Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is spreading like wild fire
through fertility communities everywhere! So what has given this plant
such popularity recently? This is the question I ask myself. As an
herbalist, Red Clover has always been a favorite plant of mine, and I
know other herbalists will agree. Traditionally it is one of the best
anti-cancer herbs. It is also a nourishing blood purifying herb.
Because it is so high in nutrition it is often used in herbal infusions
during pregnancy preparation, pregnancy and lactation when directed by a
natural physician or herbalist.
Fertility Benefits of Using Whole Plant Red Clover
Red Clover is a nourishing food herb. It is rich in a variety of
vitamins and minerals. It is one of the best blood purifying herbs.
This blood purifying action is wonderful for pregnancy preparation,
aiding in detoxification of environmental pollutants prior to
conception. This function also may be helpful for women with cyclic
acne. The action of Red Clover is one of the best known for acne and
other skin conditions.
Red clover aids in improved circulatory function,
this is very important for all functions of the body, but it is
important to have good circulation to the genitals for reproductive
function. Red Clover has been shown to increase cervical mucous, aiding vaginal dryness.
Red Clover is high in both calcium and magnesium.
These are essential to proper bone formation as well as smooth muscle
function. Both calcium and magnesium consumed regularly in foods like
Red Clover help to reduce menstrual cramps.
Red Clover has been used for hundreds of years to improve liver
function, which is essential to hormonal balance. This plant also aids
in digestion and is known to help increase appetite. For women suffering from poor digestive issues, or those with poor appetite, this herb may help. This may be extremely beneficial for women who are trying to gain weight to increase fertility. This herb is also supportive of kidney function.
According to Susun Weed [one of the most well known Western herbalists] Red Clover is one of the best pregnancy preparation tonics.
She has used Red Clover for years to treat infertility in women with
blocked fallopian tubes, irregular menstruation and unexplained
infertility. She uses a preparation of 1 ounce in weight of dried Red
Clover blossoms placed in a quart mason jar. She then covers with
boiling water, caps tightly and lets steep for at least 4 hours. 4
hours later, strain and drink 1-3 cups a day! Because Red Clover is a
nourishing herb it can take many months of use to be effective. It is a
daily tonic. Red Clover is best used for 3-6 months in preparation for
pregnancy.
It is my experience as an herbalist using Red Clover that are the
richest and most real for me. I have used Red Clover as a nourishing
herb for years, with no negative side effects. I have used it for
pregnancy preparation, through the last trimester of pregnancy, and
during breastfeeding both of my children. I never used concentrated
amounts long term. I always use this herb as I would a nourishing food.
Red Clover blends well in an infusion with other nourishing herbs like
nettles and red raspberry leaf. Because it is detoxifying for the
liver and kidneys, I have used it in the childbearing year, and after to
aid my body in recovery postpartum. It is extremely hard on the liver,
heart and kidneys to develop another human life inside of the female
body. Using Red Clover infusion from time-to-time aids the body in
proper function of the liver, heart and kidneys which is essential to a
healthy pregnancy. Nourishing these organs prior to conception is best.
Red Clover Herbal Recipes
Red Clover Nourishing Fertility Tonic
3 parts dried Red Clover Blossoms and leaves
1 dried part Red Raspberry Leaf
1/2 part dried Peppermint
3 parts dried Red Clover Blossoms and leaves
1 dried part Red Raspberry Leaf
1/2 part dried Peppermint
Place herbs in a quart mason jar. Fill mason jar, cover herbs with
boiling water. Cap tightly. Steep for 4 hours. Strain and
refrigerate. Drink 1-3 cups daily in preparation for pregnancy.
Red Clover, Lavender, Lemon Relaxing Sun Infusion
3 parts dried Red Clover Blossoms and leaves
1/2 part dried Lavender flowers
Fresh Lemon Slices
3 parts dried Red Clover Blossoms and leaves
1/2 part dried Lavender flowers
Fresh Lemon Slices
Place all ingredients in a quart mason jar. Fill with warm filtered
water. Cap tightly. Set in the sun for 3-4 hours. Strain and chill.
