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When to Harvest Red Clover. Red clover: medicinal properties of the plant, contraindications and reviews. Clover decoction for skin diseases

Red clover has been known to everyone since childhood. As soon as its spherical inflorescences - red, red-lilac, pink - bloom - the children, imitating bumblebees and bees, begin hunting for its nectar. After all, it’s enough to pluck a few flowers from the inflorescence, bring it to your mouth, and there it is – delicious, sweet juice inside the tubular flowers!

But it turns out that clover is not only an excellent honey plant, but also a tasty feed crop for domestic animals: rabbits, goats, cows. Even the chickens don't refuse it.

  • Due to the presence of large amounts of vitamins C, B and carotene, clover is used for vitamin deficiency and anemia.
  • Clover contains protein, fats, fiber, alkaloids, glycosides, essential oil, tannins, coumaric and salicylic acids.
  • Clover has astringent, antiseptic and diuretic effects, so it is used for diarrhea and kidney diseases.
  • Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antiseptic effects, clover is used for ARVI, malaria, and its antiallergic properties have a beneficial effect in the treatment of bronchial asthma.
  • Externally, clover is used as a lotion for burns and abscesses.
  • Clover is used to increase blood clotting and in the treatment of malignant neoplasms (as an additional remedy).
  • Clover is recommended for atherosclerosis, if blood pressure is normal, but is accompanied by tinnitus. And also for neurocircular dystonia.
  • This plant is prescribed to enhance lactation.
  • Clover leaves are used in cooking.

Where does clover grow?

This perennial herbaceous plant can be found everywhere, up to 69° north latitude.

Clover grows in meadows, forest edges, clearings, along river banks, along roads, and on mountain meadow slopes.

Clover can also be easily grown in the lawn and garden.

When is clover harvested?

Clover begins to bloom at the end of May, and its flowering lasts until almost autumn.

The inflorescences are collected for medicinal purposes. They are collected during full flowering.

The clover heads are torn off along with the apical leaves.

Young clover leaves are used in cooking. They are cut off before the plant blooms or at its very beginning.

You must remember that you cannot collect clover near highways, near garbage dumps or near industrial enterprises.

Clover is harvested in dry weather, when the inflorescences are dry from dew. Since flowers are not washed before drying, contaminated flowers cannot be collected.

How to dry clover blossoms

  • Clover heads are dried in the shade or under a canopy. You can dry it in the attic if it is well ventilated.
  • During drying, you need to ensure that the heads do not dry out, otherwise they will crumble in an overdried state.
  • Store dried inflorescences in paper bags or canvas bags.

How to dry clover leaves

Clover leaves are laid out in a thin layer in the shade or in a well-ventilated area. Then they are dried in a cool oven, crushed into powder and sifted through a sieve. Store in a glass jar with a well-closing lid.

  • For seasoning soups, one tablespoon per serving is enough.
  • To prepare sauces and seasonings, powder is added to taste.
  • Clover leaf powder is also added to baked goods, such as muffins.

Clover in cooking

Blooming clover heads are collected to make tea. The inflorescences are also used to make soups and seasonings.

Young clover leaves are added to salads, side dishes, soups, and vegetable cutlets.

Clover drink: 200 grams of clover inflorescences are boiled for 20 minutes in one liter of water. Then the broth is cooled and filtered. Add sugar to taste and stir.

Roast pork with clover: 400 grams of clover leaves are stewed in a small amount of water with the addition of butter (40 grams). Add salt and pepper to taste. This side dish with the addition of hot sauce goes well with fried pork.

Useful properties and uses of clover

Clover is a medicinal plant and has long been used in official and folk medicine, in homeopathy. Medicines, dietary supplements, syrups and mixtures are produced based on clover, and clover is also included in preparations for the treatment of various diseases. Decoctions and infusions, juice, and tinctures are prepared from clover, which are taken orally and used externally for rinses, lotions, and medicinal baths. Clover is included in ointments, powders, cleansers and treatments for skin diseases, shampoos, and lotions.

Preparations from clover have choleretic, diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, expectorant, hemostatic, astringent effects and treat many ailments. Clover decoctions treat diseases of the liver and biliary tract, kidneys, urolithiasis, inflammation of the bladder and appendages. Clover flowers relieve swelling and inflammation, cleanse the blood, and improve the functioning of the entire body.

Steamed porridge flowers applied to sore spots help with varicose veins. Decoctions and infusions from inflorescences and leaves are drunk for asthenia and anemia, for headaches and dizziness, for rickets, pulmonary tuberculosis, for bleeding and hemorrhoids, and for poisoning.

