Properties of Red Clover

Medicinal Properties

• Red clover has numerous medicinal properties. According to Kathi Keville in an article published in the 1999 issue of the magazine "Better Nutrition" titled "Healing Herbs," red clover has fever-lowering and pain relieving properties. It clears lung congestion and reduces muscle spasms. Red clover is a blood purifier and effectively treats a variety of skin problems, including rashes, acne, psoriasis and eczema. The herb and its extracts were used extensively in the late 19th to early 20th century as the major ingredients in numerous patented medicines called Trifolium Compounds.

  Many of red clovers medicinal properties are attributed to genistiene (or genistein), one of its most important chemical constituents. According to Donald Yance and Arlene Valentine in the book "Herbal Medicine, Healing & Cancer," genistiene exhibits powerful antiangiogenic, anticancer and antiestrogen effects.

  Isoflavone, a constituent of red clovers, exhibits estrogen-like properties, which is why it is typically prescribed to menopausal women. Isoflavones restore the balance of estrogen in the body and effectively reduce the symptoms of menopause.

Anti-tumor Properties

• According to Michael Castleman in the book "The New Healing Herbs," red clover contains a type of vitamin E, tocopherol, which exhibits antioxidant properties and prevents cancer.

  Shawn M. Talbott and Kerry Hughes in "The Health Professional's Guide to Dietary Supplements," publish results of research conducted on the effect of red clover on prostate cancer patients. The authors concluded that the substance and its chemical components, typically isoflavones, may stop the progression of low to moderate grade prostrate tumors.

  According to Donald Yance and Arlene Valentine, red clover is most effective against colon, breast, prostate cancers and melanoma. The authors state that coumarin, another active ingredient in red clovers, reduces the recurrence of metastatic cancers.

Chemical Properties

• Red clover contains chromium, calcium, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, vitamin A and magnesium. Other chemical constituents include salicylic acid (phenolic glycoside), methyl salicylate, genistiene, sitosterol, flavonoids, coumarins, salicylates, cyanogenic glycosides, lecithin and silica. The plant is also rich in isoflavones and the amino acid tryptophan. Its unique chemical constituents make red clover agriculturally, gastronomically and medicinally important.