dependent form of cancer;

Individual intolerance and allergic reaction.

Before using any medicines that have pharmacological properties phytoestrogens, you should first consult a specialist.

When taking medications containing red clover, there is usually no side effects not visible. In rare cases, swelling and pain in the breasts and changes in the menstrual cycle may occur.

It may interact with some medications, such as blood thinners. Therefore, before starting treatment with this herb, it is necessary to consult a doctor, especially if you are undergoing any course of treatment.

Taking clover-based medications should be stopped at least two weeks before the planned operation and should not be taken after surgery, as it can cause bleeding.

Women should be especially careful during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Do not take it without consulting your doctor.

The herb red clover is considered useful - the medicinal properties and contraindications of the plant are used in folk medicine. Its other name is meadow. The plant is biologically rich active substances, used to treat inflammation, skin diseases, helps cope with menopause due to the content of phytoestrogens. How to use grass for good and not for harm?

What is red clover

Trifolium or red clover (botanical name Trifolium pretense) is a member of the legume family. The medicinal plant reaches a height of 20-90 cm, has complex trifoliate elliptical leaves with wide triangular trefoils. They have whitish spots, jagged edges with a network of veins. The flowers are moth-like, small, and have the appearance of spherical lilac-red heads.

Konyushina blooms in June-July and bears fruit at the end of summer. Its stems are erect and ascending. The fruit is an ovoid, single-seeded, membranous bean. Meadow clover grows in meadows, forest edges, steppes, thickets of bushes, and clearings. Found throughout Russia. The above-ground part of the herb is used for medicinal purposes; the stems are rich in protein and can be eaten as an additive to salads. The flowers are considered excellent honey plants; 100 kg of honey can be collected from 1 hectare. Red clover is harvested during the flowering period and dried in air without direct exposure to the sun.

The chemical composition of red clover leaves and flowers is varied and rich. It contains the following substances:

  • essential oils – aromatic substances that relieve inflammation and pain, eliminate nervous tension, having an antimicrobial effect;
  • flavonoids, phytosteroids, isoflavones – components that have antibacterial, anti-radiation, antispasmodic and antitumor effects;
  • glycosides (trifolin, isotrifolin) - complex compounds for the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
  • fatty oils (linoleic, palmitic, stearic acids) – are responsible for the absorption of vitamins;
  • organic acids (coumaronic, salicylic, succinic) – substances needed to relieve inflammation, regulate metabolism, and remove toxins;
  • resins, ash - viscous compounds with powerful bactericidal properties;
  • medicinal tannins – with astringent, hemostatic, regenerating and anti-inflammatory properties;
  • alkaloids – toxic compounds that have a positive effect on the nervous and respiratory systems;
  • amino acids (asparagine, tyrosine) - proteins that take part in all metabolic processes;
  • fiber – plant fibers necessary for positive intestinal function;
  • vitamins A, carotene, group B, ascorbic acid, E;
  • microelements – magnesium, potassium, selenium, chromium, iron, calcium, phosphorus;
  • phylloquinone – a substance that supports hematopoietic function;
  • tannins, xanthines, furfural carotenoids, bioquinones, coenzymes, coumarins, proteins.

Properties

Due to such a rich composition, the medicinal properties of red clover are wide, including the following indications:

  • relieving inflammation;
  • elimination of vitamin deficiency;
  • temperature drop;
  • toning the body;
  • stopping bleeding;
  • relief from cough;
  • relieving eye fatigue, helping with cataracts;
  • choleretic, immunostimulating, tonic properties;
  • cleansing the lymphatic system;
  • analgesic, hypotensive, antifungal, antitumor effect;
  • elimination of mastopathy;
  • relief of menopause;
  • antiseptic, antiviral, sedative effect;
  • restoration of affected tissues;
  • an expectorant that thins sputum;
  • diuretic effect;
  • slowing down hair loss;
  • stimulation of collagen production;
  • removal of toxins;
  • analgesic, antisclerotic, antiallergic, astringent, diaphoretic, antidepressant, emollient.

The benefits of clover to the body

The beneficial properties of red clover are used in folk and official medicine. It is used for the following diseases and ailments:

  • decreased immunity, exhaustion;
  • threat of atherosclerosis;
  • menopause;
  • sexually transmitted diseases;
  • menopause, hot flashes, sensitivity and chest pain (there are contraindications);
  • fragility of the walls of blood vessels, angina pectoris;
  • decreased potency in men;
  • purulent wounds, eczema, psoriasis, burns;
  • loss of strength (for vigor);
  • joint pain;
  • urolithiasis disease;
  • cough, asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, thrombosis;
  • allergies.

For oral administration for inflammation, liver problems, and the need to remove toxins. decoction no contraindications. To make it:

  • Take 300 ml of water and a teaspoon of red clover blossoms.
  • Heat the water, add the raw materials and boil for six minutes.
  • Cool the broth, filter, drink a tablespoon four times a day.
  • The course of treatment lasts a month, then it can be extended.

For preparing baths from skin rashes, taken orally for headaches, colds, coughs, use an infusion of red clover. To make it:

  • Take two tablespoons of dried flowers and a glass of water.
  • Mix the ingredients and boil.
  • Let it brew for 40 minutes, strain.
  • Take half a glass orally three times a day or pour a warm infusion into the bath.

For treatment purulent wounds, burns, psoriasis or cancerous tumors apply medicinal ointment, made from red clover inflorescences. They are infused with pure olive or sunflower oil in a 1:2 ratio. Leave the mixture for two weeks in a dark, warm place, stirring constantly. At the end of the exposure period, filter and lubricate the affected areas with a cotton swab with a wound healing agent.

Extract

For general strengthening body, immunity and fatigue relief, a medicinal extract of red clover in vodka is used:

  • Take a glass of dried flowers and 0.5 liters of alcohol or vodka.
  • Mix the ingredients and leave in the dark for at least 10 days, more if possible.
  • Drink the prepared extract drops three times a day before meals.
  • The course of therapy lasts a month, then a break is taken for 10 days and the treatment is repeated in two more cycles.

Red clover in folk medicine

Red clover is widely used in folk medicine due to its medicinal properties. It successfully treats tuberculosis and prevents its relapse, serves as a means of prevention for malignant tumors and after their removal. For women during menopause, it helps cope with hot flashes and normalizes hormonal balance. It can be given to children as a cold remedy without contraindications.

For tuberculosis

Fresh plant juice and a decoction of meadow clover inflorescences with medicinal properties can be used to treat the inactive stage of pulmonary tuberculosis, its prevention, and anemia:

  1. Pour 20 g of dried inflorescences with a glass of boiling water and cool. Drink 2-3 tablespoons three times/day.
  2. Grind fresh flowers through a meat grinder, squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth, dilute the resulting juice with water in a 2:1 ratio. Drink a third of a glass three times a day before meals.

For cholesterol

The plant is rich in tannins, essential oils and glycosides, which helps to exhibit its medicinal properties with increased concentrations of bad cholesterol. Red clover splits body fat on the walls of blood vessels, remove excess naturally, while simultaneously restoring and strengthening blood vessels. For treatment, alcohol tincture and tea are used without contraindications:

  1. Take a two-liter jar and fill it halfway with fresh inflorescences (or a quarter with dry ones), pour in 500 ml of vodka, and close the lid. Keep in a cool, dark place for 15 days, filter. Take three months with a break of 10 days after each. In the first month, the dosage will be 15 ml once a day before lunch, in the second - 20-22 ml, in the third - 15 ml.
  2. Pour dry herbs of clover and meadowsweet in equal quantities with hot water, drink half a glass of tea once a day.
  3. Brew 10 flower heads with a glass of boiling water, hold for 2 minutes, strain. For three weeks, take half a glass three times a day.

During menopause

Red clover contains phytoestrogens, which are similar in action to female sex hormones. During menopause, the latter are quantitatively reduced, so an infusion and decoction of flowers will help normalize sleep and enhance sexual function, improve the condition of skin and hair, eliminate dry skin without contraindications:

  1. Take three tablespoons of crushed roots and flowers, pour a glass of boiling water, cook in a water bath for 20 minutes, leave for an hour. Strain and drink throughout the day in equal portions, diluting with water. Combine herbal medicine with medication.
  2. Pour 40 g of young leaves and 30 g of flowers with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour and filter. Use for vaginal douching, or drink 50 ml orally 4 times a day to eliminate painful periods.

For hypertension

The healing properties of red clover are applicable for hypertension. The decoction dilates blood vessels and normalizes the heartbeat, stabilizes blood pressure, and serves as a means to increase potency:

  1. Pour three tablespoons of dried flowers into 1.5 cups of boiling water, keep in a water bath for 10 minutes, leave for half an hour. Strain, drink 75 ml three times a day.
  2. Brew a tablespoon of raw material with 250 ml of hot water, boil for five minutes. Drink a tablespoon 5 times a day for at least a month.