Clover has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and expectorant properties and is successfully used to treat acute colds, bronchitis and bronchial asthma, sore throat and cough, as well as to treat skin diseases, diathesis, abscesses and burns. Meadow clover is used to treat gout and rheumatism.

Decoctions and infusions from clover remove excess fluid from the body, promote better mucus separation, improve sweating, destroy harmful microorganisms, relieve swelling, they are used for rinsing - for gingivitis, stomatitis, sore throat, as well as for washing wounds.

Red clover has an antisclerotic effect and is used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular system and atherosclerosis. It helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduces cholesterol levels, lowers intracranial and blood pressure, and relieves headaches.

Clover decoction increases hemoglobin, normalizes blood composition, and improves the condition of veins. This amazing plant has hemostatic properties and helps stop bleeding, relieves the condition of heavy menstruation, hemorrhoids, and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Phytoestrogens found in clover greens have a beneficial effect on the female body during menopause; they help alleviate menopause and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Flavonoids contained in clover saturate tissues with oxygen, protect the body from aging, and normalize fat metabolism and metabolism. Clover also helps in the fight against fungal and cancer diseases.

Clover tea is a wonderful remedy for breastfeeding mothers, it promotes milk production. Clover preparations are used in dermatology, boils and pustules are washed with decoctions, and hair is rinsed against hair loss and dandruff.

In cooking, clover leaves are added to salads and green cabbage soup. Clover is an excellent honey plant and clover honey is a valuable food product and is considered one of the best. It tastes good, has a delicate aroma and has healing properties.

Traditional methods of treating clover

Traditional medicine widely uses red clover to treat various diseases. Decoctions, infusions, and alcohol tinctures are prepared from medicinal raw materials. We have selected for you recipes from traditional healers that are easy to prepare at home. You can prepare meadow clover yourself, or you can buy it at the pharmacy.

  • Infusion of clover flowers. Pour a tablespoon of flowers into a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. Strain the infusion and take 70 ml three times a day 30 minutes before meals.
    This infusion treats kidney diseases, urolithiasis, and eases painful menstruation.
  • Infusion for menopause. Pour three teaspoons of crushed clover flowers into a glass of boiling water and leave for one hour. Strain and drink the infusion half a glass four times a day twenty minutes before meals.
  • Infusion for hypertension, migraine, neuralgia. Pour 20 dried clover flowers into a liter of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Drink a glass of infusion 2-3 times a day for one month. The infusion cleanses blood vessels, strengthens the heart, and removes cholesterol.
  • Infusion for diabetes. Pour 5 grams of dried flowers with a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Strain and drink the infusion three times a day, one tablespoon. After three weeks you need to take a ten-day break and repeat the course of treatment.
  • Clover infusion for the treatment of skin diseases. Grind 400 grams of herbs with flowers, pour two liters of boiling water, leave for 4 hours. Strain and pour into a bath at a temperature of 36-38 degrees. Take a bath for 30 minutes every other day. The course of treatment is 8-10 baths.
  • A decoction of clover roots for stomach ulcers. Pour 20 grams of crushed dry roots into a glass of boiling water, cover with a lid and boil in a water bath for half an hour. Strain and add boiled water to the original volume. Take one tablespoon of decoction 4-5 times a day before meals.
  • Clover flower decoction. Pour three tablespoons of flowers into a glass of hot water, bring to a boil, boil for one minute, leave for two hours, strain and wash purulent wounds, boils, apply lotions to sore spots.
  • Alcohol tincture of clover for atherosclerosis. Fill a glass liter container halfway with clover heads, add 0.5 ml of vodka, leave in a dark place for two weeks. The tincture should be strained by squeezing out the flowers and taken one tablespoon in the morning half an hour before meals and in the evening before bed for three months. The tincture helps normalize intracranial pressure, treats headaches, eliminates dizziness, noise in the ears and in the head.
  • Clover honey for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Mix three tablespoons of clover honey with one tablespoon of lemon juice, mix and refrigerate. Take this mixture one teaspoon three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is one month.

The medicinal properties and contraindications of red clover (meadow) are well known to European peoples. Fresh leaves and young shoots of this plant are eaten as a vitamin concentrate. In Rus', cabbage soup and botvinya were often prepared from stables, and, for example, the Caucasian peoples ferment young inflorescences of the herb to this day. It is also a valuable forage plant for livestock and soil fertilizer. Essential oil from it is used in perfumery and cosmetology. In Celtic mythology, the shamrock is a revered, sacred plant. It brings good luck and symbolizes the unity of the three mother goddesses in Celtic magic. Therefore, the herb is considered feminine, but it also benefits men.

