Red clover is similar to alfa alfa and people often mistake it for alfa alfa. But the leaves of red clover are greener. However these two herbs have same flavor. Red cover has lots of health benefits as well as skin and hair benefits.
Red clover is a wild, leguminous and perennial herb. It is the native of Africa, Europe and Western Asia. Now it is seen in many regions of the world. The flowers of this herb are tiny and pink in color. It has a sweet taste and is edible. It is added as a flavouring agent and for garnishing salads and beverages. The leaves of this plant are green in color and are alternate and trifoliate. Each leaf is about 15 mm to 30 mm long and 8mm to 15 mm broad. The outer half of the leaf has a crescent shape. The leaves of this herb are used for making sweet herbal tea. This has therapeutic uses.
Red clover also known with these alternate names:
Trifolium, Cow Clover, Trefoil, Purple clover, meadow clover, Wild clover, Beebread, Clovone.
Nutritional value of Red Clover:
Red clover contains isoflavones, which after it enters the body changes chemically into phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens can functionally imitate the estrogen hormone in the body. So, they are very beneficial for the body. The isoflavonoids help in maintaining the elasticity of the large arteries. This helps in boosting reproductive ability in post-menopausal women. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals like calcium, chromium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, thiamine, niacin, and Vitamin C.
Benefits of Red Clover for Skin:
Red clover is one of the herbs that can provide you radiant and healthy skin. Below are given some of the benefits of this herb for the skin.
Accelerates wound and burn haling:
Red clover has the ability to heal wounds and burns fast. All you have to do is to apply red clover topically in appropriate percentage on the wounds and burns. This helps them heal quickly.
Reduce skin aging:
Menopause is often associated with lots of problems, such as loss of skin collagen, moisture and thickness. This is because of the reduced production of the female hormone called estrogen, which lead to the ‘hypoestrogenism effect’. Red clover is known for its estrogen effects. So it is very beneficial for retarding the process of aging of the skin. This way it helps in providing you young looking skin that is vibrant and radiant. It also makes sure that your skin remains thick and healthy. It ensures healthy keratinization and vascularity of the skin.
Treats psoriasis and eczema:
If you are suffering from skin issues like psoriasis, eczema, skin ulcers etc, apply red clover in the form of cream or lotion topically on the affected area.
Treats cancer:
Although it has not been proved medically that red clover can completely cure cancer, many researches made have suggested that it is effective for curing skin cancer. So, it acts as a supplementary to mainstream medicine.
Benefits of Red clover for Hair:
Makes hair strong:
Rinsing your hair with red clover tea is very beneficial for your hair as it contains isoflavones in high amounts. It also has the ability to prevent dandruff and scalp irritations, thereby keeping your hair strong. Using red clover tea regularly on your hair can make your hair soft and lustrous, adding more volume to your hair. It also helps in making our hair more manageable.
Health and Medicinal Benefits of Red clover:
Enhances immunity:
Red clover has the power to increase the immune system of the body. This way it helps in protecting you from asthma, cough, cold, whooping cough, bronchial asthma, respiratory infection, congestion in the chest and many other such ailments.
Improves cardiovascular health:
Presence of isoflavones makes red clover great for the heart. It helps in increasing the level of HDL or good cholesterol in pre- and poet-menstrual women. According to research made, red clover is chemo-protective. This means that it can protect your body from the harmful actions caused by anti-cancer medications. It is also contains cumarin, which is a blood thinning compound. It is good for maintaining flexible and compliant arteries. This way it ensures that no blood clotting occurs and there is proper circulation of blood. However, if you are suffering from breast cancer, pregnant or already on anti-coagulants, then you should avoid consuming this herb.
Improves menopausal symptoms:
Menopausal women suffer from various symptoms like nigh flashes, breast tenderness, nigh sweats etc. Red clover can provide you relief from these symptoms as well as from pre-menstrual symptoms. Many post-menstrual women are said to have been benefited by using this herb. It better that you consult your doctor before you use this herb.
Prevents cancer:
The presence of isoflavones in red clover with its estrogen-effects helps in fighting against the cancerous cells in the body. Red cover has been said to be very effective for the preventing endometrial and prostate cancer.
Prevents osteoporosis:
When the level of esrogen in the body is low, the risk of low bone density is very high in pre- as well as post-menstrual women. This can lead to osteoporosis. Isoflavones in red clover can mimic estrogen internally and help in increasing the bone-density and delaying the process of bone-depreciation.
Treats infertility:
Consuming red clover is very beneficial for those suffering from low estrogen level, infertility, premature menopause and repeated miscarriage. This is because of the presence of isoflavones in this herb. However women who have excess of estrogen in their body, as in the case of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids, should take care to avoid red clover.
You can consume red clover in many ways such as in the form of tea, capsules, tablets, tinctures and liquid extracts. However, make sure that they are prepared under the supervision of an expert.