For throat diseases

An express tincture or medicinal decoction with a minimum of contraindications will help against pneumonia, for the treatment of bronchitis and whooping cough:

  1. Pour two tablespoons of flowers with two glasses of water, leave for five minutes. Drink the resulting amount in equal portions throughout the day. After use, keep warm.
  2. Fill a glass of flowers and leaves with 200 ml of boiling water, leave in a thermos for a day, shaking occasionally. Strain, mix with an equal amount of vodka, leave for a couple of hours. Drink a tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals.
  3. Pour two glasses of dry raw materials into a liter hot water, leave for an hour. Drink a tablespoon three times a day to prevent colds.

For skin diseases

To eliminate the manifestations of psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, scrofula, decoctions, infusions and baths with red clover are used:

  1. Take enough flowers so that they can be applied to the affected area in a thick layer. Pour boiling water over it, leave for an hour, squeeze out and wrap in gauze. Apply a compress at night.
  2. Brew three tablespoons of inflorescences with a glass of boiling water, cook in a water bath for two minutes. Leave for two hours, strain, add to the bath. It will also help cope with the manifestation of fungus on the skin.

For atherosclerosis

In addition to cleansing the blood, the use of decoctions and clover tea will help normalize blood pressure and calm nervous excitability:

  1. Pour 500 ml of water over 100 inflorescences and cook for six minutes. Leave for three hours, strain. Mix with honey and drink the resulting amount throughout the day.
  2. Pour two cups of boiling water into four tablespoons of leaves and leave for seven hours. Drink half a glass three times a day.

For oncology

To generally strengthen the body, suppress the growth of cancerous tumors or prevent their occurrence, take a decoction or tincture of red clover with medicinal properties:

  1. Pour 300 ml of water into three tablespoons of plant roots and boil in a water bath for half an hour. Strain and add clean liquid to the volume of evaporated water. Drink five times a day before meals for a course of three weeks. After a month's break, repeat.
  2. Pour a glass of inflorescences with 500 ml of vodka, leave for 14 days in a dark, dry place. Shake the jar every five days. Drink a teaspoon on an empty stomach 15 minutes before meals for a month. Take a break for 10 days, repeat twice more. Before taking, read the contraindications.

Contraindications

You can buy red clover at the pharmacy or prepare the raw materials yourself. Contraindications to the use of herbal medicines based on it are:

  • pregnancy;
  • breast-feeding;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • blood diseases (may cause bleeding);
  • stomach upsets;
  • allergic reactions;
  • heart disease, stroke;
  • a period of two weeks before surgical operations and the same time after them;
  • estrogen-dependent forms of cancer (fibroids, ovarian inflammation, breast cancer, endometriosis);
  • thrombophlebitis.

In addition to contraindications, you should also learn about side effects that may occur while taking red clover:

  • skin rash;
  • muscle pain;
  • dizziness;
  • vomit;
  • uterine bleeding.

In addition to the contraindications and side effects of the herb itself, you should be wary of drugs based on it and interactions with certain medications: estrogens in tablets, contraceptives with ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, liver enzymes, aspirin, heparin, warfarin, tamoxifen. It is important to obtain competent advice before treatment (this is the rule for both men and women).

This perennial legume family is found everywhere in meadows, along the banks of reservoirs, on small slopes, pastures and pastures. Clover is cultivated exclusively as a forage plant (due to its high protein content). Beekeepers also value it, since clover is an excellent honey plant. And here medicinal properties plants are used exclusively by traditional medicine and ignored by traditional medicine.

Description of the plant

Clover flowers are small, pinkish-red (hence the name of this species). The inflorescences are loose and can be oblong or round. There are single heads, but more often you can see paired heads, wrapped in 2 small leaves. After flowering, clover produces a single-seeded, ovoid bean.

This plant is also called trefoil - indeed, its leaves are trifoliate, broadly ovate, petiolate. The upper leaves are more elongated; small teeth are visible along the edges of the lower ones. As the sun sets, the leaves fold.

Clover flower stalks can grow to different heights ranging from 15 to 60 cm. They are not located on the main stem, which is very short, but grow from the axils of the basal leaves. The root itself is taproot, but quite branched.

Are red and meadow the same thing?

There are 2 varieties of trefoil found in nature – red and white. It is the first one that is called meadow. The other type is popularly called porridge or white creeping clover.

In folk medicine, red meadow trefoil is mainly used. It contains a richer composition of useful components.

Compound

For medicinal purposes, inflorescences with upper leaves are taken. They contain a large number of various glycosides, organic acids (the main ones are coumaric and salicylic), carotene, sitostyrols, essential oils, flavonoids, minerals and vitamins. Clover is especially valued for components such as starch, ascorbic and folic acids, and B vitamins.

Medicinal properties

Clover is used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic and hemostatic agent. The inflorescences are used in various forms ah for the treatment of many diseases:

  • fresh raw materials are crushed and used externally for burns, abscesses, and wounds; with the help of this remedy they stop bleeding and treat conjunctivitis;
  • Fresh juice squeezed from grass has the same properties;
  • tea from red inflorescences is recommended for women with uterine bleeding;
  • A water infusion of clover will help cope with vitamin deficiency;
  • they give decoctions good result for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, shortness of breath, bronchial asthma, anemia, scrofulosis and malaria.

Regular consumption of drinks will prevent cholesterol plaques from settling on the walls of blood vessels, which helps prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Clover in any form relieves pain and reduces fever.

The herb disperses bile and cleanses the lymphatic system. Helps with various skin diseases and also gets rid of fungus. Clover drinks are also an excellent tonic and immunostimulant. But the plant is most indispensable in oncology, helping to slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Benefits for the body

In folk medicine, clover is recommended as a generally applicable recipe for treating diseases, and an individual approach is also taken into account, based on gender. With the help of the preparations of this plant, you can quickly solve women's and men's problems.

For women

Help with heavy bleeding has already been mentioned above, but this is not all the benefits of clover for women. The herb helps regulate the menstrual cycle and cope with its syndrome (PMS). Various gynecological diseases are effectively treated and internal inflammation is eliminated.

Drinks from inflorescences are used for sexually transmitted diseases. At the same time, infusions are used externally as a means for douching. And for women during menopause, clover will help them enter menopause more easily by eliminating hot flashes and relieving chest pain.

For men

Men can use folk remedies with clover to solve any health problems. But drugs are especially indispensable for “male weakness.” Clover-based products can compete with the popular Viagra, while being more useful for impotence due to their naturalness.

By taking clover decoctions, vodka or red wine tinctures, a man will not only regain his erection, but will also begin to show greater interest in the opposite sex. So these remedies can be considered a kind of aphrodisiac and can be used even in cases where there are no problems with potency - for prevention.

How to brew correctly

When resorting to folk recipes, you need to know how to properly prepare this or that clover remedy. Only then will it bring the greatest effect.

Tea

In ancient times in Rus', clover was called a herb for the soul and invigorating teas were actively brewed from it. You can take the classic version as a basis (steam dried herbs with boiling water), and then vary the composition of the tea leaves to suit your preferences:

  • mix clover with currant leaves and St. John's wort in a ratio of 4:2:2;
  • For 5 parts of meadow inflorescences take 1 part of St. John's wort and mint;
  • the aroma and taste of this composition are unique: 4 parts clover, 2 parts each St. John's wort, currant leaves and mint, 1 part oregano.

It is no coincidence that St. John's wort is present in every recipe - it enhances the properties of clover. It is better to sweeten tea with honey rather than sugar - this way it will be more healing.

Decoction

To prepare a decoction, just pour a glass of boiling water over the inflorescences and clover leaves (3 tbsp) and put on fire. When it boils, simmer for another 1-2 minutes, remove and let it brew for 2-3 hours. Take according to the recipe, after straining. The drink can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days.

Preparation of red clover decoction: video

Infusion

To use the infusion in each specific case, specific proportions of water and clover inflorescences are recommended, which should be taken into account. As a general strengthening and preventive remedy, they drink this infusion - 1 tbsp. per glass of boiling water. Leave covered for half an hour, strain and consume 1/3 cup before meals.

Tincture

Dried and fresh clover inflorescences can be infused with medical alcohol, vodka and wine:

  • 4 tbsp. raw materials are poured with alcohol (0.5 l), left for ten days at room temperature in a dark container;
  • a liter jar is filled to the top with fresh clover heads, filled with vodka (0.5 l) and left for 2 weeks in the dark;
  • and here you will need clover heads at the stage of seed formation - 1 tbsp. pour a glass of hot red wine and leave for at least a week.

Before use, all prepared tinctures must be filtered by squeezing out the clover raw materials.

Traditional medicine recipes

As already mentioned, clover is an excellent folk remedy for many diseases. Here is only a small list of recipes that make it easy to cope with these diagnoses.

For atherosclerosis

Prepare clover vodka tincture according to the recipe given above. Take 1 tbsp. on an empty stomach and before bedtime. The course of treatment lasts 3 months, and as a result, headaches go away, dizziness and tinnitus disappear, and intracranial pressure stabilizes.