Features of a medicinal plant

How to collect clover? What is its chemical composition? Why is this medicinal plant so valuable? And what are its contraindications?

Area

Red clover is so common and unpretentious that it is easy to find in different parts of the world. All varieties of this grass are found in the European part. Some varieties grow in Central Asia, some in the Far East. The plant also takes root in North Africa.

White or creeping clover.
Hybrid or pink clover.
Clover is average.

Types of clover

There are about 10 varieties of red clover, all of which are used for medicinal purposes. But 245 species of clover have also been described. In folk medicine, the most famous are arable, creeping, medium, pink. What are their features?

You can also purchase varietal seeds of decorative clover with dark red leaves that lie beautifully on the ground, and its shoots quickly take root and grow. The advantage of this variety is that it is a perennial. It can be planted in flower beds and alpine hills.

Botanical characteristics

Red clover. Botanical illustration from the book “Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz” by O. V. Thome, 1885.

Description of red clover:

  • root: taproot, short, produces many shoots; swellings with nitrogen (a natural fertilizer) form on the root, so fields are often sown with clover;
  • stems: height from 15 to 60 cm, branched, erect;
  • leaves: elliptical, trifoliate, with long petioles, bright green with a light spot in the center;
  • flowers: collected in single heads, spherical, red, purple, crimson.

Red clover flowers are also considered a good honey plant, but bees cannot reach the nectar due to the short proboscis. More often, grass is pollinated by bumblebees or breeds of bees with a long proboscis.

Procurement of raw materials

How to collect and prepare raw materials to preserve the medicinal properties of clover?

  • Collection. The most valuable thing in clover is the inflorescence. The grass is collected during the flowering period. Depending on the climate zone - from May to September. It is better to remove whole inflorescences with the upper leaves, which also contain valuable substances.
  • Drying. It is carried out in natural conditions - in attics or under canopies. Herbalists do not recommend over-drying the herb, otherwise it will lose its beneficial properties. The heads of the inflorescences should not fall off or fall apart.
  • Storage . The grass is packaged in linen bags, stored in a dry place for 1 year, and the raw materials are renewed every new season.

The finished raw material has no odor; the herb has a slightly bitter taste.

Healing effect and chemical composition

How is clover useful? The herb has the following spectrum of pharmacological action:

  • astringent;
  • emollient;
  • anti-inflammatory;
  • wound healing;
  • painkiller;
  • antiseptic;
  • diuretic;
  • regenerating;
  • restorative;
  • vaso-strengthening;
  • diaphoretic;
  • expectorant;
  • blood purifying;
  • vitamin

Clover grass contains the following substances:

  • flavonoids (there are also many of them in the leaves);
  • essential oil containing furfural - an antimicrobial substance;
  • fatty oil (a lot in seeds);
  • glycosides;
  • organic acids;
  • vitamins E, C, A, P, K, B1 and B2;
  • tannins;
  • resins;
  • cellulose;
  • amino acids;
  • alkaloids;
  • proteins and fats;
  • salts of phosphorus and calcium.

Indications and contraindications

Red clover is used in folk medicine internally and externally. For what diseases is this herb effective?

  • Diseases of blood vessels and muscles. Clover helps lower cholesterol, so it is useful to take it for atherosclerosis. It is prescribed for muscle inflammation (myositis).
  • Respiratory diseases. Decoctions are drunk for bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, colds, flu, ARVI. They are also prescribed for shortness of breath and bronchial asthma.
  • Kidney and liver diseases. Has a mild diuretic and secretory effect. Helps with urolithiasis, cleanses the liver and blood.
  • For hypertension. Clover is taken for blood pressure and hypertension, the herb relieves headaches and eliminates dizziness.
  • Biogenic stimulant. The plant can be used as a general tonic to prevent viral infections. For example, in Central Asia it is customary to drink it with hot milk. The herb is taken for fatigue, anemia, alcohol intoxication, vitamin deficiency, metabolic disorders, weight loss or gain.
  • External use. Clover is effective against various fungal diseases, as it has fungicidal (antifungal) properties. They treat boils, purulent wounds, ulcers, burns, psoriasis. With the help of compresses made from fresh juice and infusions, they relieve rheumatic and neuralgic pain and soften the skin. The product is also used in otolaryngology for gargling. Microenemas are made from it for inflammation of the rectum.

What else does clover help with? There is information in herbalists that clover is effective against oncology. For malignant tumors, the drug is taken orally; for cancerous skin lesions, lotions and ointments are applied.

