Red Clover: What the Herb Is Traditionally Used For

Red clover is one of those plants most people have walked past a thousand times without naming it.

The plant

Trifolium pratense is a member of the pea family, with three-part leaves and round, pinkish-purple flower heads. It grows across meadows and field edges in the UK and much of Europe, and farmers have long sown it to enrich soil, since clover fixes nitrogen.

Its place in herbal tradition

The flower heads are the part used in herbal preparations, gathered in summer when they're in full bloom. Red clover appears in European herbals going back hundreds of years and remains one of the more commonly used botanicals in traditional blends today.

How it's used today

You'll find dried red clover sold for tea, and the flower extract included in liquid herbal blends. It has a mild, slightly sweet, hay-like character.

Things worth knowing

• Red clover contains plant compounds called isoflavones. If you take hormone-related medication, or have a hormone-sensitive condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking it.
• As with any supplement, avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding unless your healthcare provider says otherwise.
• Stick to the serving on the label.

Red clover blossom is one of the four botanicals in Verdaflow Drops.

This article describes traditional use and is for general information only.