For cholesterol

You can remove cholesterol plaques using this product. Fresh inflorescences (100 g) are poured with boiling water (0.5 l). After boiling, cook for another 5-6 minutes and leave for 3 hours. The strained drink should be drunk during the day in several doses, adding 1 tbsp to the decoction. honey

For tuberculosis

During the inflammatory process, for greater effect, it is not the inflorescences that are used, but the roots of the plant. For one and a half glasses of water take 3 tbsp. raw materials, simmer in a water bath for half an hour, then filter. It is necessary to add boiled water to the decoction to restore the original volume, and only then take it 3-5 times before meals. Maximum duration course – 3 weeks, then a break of at least a month.

During menopause

For hypertension

Pour a liter of boiling water over 20 heads of dried inflorescences and leave for 15 minutes. For a month, drink a glass of tea 2 or 3 times a day, after which not only the pressure will normalize, but the blood vessels will also be cleansed, which will strengthen the functioning of the heart.

For skin diseases

Drinks from clover, consumed internally, help cleanse blood vessels and restore metabolism. This has a positive effect on the treatment of many skin diseases. But it is also recommended to use the products externally, washing problem areas with decoctions and infusions, and making lotions and compresses from them.

Fresh crushed grass gives a good effect - it is applied to sore spots. And fresh clover juice is used to wipe the inflamed skin.

For colds

Dried clover flowers (2 tbsp) are poured with 2 glasses of boiling water, covered with a lid, wrapped and left for 5 hours. The strained drink is distributed into equal portions and drunk (warmed) throughout the day. After using this infusion, it is recommended to lie down under a blanket for a while - active sweating will occur, and with it the cold will go away.

For diabetes

Collection and storage

The collection of meadow clover for medicinal purposes differs from that carried out in forage harvesting. Raw materials can be harvested throughout the entire flowering period - from late spring until frost. But the most valuable are the inflorescences collected in mid-summer. If the recipe recommends taking seed germs or roots, then preparations are made in mid-autumn.

You should not cut off all the inflorescences, carefully selecting the juicy heads. Collection time is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In this case, the weather should be dry and sunny. If there is moisture on the grass, you cannot collect clover - it will rot in the future.

It is necessary to dry the workpieces away from sunlight, choosing a dark, cool room with good ventilation. During the drying process, the grass laid in the 1st layer is mixed, checking the degree of readiness by touch.

Before dry grass is put away for storage, it is reviewed, discarding darkened inflorescences. After this, they are packaged in paper bags or fabric bags (not in jars or plastic!) and stored in a dark corner of the cabinet, away from moisture.

Beneficial properties of red clover and collection of raw materials: video

Contraindications

The composition of the plant not only brings benefits, but for some people the herb can be harmful. As always, everything depends on individual characteristics (or rather, intolerance to a number of components). There are also serious contraindications to the use of clover drinks:

  • Vessel cleansing should not be carried out in case of thrombophlebitis and varicose veins;
  • despite the beneficial effects of clover for hypertensive patients, it should not be used after strokes and heart attacks;
  • the herb can cause diarrhea, so it is not suitable for intestinal disorders;
  • not all forms of cancer are susceptible to clover drinks, and in the extragene-dependent form, the herb is generally contraindicated;
  • with long-term use in order to regulate the menstrual cycle, you can bring yourself to the point of delaying your period.

Clover products are contraindicated during pregnancy - the inflorescences can cause a miscarriage. Excessive passion for potency-enhancing drinks can cause reverse effect, making a man dependent on this drug.

Clover, beneficial features and whose contraindications are due to the presence of flavonoids and phytoestrogens in its composition, it is recommended as an active food additive for certain hormonal disorders associated with the onset of menopause. If stored improperly, medicinal raw materials can cause irreparable harm to health. Red and white clover flowers are used in folk medicine to treat bronchi and diseases of the internal female genital organs located in the pelvic area. Meadow clover is used by pharmaceutical factories to prepare various forms and is recommended by official medicine for hormonal disorders.

Why is the plant useful?

Red clover is used more often than white creeping clover, which contains the same beneficial components, but in smaller quantities. Fresh white clover juice is used externally in folk medicine to treat skin diseases, wounds, and burns. It helps in treating rheumatic symptoms and will help stop bleeding.

At the red clover greatest number active components are found in the stems and roots, but for treatment at home, if you turn to folk practice, flowers with upper leaves are collected. The aerial part of the plant and the root contain:

  • essential oil;
  • isoflavones;
  • carotene;
  • coumarins;
  • microelements;
  • various vitamins;
  • saponins;
  • steroids;
  • carbohydrates;
  • flavonoids;
  • phenolcarboxylic acids;
  • quinones.

The benefits of red clover for the female body are explained by the presence of four hormone-like substances in it that slow down the aging process. In case of individual intolerance, taking the extract can be harmful due to the large amount of phytohormones.

Preparations made from this herb can also be used by men. The benefit of the extract is that it suppresses testosterone production in adolescents suffering from oily seborrhea and juvenile acne. Taking clover preparations is useful for young men who have an excess male hormone leads to the appearance of persistent acne and early baldness.

Folk healers recommend using any type of clover (both red and white) to improve the health of the body. An infusion of flowers and upper leaves helps:

  • cleanse the body after intoxication with chemicals;
  • increase protective functions;
  • replenish the lack of nutrients in a poor diet;
  • relieve an acute allergic reaction;
  • improve the condition of the skin with dermatitis, psoriasis and seborrhea;
  • remove excess water from cells and relieve swelling;
  • reduce the number of asthma relapses;
  • improve health during menopause.

Although conventional medicine believes that both red clover and white clover have minimal health benefits and may cause harm, women use this herb to reduce symptoms during menopause and receive significant relief from herbal medicine.

When should the plant be used?

White clover is not recommended for use in official medicine, and no studies have been conducted with it. Observations of experimental groups made it possible to find out when it is possible to obtain undoubted benefits from taking red clover extract. The medicinal plant is recommended for:

  • Parkinson's disease;
  • osteoporosis;
  • risk of cardiovascular complications;
  • liming of blood vessels;
  • problems with visuospatial function;
  • menopause;
  • bronchial disease.

Extracts prepared at home can be taken for up to six months. Such long-term treatment is recommended if pathological conditions of the body are observed, such as precancerous diseases of the mammary gland, excessive sweating and nervousness that accompany menopause.

Despite the presence of a large amount of hormone-like substances in the plant, clover extract will be useless when female infertility. The active components cannot stimulate the production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.

Can weed be harmful to health?

Clover extract may harm pregnant women, causing a risk of miscarriage. Nursing mothers, using an infusion of herbs rich in phytoestrogens, can harm the baby, causing long-term disturbances in the functioning of the internal secretion organs.

Official medicine warns that uncontrolled use of clover preparations long time in large quantities can cause heavy bleeding.

The active component in the plant - coumarin - has the property of strongly thinning the blood, preventing the formation of platelets. This exposure to the active substance may be hazardous if weak vessels and high blood pressure, which clover is unable to regulate.

Only dry crushed raw materials, which were prepared with violations of technology, have the ability to strongly thin the blood. If, during drying, the flowers and leaves of the plant were affected by microscopic mold fungi, then the resulting raw material will contain poisonous toxins, which, in combination with coumarin, greatly thin the blood. In order not to cause such harm to the body, it is recommended to use only fresh flowers and leaves for preparing various forms.

To get the expected benefits from red or white clover extract, you need to collect 100 inflorescences and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over them. This amount is enough to get the daily dose of phytoestrogens. Treatment with an extract from fresh flowers can be continued as long as this plant blooms in the meadow.

For those who do not have the opportunity to constantly collect raw materials for daily consumption, we can recommend making an alcohol tincture by filling a glass vessel with flowers and pouring vodka over them. To obtain safe dry raw materials, you need to collect clover flowers in dry weather and dry them in the oven at a temperature of 60°C. Store medicinal raw materials in glass jars for one year.

Since ancient times, people lived by hunting and gathering, and they collected not only mushrooms and berries, but also herbs, using them for treatment various ailments. So clover, which has flowers of a characteristic pinkish-red color, ended up in the baskets of our ancestors. The leaves were added to spring salads, the inflorescences were used to brew aromatic tea, and the stems themselves were given to animal feed.

Useful properties of clover

The leaves and stems of this plant are rich in essential oils, resins, proteins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, fiber, organic acids, ascorbic acid, isoflavones, beta-carotene, B vitamins, macro- and microelements - phosphorus, calcium, etc. Flowers , in addition to fatty oils, contain fatty acids and esters, glycosides, organic acids, pigments, vitamins C, E and group B. The benefits of red clover for the human body are enormous. It is used as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, diuretic, diaphoretic, antitumor and antisclerotic agent.

What else is remarkable about clover? The benefit of this plant lies in its excellent biostimulating properties due to the presence of succinic acid in its composition. Regularly consuming it internally as part of decoctions, infusions and teas, you can normalize metabolism, increase immune defense and bone strength. The benefits of meadow clover also include its ability to help the body rehabilitate itself after illness, restore vitality and energy, and increase body tone.