Contraindications for red clover: chronic diarrhea and constipation of various natures; thrombophlebitis; phlebeurysm; pregnancy; estrogen-dependent form of cancer (more often in women during menopause); acute forms of chronic kidney and liver diseases. In case of heart disease and after a stroke, the herb can also cause harm, so it is necessary to consult a doctor before starting treatment.

Using and preparing clover at home

The plant is well known in rural areas. It is grown as livestock feed. Often used in cooking: dry inflorescences are added to soups as a seasoning; in the spring, fortified salads are made from the leaves, and compotes are made from the inflorescences. What medicines can be prepared from this herb?

Decoction and infusion

The decoction and infusion are taken orally for all of the above diagnoses and symptoms. Strong decoctions are prepared for external use: compresses, lotions, poultices are made from them, and they are added to medicinal baths. These remedies help well with purulent abscesses and promote rapid tissue healing.

Preparing the decoction

  1. Take 1 tbsp. l. dry inflorescences.
  2. Pour a glass of boiling water.
  3. Boil for 1 minute.
  4. Leave for 1 hour.

The decoction is filtered and taken as tea, ½ cup 3 times a day (preferably after meals). To obtain a steeper decoction, take 3 tbsp per glass of water. l. raw materials.

Preparing the infusion

  1. Take 2 tbsp. l. dry inflorescences.
  2. Pour a glass of boiling water.
  3. Leave for 2 hours.

Take either ½ cup 3 times a day, or ¼ cup 4 times. It is a good expectorant and astringent.

Tincture

What are the uses of red clover tincture?

  • It is often prescribed for atherosclerosis, headaches, and tinnitus.
  • Drink to prevent ARVI, influenza, fatigue, anemia, and cancer diagnoses.
  • It can also be used externally to treat the throat and mouth (diluted).
  • I do not use it on burns, open wounds, or dry skin.
  • Take with caution at high blood pressure.

Vodka tincture recipe

  1. Take 4 tbsp. l. dry inflorescences.
  2. Pour in ½ liter of vodka (you can dilute 40% alcohol).
  3. Leave for 10 days in a warm place.

The medicine is taken 1 tsp. before every meal. It is also recommended to drink the tincture at night.

Juice

In folk medicine, fresh clover juice is used. To prepare it, take fresh inflorescences, leaves and stems. They are passed through a meat grinder, and the juice is squeezed out of the mass through cheesecloth. Usually take 1/3 cup 3 times a day. The effect of the juice is the same as the effect of decoctions and infusions. However, it retains much more vitamins. This remedy is beneficial after a long illness, restores strength, strengthens the immune system, and cleanses the blood. The juice is also used externally. You can find information that it is used to wash the eyes during inflammation. It is necessary to treat this with caution and consult an ophthalmologist. The acids contained in the plant can harm the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Oil hood

The emollient healing properties of clover have been confirmed. Its substances penetrate into the thickness of the skin, nourish it, increase elasticity, and protect it from the adverse effects of the external environment. Therefore, the plant in the form of decoctions and infusions is widely used in cosmetology. An oil extract is also made from it, which is used for medical purposes - to treat affected areas of the skin (burns, ulcers, wounds).

Oil extract recipe

  1. Take 1 part of dry inflorescences.
  2. Pour in 2 parts olive oil.
  3. Leave for 2 weeks.

Apply externally, make compresses at night. Used as a cosmetic product to care for dry skin.

Features of use in women, men, children

  • For women . Decoctions are used externally - for douching for inflammation of the vagina. They are also taken orally for inflammatory discharge and painful periods. In scientific medicine, clover is not used as widely as in folk medicine. Nevertheless, studies have been conducted using the herb for menopause, and its effectiveness has been proven. Clover contains isoflavones - phytoestrogens. These substances are included in hormone replacement therapy for menopause. They have far fewer side effects than synthetic hormones. The health and mood of women who take herbal decoctions noticeably improve, and the frequency of hot flashes and other unpleasant symptoms of menopause also decreases.
  • For men . The herb is a natural aphrodisiac. It contains substances that increase male sexual activity. A tincture is prepared from clover seeds in the following proportion: 1 tbsp. l. seeds pour 1 glass of red wine. The mixture is steamed in a water bath for 30 minutes. The tincture is taken over a long course, 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.
  • For children . Most often, clover tea is given to children with diarrhea, to improve digestion and appetite. Decoctions are good for eliminating intestinal colic and spasms. Exudative diathesis (popularly called scrofula) is also treated with herbs. With this diagnosis, it is recommended to bathe children in decoctions or rinse their bodies with them after bathing. Alcohol tinctures of clover are contraindicated for children.

