June 3, 2002

RED CLOVER

Latin Name: Trifolium pratense

Alternate Names: Meadow Trefoil, Sweet Clover, Cow Clover, Purple Clover, Vana-methika (Sanskrit)

Family: FABACEAE

Parts Used: Flowers, young leaves.

Properties: Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Antitussive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Nutritive, Phytoestrogenic, Vulnerary.

Internal Uses: Acne, Arthritis, Blood Clots, Bronchitis, Cancer, Cough, Eczema, Gout, Menopause, Phlebitis, Psoriasis, Tuberculosis, Tumors, Whooping Cough

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules, Syrup.

Red Clover helps to calm coughs, reduce skin inflammations and improve general health.

Topical Uses: Arthritis, Burns, Conjunctivitis, Gout, Insect Bites, Lymphatic Congestion, Tumors, Vaginitis, Wounds

Topical Applications: Poultice for burns, wounds, sores, tumors and insect bites. Compress for pain from arthritis and gout. Salve for lymphatic swelling. Eyewash for conjunctivitis. Douche for vaginitis.

Culinary uses: Young flowers and leaves are edible in salads and sandwiches in small amounts. Older flowers and leaves can be served cooked. Flowers and seeds are added to bread. Roots are also edible as a cooked vegetable. When cooked, Red Clover is better digested and less likely to cause bloating. Used in wine.

Energetics: Sweet, Salty, Cool.

Chemical Constituents: Phenolic glycosides (salicylic acid), essential oil (methyl salicylate), sitosterol, genistiene, flavonoids, salicylates, coumarins, cyanogenic glycosides, silica, choline, lecithin.

Comments: Ancients called it triphyllon, meaning 'three leaves'. This term also relates to the common name, Clover, which stems from clava, meaning 'three-leaved'. The three leaves were said to correspond to the triad goddesses of Mythology and later, the Trinity in Christianity.

-- Phil in KS (mac0328@planetkc.com), June 03, 2002

Answers

Here's a picture for you:

-- Phil in KS (mac0328@planetkc.com), June 03, 2002.

I take this frequently. Does anyone know where to find the seeds for it? I'm afraid the gov will fool around and regulate the herbals and I'll be stuck going to the doctor and paying an arm and a leg for a similar product.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), June 06, 2002.

www.horizonherbs.com is the first place that comes to mind but any seed catalog that sells cover crops should carry it. Also, take a look around your area. Usually, you can find this growing wild just about any where.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 06, 2002.