Clover and medicine

Clover is used in medicine both externally and internally. Its ability to fight viruses is used in the treatment of colds, ARVI and influenza. For bronchitis and whooping cough, it has a double effect: it fights bacteria and improves sputum discharge. And its sedative effect allows a person to relax and fall asleep. Our ancestors also brewed the leaves and flowers and used them to detoxify the liver. Clover is used in folk medicine as an excellent hemostatic and blood purifying agent. The plant cake was applied to wounds and rheumatic pain and burns were treated in the same way.

The use of decoctions and infusions was accompanied by traditional treatment coronary heart disease. Some sources provide information about his help to people with anemia and tuberculosis. In this case, 2 tbsp is recommended. l. Pour boiling water over red clover leaves, leave for 40 minutes and take throughout the day. Tea made from dried inflorescences helps restore the functioning of the respiratory system if you drink it for a month. How else can red clover help? The medicinal properties of this legume family plant make it possible to use it for tired and red eyes. By washing your eyes with a decoction several times a day, you can get rid of the above problems and improve the quality of your work at the computer.

Two tablespoons of decoction or infusion three times a day can relieve headaches and provide daily requirement the body in vitamin C. For a cold, it is recommended to pour a tablespoon of raw material into a glass of just boiled water, add a spoonful of honey and take four times during the entire waking time after meals. A decoction of the roots is indispensable for inflammation of the ovaries; compresses from it will soothe pain in the joints. Can also be used in therapy diabetes mellitus to reduce blood glucose levels. Baths and masks with the addition of a decoction fight ulcers on the body and acne.

Harm and contraindications of clover

It is clear that, like any product with therapeutic effect, clover has its own side effects and contraindications. First of all, pregnant and lactating women should avoid taking it orally, because it is unknown how it will affect the fetus or child. The harm of clover primarily lies in possible allergic reactions and individual intolerance. In addition, by combining its use with traditional medications, you can get the opposite effect from the expected one. It is not combined with other estrogens, birth control medications, liver enzymes, or medications that slow blood clotting.

Contraindications for red clover – stroke, internal bleeding, cancer of the mammary glands and genital organs in women, thrombophlebitis. High blood pressure should also be a barrier to treatment with this plant. Contraindications for meadow clover also apply to people who have problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In any case, before taking it, it is recommended to first consult a doctor and evaluate the possible risks during treatment. The contraindications of clover are not as extensive as the beneficial properties, but they exist, and you should not brush them aside. And most importantly, you should absolutely not give clover decoctions and infusions to young children. The consequences can be unpredictable.

How is clover useful?

  • relieves inflammation;
  • lowers temperature;
  • tones the body;
  • gets rid of fungus;
  • stops bleeding;
  • relieves cough;
  • eliminates eye fatigue;
  • cleanses the lymphatic system;
  • works as a pain reliever.
  • extract as part of dietary supplements;
  • vodka tinctures;
  • leaf compress.

The use of clover in folk medicine

Contraindications, side effects and harm of clover

The plant cannot be used:

  1. For stomach upsets.
  • skin rash,
  • muscle pain,
  • headache,
  • nausea,

Recipes with clover1. To cleanse the liver of toxins

Ingredients:

  • 300 ml water;
  • 1 tsp. clover inflorescences;

2. To strengthen the body

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. flowers;
  • 500 ml vodka.

3. Cleansing blood vessels

Ingredients:

  • 100 clover inflorescences;
  • half a liter of water.

4. Treatment of headaches

Ingredients:

  • 250 ml water.

5. Getting rid of colds

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. l. dried flowers;
  • 2 tbsp. water.

6. From inflammatory processes and tumors

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp. l. clover roots;
  • 1.5 tbsp. water.

Procurement of raw materials

Today we are talking about red meadow clover, its medicinal properties and contraindications for use in folk medicine.

Previously, red clover was used only as animal feed. Nowadays, the plant is used to produce a dye for fabrics, and dried flowers are even used as a dressing for hot liquid dishes; its fresh leaves are added as greens to salads, and also add flavor to baking dough, and tea is brewed with it.

Clover flowers are rich in vitamins, substances beneficial to people and animals, and esters. In Russia there are slightly less than a hundred varieties, which differ both in inflorescences, leaf shape, and composition rich in vitamins and minerals.

Popular representatives of this type of flower in our area are white and red trefoil, as clover is called in Latin.

These types of clover are the most unpretentious, they love a lot of sunlight, and they bloom quite early.

In folk medicine, the herb red clover is very popular. Usually both fresh flowers and leaves and dried ones are used.

Main beneficial properties of clover

  • Bactericidal;
  • anti-inflammatory;
  • expectorants;
  • diuretics;
  • sweatshops;
  • anti-sclerotic.

The benefits of clover for the body

How is clover useful?

Medicinal properties of red clover that few people know about:

  • the plant can relieve inflammation, be it an abscess on the surface of the skin or a sore throat;
  • can quite effectively lower a sharply risen temperature;
  • increases the tone of the body, gives a person strength and energy;
  • cleanses the body of fungus (on mucous membranes, on skin);
  • has a hemostatic effect;
  • softens severe coughs, soothes the throat mucosa;
  • improves the flow of bile, is used as a choleretic agent;
  • treats dry and tired eyes;
  • “cleanses” the lymphatic system;
  • has an analgesic effect.

In Russia, white and red clover are used in the following forms:

  • - water infusions, decoctions;
  • - extracts in medicines;
  • - alcohol tinctures;
  • - compresses.

Medicinal properties of clover and use in folk medicine

Traditional healers highly value red clover for its healthy composition and healing effects on the body.

The beneficial effects of clover preparations are manifested in the following:

  • Decoctions and infusions from clover will increase immunity and bring metabolism back to normal.
  • Medicines with clover extract will lower the content of bad cholesterol in the blood, and, therefore, prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis.
  • The isoflavonoids contained in clover will strengthen capillaries and increase the elasticity of veins and arteries.
  • The healing properties of red clover will also help with gynecological diseases.

Consumption medicines from clover will eliminate PMS, regulate the menstrual cycle, prevent inflammation of the appendages, as well as some STDs, and make you feel better during menopause. Tinctures will restore male strength.

  • Compresses and infusions from clover leaves will disinfect and heal purulent open wounds, and heal burns.
  • Infusions of flowers and leaves fight skin diseases such as acne, eczema, and relieve allergic itching.
  • Baths with brewed shamrock will help restore strength, calm the nerves, and establish a good, calm mood and peace of mind.
  • Tea brewed with the addition of red clover flowers will soothe the throat with a dry cough, is effective for asthma during acute periods, and is indicated for bronchitis. This tea should be drunk several times a day until the condition improves; it will not cause harm.
  • White clover copes well with thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, and effectively thins the blood.

Therefore, if a person has thrombocytopenia (the concentration of platelets in the blood is reduced, the blood clots poorly), then he needs to be careful when consuming this medicinal plant.

  • If the stomach and intestines are upset, a decoction of red meadow clover will come to the rescue, as it has an astringent effect.
  • For varicose veins on the legs, clover grass is used externally, simply covering the affected areas with fresh crushed plants.
  • When the eyes are inflamed, apply steamed dry clover grass in gauze to them.
  • Red clover is used for low hemoglobin.
  • Red clover contains valuable biological compounds that can prevent the occurrence of certain cancers.

But here, too, you should be careful; if a person has a predisposition to hormone-dependent forms of oncology, then these properties of clover during treatment may have the opposite effect.

Red clover flower infusion

Leave a tablespoon of raw material in a glass of boiling water for an hour, drink a quarter glass half an hour before meals 3-4 times a day. Use for fever and colds.

When treating menopausal disorders, to treat PMS, the infusion is made a little stronger - 3 tablespoons per glass. Drink half a glass twice a day.

Red clover tincture

Fill half a liter jar with clover flowers, top up with vodka, leave for a couple of weeks in the dark, filter, drink a tablespoon twice a day for signs of atherosclerosis, headaches and dizziness, and tinnitus.

Red clover decoction

3 tablespoons per glass of boiling water, keep on low heat for 10 minutes, let it brew, then take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals, half an hour.

Contraindications of clover, possible harm during treatment

For most people, clover is more beneficial than harmful, both externally and internally.

But, like any other medicinal plant, red clover has its contraindications:

  • The plant is contraindicated for pregnant women, as well as women during lactation, because the effect of clover compounds can provoke hormonal imbalance. This should be taken into account both when taken internally and when applied externally.
  • If there are blood diseases, then treatment with a medicinal plant can provoke bleeding, because clover thins the blood very well. That is why it is prohibited to use it several weeks before and after surgery.
  • Those who have heart problems or who have suffered a stroke should also forget about using this medicine.
  • In case of hormone-dependent forms of cancer (such as, for example, cancer of the uterus, ovaries, breasts), the use of drugs with clover extract can worsen the well-being and condition of the patient.