Add a touch of agave for taste. This is a great infusion if you are
feeling stress or anxiety, or just wanting to chill out after a long
day!!! Best enjoyed out doors watching a sunset!!!
Red Clover Controversy: The Isolation of Isoflavones from Red Clover
I think we owe Red Clover’s new found popularity to science. When
scientists want to see if an herb has an effect on part of the body,
they usually use concentrated isolates of the plant. This is not how an
herbalist would use the plant. Herbalists typically use a whole part
of a plant. Herbalists are not scientists, nor have the tools to
isolate a chemical compounds from a plant. Herbs have more benefits
than one isolated chemical compound. These multiple benefits work
together for whole body benefits.
All of the scientific research, findings and conclusions can make for
some confusing tests and explanations. For example there was a study
performed by the Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology
at the University of Göttingen in Germany, and the Department of
Immunology, Medical University of Gdansk in Poland on an isolate of Red
Clover (Formononetin equol). This isolate is an isoflavone.
Isoflavones are phytoestrogens in plants. The isoflavones in plants may
mimic human estrogens.
The study used rats that had their ovaries removed. Using the
isolated isoflavone Formononetin from Red Clover, the study showed after
3 months of feeding the rats both a high dose, and low dose chow
containing isoflavone, that the high dose chow fed rat’s uterine weight,
cell proliferation, and thickness increased. The rats fed low doses of
isoflavone containing chow did not shown any effects on the uterus.
The use of the equol isoflavone was compared against two doses of
estradiol-3 benzoate (E2B). The conclusion of the study is that women
should not use uncontrolled and unlimited doses of Red Clover.
Because of studies like this one, doctors are advising women with a
history of uterine hyperplasia, endometriosis, ovarian cancer, breast
cancer, uterine fibroids, or other estrogen-sensitive conditions to
avoid Red Clover.
Making Sense of the Scientific Research
To me this test shows a lack of understanding of how Red Clover as a
whole plant works in the body. Isolating a chemical compound from a
plant in some cases has benefits, and may be necessary, but in the case
with Red Clover this plant is far more beneficial as a whole herb
infusion, rather than in an isolate based cream or pill. Isolating
isoflavones and giving a rat a high dose of this isolate showed an
increase in thickness, and weight of the uterus in rats that no longer
were producing natural fertility hormones, because their ovaries were
removed. The purpose was to determine if the Red Clover isolate is safe
for menopausal women or for those who have a risk of uterine cancers.
It is unfortunate that Red Clover has over time gotten a bad reputation
as an herb that may fuel estrogen-sensitive fertility issues including
uterine Cancer growth in some women. In reality, Red Clover is the best
known anti-cancer herb in Western Herbalism. Nourishing food herbs
like Red Clover have been used for thousands of years with no indication
the plant contributed to estrogen dominant conditions, or
estrogen-sensitive cancers.
It is important that we be clear on the research. There is no
contraindication to using Red Clover in it’s whole plant form as an
infusion (tea), tincture (liquid extract), or capsule as daily
nourishment and as a tonic. Yes, there may be some concerns when used
in high doses over time, but herbalists would not use this plant this
way. We cannot base our fears that Red Clover will increase our
estrogen levels because of testing using isolated isoflavone from Red
Clover. Phytoestrogens are in many plant foods we eat. There is no
real evidence that phytoestrongens in Red Clover increase estrogens in
human body, except when the isoflavones are isolated, and concentrated
into a supplement.
References:
1) informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13697130701624757
2) menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-phytoestrogens.htm
3) Wise Woman Herbal for The Childbearing Year, Susun Weed, Ash Tree Publishing, 1986
4) Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Tori Hudson, ND, McGraw Hill, 2008
5) The Herb Book, John Lust, Bantam Books, 1974
6) Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, Aviva Romm, Churchill Livingstone, 2010
1) informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13697130701624757
2) menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-phytoestrogens.htm
3) Wise Woman Herbal for The Childbearing Year, Susun Weed, Ash Tree Publishing, 1986
4) Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Tori Hudson, ND, McGraw Hill, 2008
5) The Herb Book, John Lust, Bantam Books, 1974
6) Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, Aviva Romm, Churchill Livingstone, 2010
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