The list of contraindications is, of course, impressive. In addition, the use of drugs containing clover can cause side effects, such as skin rashes, hives, joint pain, muscle discomfort, headache, heaviness, nausea, bleeding in women.

Clover has a powerful effect on the body, so you definitely need to know its interaction with other medications:

  • hormonal drugs (tablets containing estrogen), contraceptives;
  • medications that increase the formation of digestive enzymes;
  • medications that slow down blood clotting;
  • strong drugs that are used in oncology - red clover will reduce their effect and effectiveness.

Thus, summing up the contraindications of meadow clover, it should be noted that the action of the chemicals contained in clover is similar to the action of human hormones, therefore, if taken for a long time, the plant will not be beneficial, but, on the contrary, will cause harm.

Treatment with red clover without the supervision of a professional should not last more than a month.

  • Due to the beautiful shape of clover leaves, their outline is used as a basis for jewelry design.
  • In ancient times, clover leaves were used to make amulets that protected against bad luck in business.
  • In Europe, the image of shamrock leaves is often used on coats of arms.
  • Psychics speak with confidence about the good magical power of clover, its warm aura and energy. The plant is the patron of all four elements.
  • Often modern people They wear jewelry and tattoos with the image of a four-leaf clover, because it is considered a symbol of luck. And they are right - clover is considered one of the most powerful healing plants with an effective effect on the body.

If you know anything else about the beneficial medicinal properties of red clover and its contraindications, then please comment on the post on the website alter-zdrav.ru.

What is red clover

Properties

  • relieving inflammation;
  • elimination of vitamin deficiency;
  • temperature drop;
  • toning the body;
  • stopping bleeding;
  • relief from cough;
  • cleansing the lymphatic system;
  • elimination of mastopathy;
  • relief of menopause;
  • diuretic effect;
  • slowing down hair loss;
  • removal of toxins;

The benefits of clover to the body

  • threat of atherosclerosis;
  • menopause;
  • decreased potency in men;
  • loss of strength (for vigor);
  • joint pain;
  • urolithiasis disease;
  • allergies.

Extract

For tuberculosis

For cholesterol

During menopause

For hypertension

For throat diseases

For skin diseases

For atherosclerosis

For oncology

Contraindications

  • pregnancy;
  • breast-feeding;
  • stomach upsets;
  • allergic reactions;
  • thrombophlebitis.
  • skin rash;
  • muscle pain;
  • dizziness;
  • vomit;
  • uterine bleeding.

Red clover (meadow, honey, trinity, woodpecker, redhead, red porridge, woodpecker, horsetail) is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Legume family. The benefits and harms of the plant have long been studied, so clover is widely used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, antifungal, astringent, wound-healing, expectorant and analgesic, has many beneficial properties and is even eaten.

It is unpretentious to growing conditions and is found almost everywhere throughout Europe, North Africa, Central and Western Asia. In Russia, it is most common in the European part of the country, in Siberia, Kamchatka and the Far East. Clover is sensitive to the influence of anthropogenic factors: under unfavorable conditions it dies and recovers poorly. Grows in dry and moderately wet meadows, clearings, forest edges, in thickets of bushes, along the edges of roads.

It is a valuable honey plant, but only species of bees with long proboscis can obtain nectar, so productivity is no more than 6 kg of honey per hectare of crops. This honey is considered the best in quality and medicinal value; it does not become candied for a long time and retains its properties.

The plant has feed value for farm animals and is planted for decorative purposes. Used as soil fertilizer. It is also used for food purposes: young shoots and leaves are eaten as an additive to salad, and cabbage soup is prepared from them. In the Caucasus, young inflorescences are fermented for the winter. The essential oil of the plant is used in perfumery and cosmetology.

Morphological description

The root is tap root, short in length and produces many shoots. Swells with nitrogen-assimilation bacteria form on the root (they absorb nitrogen and accumulate air from it), so fields are sown with clover to naturally fertilize the soil.

Branched stems reach a height of 20-60 cm, are ascending or erect. The leaves are trifoliate, ovate or elliptical in shape, long petiole, bright green with a light spot in the center. The lower leaves have serrated edges.

Flowering occurs in June-July, and can continue until August. Red clover flowers are zygomorphic, sessile, irregular in shape, 11-14 mm long, located in capitate inflorescences framed by two leaflets. The inflorescence is an elongated ovoid or cylindrical head 1.5-3.5 cm wide and 2-3 cm long. Fruits in July-August: the beans are filmy, ovoid-spherical, with one brown achene.

Chemical composition

The rich chemical composition of the plant determines numerous medicinal properties:

  • flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, pratoletin);
  • phytosterols;
  • fatty oil (especially in seeds);
  • essential oil containing methyl coumarin and furfural - a powerful antimicrobial substance;
  • organic acids (salicylic, p-coumaric, ketoglutaric);
  • amino acids;
  • glycosides (trifolin and isotrifolin);
  • alkaloids;
  • tannins;
  • cellulose;
  • resins;
  • proteins and fats;
  • vitamins E, C, A, P, K, B1 and B2;
  • salts of calcium and phosphorus.

After mowing the grass, nitrogen accumulates in the roots of the plant (up to 150 kg/ha).

Beneficial properties of red clover

How is clover useful? Plant preparations have the following therapeutic effects:

  • astringent;
  • anti-inflammatory;
  • painkiller;
  • wound healing;
  • secretory;
  • diuretic;
  • choleretic;
  • restorative;
  • diaphoretic;
  • expectorant;
  • antiseptic;
  • regenerating;
  • hemostatic;
  • antiatherosclerotic;
  • vaso-strengthening;
  • antitumor.

Collection and preparation

The heads of red clover, which are collected during the flowering period, while they are fresh and juicy, have medicinal value. Withered and drying inflorescences are not suitable for harvesting. It is best to cut the inflorescences with the top leaves, which are also rich in useful substances.

The raw materials are dried in natural conditions - under canopies or in attics. It is important not to overdry the herb, as this will cause the red clover to lose its medicinal properties. Finished dry heads should not fall apart or crumble. They are carefully placed in fabric bags and stored in a dry place for 12 months. The raw material has no odor, but has a bitter taste.

Indications for use

Despite the well-studied medicinal properties and contraindications of red clover, plant preparations are mainly used in folk medicine for internal and external treatment. What does red clover help with:

  • CVS: atherosclerosis and its prevention, hypertension (lowers blood pressure and also reduces associated symptoms - headaches and dizziness);
  • Hematopoietic system: anemia;
  • Musculoskeletal system: myositis, rheumatism, polyarthritis;
  • Respiratory system: bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, influenza, ARVI, ENT pathologies;
  • Pathologies of the urinary system: urolithiasis, cystitis;
  • Reproductive system: inflammatory diseases of the female genital area, especially the ovaries, painful menstruation. Helps well with menopause. Recommended for men for sexual impotence;
  • Oncological diseases. In case of damage to an internal organ, it is taken orally, and in case of skin cancer - externally, in the form of lotions and ointments;
  • Skin diseases: skin lesions with bleeding, fungal infections, burns, ulcers, psoriasis, vasculitis, vitiligo;
  • Inflammatory processes with the formation of purulent discharge: boils, panaritium, purulent wounds, abscesses, ulcers and bedsores.

Plant preparations are recommended as a biogenic stimulant and general tonic for the prevention of viral diseases, chronic fatigue, vitamin deficiency, sudden weight loss or gain, and alcohol intoxication.

Uses of red clover

Traditional medicine recipes:

Decoction and infusion

These are universal dosage forms indicated for all the diseases mentioned above. In addition to internal use, they are indicated for external treatment in the form of compresses, lotions, poultices and additives in medicinal baths. A steep decoction helps well with purulent abscesses and accelerates tissue healing.

Decoction: 1 tbsp. l. Pour boiling water (1 cup) over dry inflorescences and boil over low heat for 1 minute, then leave for another hour. Strain and drink half a glass 3 times a day, before meals.

Cool decoction for external use: according to the above principle, just take 3 tbsp. raw materials.

Infusion: 2 tbsp. l. dry inflorescences, pour boiling water (1 cup) and leave for 60 minutes, leave, strain. Take half a glass 3 times a day or ¼ glass 4 times a day, before meals. Especially indicated as an astringent and expectorant.

Decoction from the roots of the plant

Indicated for the treatment of bronchopulmonary pathologies and cancer.

Grind 20 gr. dried roots, pour 1 glass of boiling water over them, place the product in a water bath to simmer over low heat for about half an hour. Cool the resulting broth, strain and add boiled water to the original volume. Take 1 tbsp. l. decoction up to 6 times a day, before meals.

Red clover tincture

Indicated for headaches, tinnitus and high cholesterol due to atherosclerosis. Taken for the prevention of influenza and ARVI, for anemia, fatigue, and cancer. Apply externally to treat the throat and oral cavity (dilute half with water). Do not use to treat burns, open wounds or dry skin. Take with caution at high blood pressure.

Take 4 tbsp. dry raw materials and pour 500 ml of vodka or alcohol diluted to 40%. Leave in a warm place for 10 days. Take 1 tsp. before meals 3 times a day and 1 more time at night.

Seed tincture

Take 1 tbsp. l. clover seeds and pour 1 glass of red wine, steam the product in a water bath for half an hour. Take for a long time, at least 1 month, 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.

Tea

Taken as a means of strengthening the immune system during the season of colds and ARVI, to improve appetite in children.

1 tsp dry raw materials, pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 5 minutes and take small sips throughout the day.

Juice

Fresh juice has the same effect as infusion and decoction, but is considered more effective. It strengthens the immune system very well. Especially recommended after a long illness, to restore strength after operations. The juice is also used externally, for suppuration of the finger and nail bed, and skin tuberculosis.

Take fresh leaves, inflorescences and stems, pass through a meat grinder and squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Oil hood

It is used to treat skin for ulcers and wounds, and is used to speed up the healing of burns and soften the skin.

Take 1 part of dry inflorescences and pour 2 parts of olive oil, leave for 2 weeks. Use only externally, for skin treatment and compresses at night.

Fresh crushed leaves

They are used externally to heal wounds, stop minor bleeding, for abscesses, burns and rheumatic pain.

Take fresh leaves, rinse with water and grind them in a mortar or mince, transfer the pulp into a sterile bandage and apply to the skin for 15-20 minutes.

Fresh inflorescences

Freshly picked inflorescences are used as an additive to salads, soups and are recommended for patients with vitamin deficiencies.

Pharmacological drugs

You can buy the following red clover preparations at the pharmacy: drops, capsules, extract and dry raw materials.

  • Drops, 50 ml. Recommended for strengthening and cleansing blood vessels, reducing blood cholesterol levels, preventing atherosclerosis and hypertension. Price – 110 rub.
  • Capsules, 60 pcs. They are used for respiratory diseases, anemia, polyarthritis, hormonal disorders in women, for the complex treatment of atherosclerosis, as well as for the treatment of skin diseases: eczema, psoriasis, furunculosis, burns and trophic ulcers. Price – 900 rub.
  • Red clover extract tablets 500 mg, 50 pcs. Recommended as a food supplement to maintain women's health, strengthen the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems during menopause. Price – 2200 rub.
  • Extract on wax, 100 gr. Indicated for external use for burns, abscesses, eczema, allergic rashes, swelling and inflammation of the lymph nodes. Price – 500 rub.
  • Dry raw materials (grass and flowers), 50 gr. Recommended for colds, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, cough, chest pain, pulmonary tuberculosis, anemia. It is used for headaches and dizziness, insomnia, angina pectoris, hypertension, edema of various origins, and inflammatory diseases of the rectum and vagina. Externally used for wounds, abscesses, burns, scrofula, festering ulcers, and eye inflammation. Price – 20-80 rub.

Features of use in women, men, children

  • For women. The decoction is used externally for douching for inflammatory processes of the vagina, and internally for painful menstruation. During experiments, it was proven that a decoction of the plant helps eliminate the phenomena of menopause due to the content of phytoestrogens - substances that are included in hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Women who took a decoction of the plant during menopause experienced stabilization of mood and a decrease in the frequency of hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.
  • For men. Clover has long been considered a natural aphrodisiac that increases male sexual activity (tincture from the seeds is used).
  • For children. Tea from the plant is used to improve appetite and activate digestion, and helps with colic and abdominal cramps. It works very well for exudative diathesis: you can bathe babies in water with the addition of a decoction or rinse the body with clover infusion after bathing. Alcohol tinctures of clover are contraindicated for children.

Contraindications and precautions

Among the contraindications to the use of red clover:

  • Thrombophlebitis;
  • Phlebeurysm;
  • Acute forms of chronic pathologies of the kidneys and liver;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Estrogen-dependent oncological diseases;
  • Chronic diarrhea and constipation of various etiologies;
  • Children under 18 years of age (for alcohol dosage forms).

In case of severe heart disease, after a stroke, you should consult a doctor about the possibility of treatment with red clover - in these cases, the plant can be harmful to health.

The plant belongs to the legume family. Previously, it was used only as animal feed. Nowadays, red clover is used to dye fabrics, dried heads are used as a dressing for soups, young stems and leaves are used as an additive for salads, crushed leaves are put into bread or tea is brewed with them.

This is an excellent honey plant, so read also about the benefits of clover honey.

Inflorescences are a storehouse of vitamins. They contain ascorbic acid, B vitamins, and other beneficial substances: isoflavonoids, coumarins, essential oils. There are 245 species of clover growing on earth, in our climatic zone– a little more than 70 species that differ high content protein, starch, folic acid, vitamins C, P and carotene.

One common species is the white creeping trefoil or white porridge. It is the most unpretentious, light-loving, and is distinguished by early flowering. The other is red meadow shamrock, or red clover. The common people call it “scrofulous grass”, “God’s bread”.

Fresh and dried flowers, leaves and stems of the plant are used in medicine.

Benefits of the plant

In folk medicine it is used to treat many diseases:

  • relieves inflammation;
  • lowers temperature;
  • tones the body;
  • gets rid of fungus;
  • stops bleeding;
  • relieves cough;
  • eliminates eye fatigue;
  • has choleretic properties;
  • cleanses the lymphatic system;
  • works as a pain reliever.

Red and white clover can be used in the form of:

  • water-based decoction and infusion;
  • extract as part of dietary supplements;
  • vodka tinctures;
  • leaf compress.

Use in folk medicine

  1. Tinctures increase immunity and normalize metabolic processes in organism.
  2. Preparations from clover lower the level of bad cholesterol, which is additionally a good prevention of atherosclerosis.
  3. For women - an indispensable assistant in gynecology: irregular periods, inflammation of the appendages, premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). During menopause, it eliminates hot flashes, sensitivity and chest pain.
  4. Red clover, due to isoflavonoids, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, increases the elasticity of large arteries. Helps with angina pectoris.
  5. Herbal tinctures restore potency in men.
  6. Leaf poultices, infusions and infusions (based on vegetable oils) help in the treatment of purulent wounds and chronic skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, and treat burns.
  7. To improve the overall well-being of the body and restore strength, it is recommended to take a bath with shamrock.
  8. To stop coughing, add the herb to tea and drink it several times a day. Healful for asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough. Read more about the benefits of clover tea.
  9. White porridge is used to thin the blood and treat thrombosis.
  10. Meadow red clover is used as an astringent for stomach and intestinal problems.
  11. Fresh juice is suitable for treating allergies.
  12. To prevent diseases of the mouth, throat, and lungs, tinctures are used.
  13. Red clover can be used to prevent certain cancers, as it contains many biologically active compounds: biochanin-A, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumarin, formononetin, genistein, isohamnetin. But if you have a predisposition to estrogen-dependent forms of cancer, treatment may have the opposite effect.
  14. The plant owes its analgesic properties to anti-inflammatory compounds in its composition, such as eugenol, myricetin and salicylic acid.

Contraindications and side effects

For most people, red and white clover are not harmful when taken orally or applied to the skin.

The plant cannot be used:

  1. Pregnant and lactating women. Clover acts similarly to estrogens, so it can disrupt the hormonal balance in the body. This prohibition also applies to external use.
  2. In people suffering from blood disorders, consumption of this medicinal plant may cause bleeding. Since clover thins the blood, it should not be taken 2 weeks before or after surgery.
  3. For stomach upsets.
  4. Heart patients and stroke survivors.
  5. With estrogen-dependent forms of cancer (fibroids and uterine cancer, endometriosis, ovarian and breast cancer), the patient's condition may worsen.
  6. If you suffer from thrombophlebitis, clover will only bring you harm. This plant increases the risk of blood clots in people with protein S deficiency.

As you can see, the list of contraindications is quite extensive. Now let's talk about possible side effects:

  • skin rash,
  • muscle pain,
  • headache,
  • nausea,
  • vaginal bleeding in some women.

But the harm of red and white clover is not limited to this. If you decide to use the plant for medicinal purposes, you should know which medications have negative interactions:

  • Estrogens in tablets (they may contain estradiol, ethinyl estradiol or conjugated equine estrogens - premarin).
  • Contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel - triphaliz, ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone - ortho-novum.
  • Liver enzymes and other drugs to treat the liver. Clover can increase the side effects of medications and interfere with their breakdown.
  • Medicines that slow down blood clotting: aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, heparin, warfarin and others.
  • Tamoxifen, used in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Red clover preparations reduce its effectiveness.

A few more words about the dangers of clover. A diet high in these compounds caused reproductive problems and liver damage in captive cheetahs. And farmers have noticed that the predominance of red clover in the diet of livestock leads to the so-called “clover disease.” Infertility, dystonia, impaired lactation and uterine prolapse have been observed in sheep.

Recipes for cleansing the liver of toxins

Ingredients:

  • 300 ml water;
  • 1 tsp. clover inflorescences;

The water is heated, then the plant material is added and boiled for 6 minutes. Allow the broth to cool, filter and drink one tablespoon 4 times a day. The course of treatment is 30 days, it can be extended if necessary.

Strengthening the body

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. flowers;
  • 500 ml vodka.

Mix the ingredients and leave in a dark place for more than 10 days. Drink 3 times throughout the day before meals. The course is 30 days, break - 10. Then repeat twice.

Cleansing blood vessels

Ingredients:

  • 100 clover inflorescences;
  • half a liter of water.

Mix the ingredients, bring to a boil, and cook for 6 minutes. Leave for 3 hours, filter. For taste, add a spoonful of sugar or honey. The drink is drunk throughout the day.

Headache treatment

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. l. dried red clover inflorescences;
  • 250 ml water.

Bring the mixture to a boil. Let it brew for 40 minutes, strain. Take half a glass 3 times a day.

Getting rid of colds

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. l. dried flowers;
  • 2 tbsp. water.

Mix the ingredients and let it brew for 5 hours. Strain well and drink within a day. Portions should be the same. It is better to lie down in a warm place after drinking.

From inflammatory processes and tumors

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp. l. clover roots;
  • 1.5 tbsp. water.

Combine plant materials with water and boil in a water bath for 30 minutes. Strain the broth and add water to the original volume. Use up to 5 times a day before meals. The maximum course is 3 weeks. Repeating is permissible only after a month's break.

Procurement of raw materials

You will need to cut the stems, tear off leaves and inflorescences from the plant. All this is finely chopped and left in a dark, well-ventilated area until dry. Afterwards, the dried herb is placed in a bag made of natural fabric.

It is extremely important not to get carried away with self-medication, even if you believe in the power of traditional medicine and have already tried several effective recipes on yourself. Red and white clover contain hormone-like chemicals called isoflavones, which when long-term use may serve you badly.

The period of independent treatment without the supervision of a specialist should not last more than 3-6 months.

The herb red clover is considered useful - the medicinal properties and contraindications of the plant are used in folk medicine. Its other name is meadow. The plant is rich in biologically active substances, is used to treat inflammation, skin diseases, and helps cope with menopause due to the content of phytoestrogens. How to use grass for good and not for harm?

What is red clover

Trifolium or red clover (botanical name Trifolium pretense) is a member of the legume family. The medicinal plant reaches a height of 20-90 cm, has complex trifoliate elliptical leaves with wide triangular trefoils. They have whitish spots, jagged edges with a network of veins. The flowers are moth-like, small, and have the appearance of spherical lilac-red heads.

Konyushina blooms in June-July and bears fruit at the end of summer. Its stems are erect and ascending. The fruit is an ovoid, single-seeded, membranous bean. Meadow clover grows in meadows, forest edges, steppes, thickets of bushes, and clearings. Found throughout Russia. The above-ground part of the herb is used for medicinal purposes; the stems are rich in protein and can be eaten as an additive to salads. The flowers are considered excellent honey plants; 100 kg of honey can be collected from 1 hectare. Red clover is harvested during the flowering period and dried in air without direct exposure to the sun.

The chemical composition of red clover leaves and flowers is varied and rich. It contains the following substances:

  • essential oils – aromatic substances that relieve inflammation and pain, eliminate nervous tension, and have an antimicrobial effect;
  • flavonoids, phytosteroids, isoflavones – components that have antibacterial, anti-radiation, antispasmodic and antitumor effects;
  • glycosides (trifolin, isotrifolin) - complex compounds for the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
  • fatty oils (linoleic, palmitic, stearic acids) – are responsible for the absorption of vitamins;
  • organic acids (coumaronic, salicylic, succinic) – substances needed to relieve inflammation, regulate metabolism, and remove toxins;
  • resins, ash - viscous compounds with powerful bactericidal properties;
  • medicinal tannins – with astringent, hemostatic, regenerating and anti-inflammatory properties;
  • alkaloids – toxic compounds that have a positive effect on the nervous and respiratory systems;
  • amino acids (asparagine, tyrosine) - proteins that take part in all metabolic processes;
  • fiber – plant fibers necessary for positive intestinal function;
  • vitamins A, carotene, group B, ascorbic acid, E;
  • microelements – magnesium, potassium, selenium, chromium, iron, calcium, phosphorus;
  • phylloquinone – a substance that supports hematopoietic function;
  • tannins, xanthines, furfural carotenoids, bioquinones, coenzymes, coumarins, proteins.

Properties

Due to such a rich composition, the medicinal properties of red clover are wide, including the following indications:

  • relieving inflammation;
  • elimination of vitamin deficiency;
  • temperature drop;
  • toning the body;
  • stopping bleeding;
  • relief from cough;
  • relieving eye fatigue, helping with cataracts;
  • choleretic, immunostimulating, tonic properties;
  • cleansing the lymphatic system;
  • analgesic, hypotensive, antifungal, antitumor effect;
  • elimination of mastopathy;
  • relief of menopause;
  • antiseptic, antiviral, sedative effect;
  • restoration of affected tissues;
  • an expectorant that thins sputum;
  • diuretic effect;
  • slowing down hair loss;
  • stimulation of collagen production;
  • removal of toxins;
  • analgesic, antisclerotic, antiallergic, astringent, diaphoretic, antidepressant, emollient.

The benefits of clover to the body

The beneficial properties of red clover are used in folk and official medicine. It is used for the following diseases and ailments:

  • decreased immunity, exhaustion;
  • threat of atherosclerosis;
  • menopause;
  • sexually transmitted diseases;
  • menopause, hot flashes, sensitivity and chest pain (there are contraindications);
  • fragility of the walls of blood vessels, angina pectoris;
  • decreased potency in men;
  • purulent wounds, eczema, psoriasis, burns;
  • loss of strength (for vigor);
  • joint pain;
  • urolithiasis disease;
  • cough, asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, thrombosis;
  • allergies.

For oral administration for inflammation, liver problems, and the need to remove toxins, a medicinal decoction is used without contraindications. To make it:

  • Take 300 ml of water and a teaspoon of red clover blossoms.
  • Heat the water, add the raw materials and boil for six minutes.
  • Cool the broth, filter, drink a tablespoon four times a day.
  • The course of treatment lasts a month, then it can be extended.

An infusion of red clover is used to prepare baths for skin rashes and for oral administration for headaches, colds, and coughs. To make it:

  • Take two tablespoons of dried flowers and a glass of water.
  • Mix the ingredients and boil.
  • Let it brew for 40 minutes, strain.
  • Take half a glass orally three times a day or pour a warm infusion into the bath.

To treat purulent wounds, burns, psoriasis or cancerous tumors, a medicinal ointment made from red clover inflorescences is used. They are infused with pure olive or sunflower oil in a 1:2 ratio. Leave the mixture for two weeks in a dark, warm place, stirring constantly. At the end of the exposure period, filter and lubricate the affected areas with a cotton swab with a wound healing agent.

Extract

For general strengthening of the body, immunity and relieving fatigue, a medicinal extract of red clover in vodka is used:

  • Take a glass of dried flowers and 0.5 liters of alcohol or vodka.
  • Mix the ingredients and leave in the dark for at least 10 days, more if possible.
  • Drink the prepared extract drops three times a day before meals.
  • The course of therapy lasts a month, then a break is taken for 10 days and the treatment is repeated in two more cycles.

Red clover in folk medicine

Red clover is widely used in folk medicine due to its medicinal properties. It successfully treats tuberculosis and prevents its relapse, serves as a means of prevention for malignant tumors and after their removal. It helps women during menopause cope with hot flashes and normalizes hormonal balance. It can be given to children as a cold remedy without contraindications.

For tuberculosis

Fresh plant juice and a decoction of meadow clover inflorescences with medicinal properties can be used to treat the inactive stage of pulmonary tuberculosis, its prevention, and anemia:

  1. Pour 20 g of dried inflorescences with a glass of boiling water and cool. Drink 2-3 tablespoons three times/day.
  2. Grind fresh flowers through a meat grinder, squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth, dilute the resulting juice with water in a 2:1 ratio. Drink a third of a glass three times a day before meals.

For cholesterol

The plant is rich in tannins, essential oils and glycosides, which helps to exhibit its medicinal properties with increased concentrations of bad cholesterol. Red clover breaks down fatty deposits on the walls of blood vessels, removes excess naturally, while at the same time restoring and strengthening blood vessels. For treatment, alcohol tincture and tea are used without contraindications:

  1. Take a two-liter jar and fill it halfway with fresh inflorescences (or a quarter with dry ones), pour in 500 ml of vodka, and close the lid. Keep in a cool, dark place for 15 days, filter. Take three months with a break of 10 days after each. In the first month, the dosage will be 15 ml once a day before lunch, in the second - 20-22 ml, in the third - 15 ml.
  2. Pour dry herbs of clover and meadowsweet in equal quantities with hot water, drink half a glass of tea once a day.
  3. Brew 10 flower heads with a glass of boiling water, hold for 2 minutes, strain. For three weeks, take half a glass three times a day.

During menopause

Red clover contains phytoestrogens, which are similar in action to female sex hormones. During menopause, the latter are quantitatively reduced, so an infusion and decoction of flowers will help normalize sleep, enhance sexual function, improve the condition of the skin and hair, and eliminate dry skin without contraindications:

  1. Take three tablespoons of crushed roots and flowers, pour a glass of boiling water, cook in a water bath for 20 minutes, leave for an hour. Strain and drink throughout the day in equal portions, diluting with water. Combine herbal medicine with medication.
  2. Pour 40 g of young leaves and 30 g of flowers with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour and filter. Use for vaginal douching, or drink 50 ml orally 4 times a day to eliminate painful periods.

For hypertension

The healing properties of red clover are applicable for hypertension. The decoction dilates blood vessels and normalizes the heartbeat, stabilizes blood pressure, and serves as a means to increase potency:

  1. Pour three tablespoons of dried flowers into 1.5 cups of boiling water, keep in a water bath for 10 minutes, leave for half an hour. Strain, drink 75 ml three times a day.
  2. Brew a tablespoon of raw material with 250 ml of hot water, boil for five minutes. Drink a tablespoon 5 times a day for at least a month.

For throat diseases

An express tincture or medicinal decoction with a minimum of contraindications will help against pneumonia, for the treatment of bronchitis and whooping cough:

  1. Pour two tablespoons of flowers with two glasses of water, leave for five minutes. Drink the resulting amount in equal portions throughout the day. After use, keep warm.
  2. Fill a glass of flowers and leaves with 200 ml of boiling water, leave in a thermos for a day, shaking occasionally. Strain, mix with an equal amount of vodka, leave for a couple of hours. Drink a tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals.
  3. Pour two glasses of dry raw material with a liter of hot water and leave for an hour. Drink a tablespoon three times a day to prevent colds.

For skin diseases

To eliminate the manifestations of psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, scrofula, decoctions, infusions and baths with red clover are used:

  1. Take enough flowers so that they can be applied to the affected area in a thick layer. Pour boiling water over it, leave for an hour, squeeze out and wrap in gauze. Apply a compress at night.
  2. Brew three tablespoons of inflorescences with a glass of boiling water, cook in a water bath for two minutes. Leave for two hours, strain, add to the bath. It will also help cope with the manifestation of fungus on the skin.

For atherosclerosis

In addition to cleansing the blood, the use of decoctions and clover tea will help normalize blood pressure and calm nervous excitability:

  1. Pour 500 ml of water over 100 inflorescences and cook for six minutes. Leave for three hours, strain. Mix with honey and drink the resulting amount throughout the day.
  2. Pour two cups of boiling water into four tablespoons of leaves and leave for seven hours. Drink half a glass three times a day.

For oncology

To generally strengthen the body, suppress the growth of cancerous tumors or prevent their occurrence, take a decoction or tincture of red clover with medicinal properties:

  1. Pour 300 ml of water into three tablespoons of plant roots and boil in a water bath for half an hour. Strain and add clean liquid to the volume of evaporated water. Drink five times a day before meals for a course of three weeks. After a month's break, repeat.
  2. Pour a glass of inflorescences with 500 ml of vodka, leave for 14 days in a dark, dry place. Shake the jar every five days. Drink a teaspoon on an empty stomach 15 minutes before meals for a month. Take a break for 10 days, repeat twice more. Before taking, read the contraindications.

Contraindications

You can buy red clover at the pharmacy or prepare the raw materials yourself. Contraindications to the use of herbal medicines based on it are:

  • pregnancy;
  • breast-feeding;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • blood diseases (may cause bleeding);
  • stomach upsets;
  • allergic reactions;
  • heart disease, stroke;
  • a period of two weeks before surgical operations and the same time after them;
  • estrogen-dependent forms of cancer (fibroids, ovarian inflammation, breast cancer, endometriosis);
  • thrombophlebitis.

In addition to contraindications, you should also learn about side effects that may occur while taking red clover:

  • skin rash;
  • muscle pain;
  • dizziness;
  • vomit;
  • uterine bleeding.

In addition to the contraindications and side effects of the herb itself, you should be wary of drugs based on it and interactions with certain medications: estrogens in tablets, contraceptives with ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, liver enzymes, aspirin, heparin, warfarin, tamoxifen. It is important to obtain competent advice before treatment (this is the rule for both men and women).

Hello, friends!

Among the herbs that grow well in natural environment, red clover can be distinguished.

Thanks to the valuable medicinal properties of this plant, many people find salvation from ailments in it, especially women.

What is the secret of this useful herb and is she deservedly praised?

Why has red clover become a salvation for women?

Let's take a closer look in this article...

From this article you will learn:

Red clover for women - beneficial properties and recipes for use

What does red clover look like?

Red clover represents herbaceous plant, living for two years.

It grows up to 40 cm, has a modest root system and a huge number of thin but tenacious shoots.

The leaves have a juicy green, bright color, and, as a rule, are ovoid in shape.

Sometimes you can find small spots on them with the naked eye.

Clover blooms with small, clustered rich burgundy flowers throughout the warm season.

The plant cannot be called a whimsical or capricious grass. He boldly settles wherever he wants: not far from swamps, in courtyards, in forest clearings, and on roadsides.

By the way, some peoples attribute the symbolism of faith, love and hope to triple clover leaves.

It is believed that four-leaf plants of this species are extremely rare, and the lucky one who still finds a curiosity must certainly be lucky in business.

The plant also has a second name - meadow clover.

What does the plant contain?

Not all admirers of traditional medicine have a complete understanding of how useful and valuable clover is.

It has long been revered for its medicinal properties in different countries.

In China, since ancient times, a lot of attention has been paid to its use.

And there is nothing surprising in this, because it is truly a storehouse of valuable qualities and natural ingredients important for the health of people and animals.

It is famous for the presence in the above-ground parts of the stem and flower of a huge amount of active substances that are indispensable for full human life:

  • vitamins;
  • minerals;
  • phytoestrogens,
  • glycosides.

Ascorbic acid and essential resins in the plant are present in the stem part, in the foliage, and even in the flowers.

What are the benefits of red clover for human health?

Red clover helps normalize organ function gastrointestinal tract, circulatory system.

The positive qualities of the plant influence the increase in the level of natural production of the body’s immune functions.

Use it in different types: decoctions, compresses externally.

Internal treatment is considered a more popular method of traditional treatment.

What are the benefits of red clover for women?

However, this plant is most valued by women for its ability to eliminate discomfort and painful sensations for women's diseases.

Menopause, in particular, will pass much easier if you regularly use clover tincture.

Medicines often prescribed to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of menopause usually contain the seeds of the plant.

They restore the balance of hormonal levels, complementing the imbalance of hormones in a woman herbal analogues.

Repeatedly held Scientific research to confirm the high healing qualities of this herb.

As it turned out, clover actually contains substances such as isoflavones, which are plant analogues of estrogen hormones.

It is thanks to their presence in the body that the development of oncological processes is prevented in a timely manner.

But even if cancer is detected, clover helps eliminate pain during the treatment of the lymphatic system and prostate in men.

Research also indicates that red clover supports cardiovascular health during menopause.

The most popular and effective recipes with red clover, presented below, will help with diseases that occur in chronic and acute form.

How to prepare and use red clover preparations?

During the flowering period of the grass, you should not miss the opportunity to stock up on this amazing natural remedy.

Clover tea or a tincture based on it will relieve many health problems.

In winter, such drugs are especially effective in the treatment of colds and for preventive purposes:

  1. To do this, you need to take a couple of tablespoons of the dried collection and pour one glass of boiling water. This tea should steep for 15-20 minutes. You don’t need to drink it in one gulp; it’s better to spread it out over the whole day, taking 2 tablespoons every hour.
  2. The same drink, prepared according to the specified recipe, can stabilize blood pressure. To do this, you need to drink tea for at least 1-2 months. As a rule, there should be no side effects, however, like any drug, it also has some contraindications.
  3. You can also prepare a clover tincture. For it you will need a glass of dried plant flowers, prepared in advance, washed and dried. You need to fill them with two glasses of vodka. The resulting drug must be infused for at least two weeks, away from light and heat. Then strain and store in a dark place.
  4. As prophylactic tincture is considered the most effective. It must be consumed for a month, 5 ml before each meal.

Dietary supplements based on red clover extract

For those who do not have the opportunity to harvest red clover grass, you can use dietary supplements based on it.

Who should not take red clover preparations?

  • persons who have individual intolerance to the chemical composition of the plant;
  • pregnant women and mothers during lactation;
  • elderly people who have previously had heart attack or stroke;
  • patients with chronic diseases Gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, ulcer, pancreatitis, etc.)

Undoubtedly, red clover is a real natural helper.

It can improve the health of any person by cleansing blood vessels, strengthening the immune system and helping to fight extra pounds.

However, if you take any product made from clover orally, you should remember that it can cause allergic reactions.

Alena Yasneva was with you, bye everyone!

photo@Couleur