The beneficial properties and contraindications of clover in folk medicine have long been known. However, the herb has not yet been sufficiently studied in scientific medicine, so doctors rarely prescribe it. The plant is primarily valued for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. This is an effective remedy for cough and diarrhea, helps with atherosclerosis, neuralgia, rheumatism, and heals purulent wounds, abscesses and burns well.

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Clover is popularly known by such names as trefoil, honey stalk, and eryngium. Since childhood, it has been known for its sweet juice squeezed out of its inflorescence. We all remember the scene from the cartoon about the brownie Kuzya, where he ate clover flowers. And for good reason! This plant is known not only for its fragrant properties and pleasant aroma, it is very often used in folk medicine and herbal medicine.

Trefoil is a perennial herb that grows throughout our country and is unpretentious. Belongs to the legume family. Its flowers have a lilac hue, reaching an intense purple color; there is a white-brown variety. The fruits are beans.

Outwardly, it does not look like any other representative of the flora, therefore, following the descriptions, it is very difficult to confuse it:

  • three-segmented leaves are formed by obovate leaflets that fold upward at night;
  • stipules subulate, narrowed upward;
  • inflorescence in the form of a ball, equipped with an involucre, in the calyx there are 10 veins.

Blooms from April to September.

The raw material contains a huge amount of tannins and resins, essential and fatty oils, salicylic and coumaric acids, as well as vitamins C, E, carotene.

Europe is considered to be its homeland, but clover grows everywhere. This plant was highly appreciated by cattle breeders due to its high protein content, textile workers used it to dye fabrics in green shades, and healers of Eastern and Western medicine used clover tea to treat many types of diseases. Moreover, eryngium is an excellent honey plant; it has a unique floral taste and aromatic aftertaste. Its honey can destroy some strains of bacteria that even modern antibiotics cannot combat.

Popular types of clover

There are about thirty varieties, the most common are listed below.

  • Red clover Trio - the variety ripens very early, has round leaves and pink flowers.
  • Jura - white clover - this species grows very low relative to the soil surface. Prefers fertile, fresh soil.
  • Mereya is a perennial species, growing in fields, meadows and pastures.
  • Ermak is late-ripening, resistant to cold and frost.

The plant has been successfully cultivated. It is mainly used as pet food. To grow, you need to use moist soil flavored with minerals and vitamins. You can sow cereals nearby; it reproduces by seeds. Before planting, it is necessary to clear the planted area of ​​weeds and then loosen it. After 10 days, the first shoots appear. This plant is very unpretentious, but needs watering and fertilizing. Sometimes there is a need for thinning.

What type is most often used to make tea?

The most common is red clover, meadow clover, which is included in teas and medicinal drinks. Red clover tea has a beneficial effect on the body when:

  • hypo- and vitamin deficiency;
  • with anemia;
  • for colds;
  • during a breakdown;
  • during postoperative rehabilitation;
  • for the prevention of angina pectoris and atherosclerosis;
  • for general cleansing of the body;
  • for diseases of female internal organs
  • during menopause;
  • with frequent migraine attacks, etc.;
  • In addition, a tea drink made from red clover increases sweating, helps with severe coughing attacks, whooping cough, bronchitis and asthma.

We collect clover according to all the rules

The benefits of the plant depend on how to prepare clover for tea. There are certain points that need to be taken into account when collecting. You should choose a hot, sunny day for harvesting, somewhere in the middle of summer; the optimal time is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The inflorescences must be succulent and not damaged; withered flowers are immediately discarded as they have no value. There should not be a drop of moisture on the flowers. It is necessary to dry the raw materials in the dark, in a cool, dry place. If the flowers darken after drying, they should be thrown away.

The leaves can be consumed fresh by adding them to salad or soup. During industrial harvesting, in addition to inflorescences, rhizomes and leaves are also used. This is due to the high value of this plant species.

The healing properties of clover tea

Since ancient times, tea has been considered a special drink. It is used both for the benefit of the soul, thanks to its aroma and invigorating properties, and for the benefit of the body, adding medicinal herbs and plants to the main composition. Recipes for clover tea are largely similar, only its composition changes.

Recipe No. 1 - classic:

  • 4 parts dried red clover inflorescences;
  • 2 parts currant leaves;
  • 2 parts dried St. John's wort.

Combine all the suggested ingredients and add when preparing a tea drink. The brewing method is normal.

Recipe No. 2 - mint tea:

  • 5 parts of dried meadow inflorescences;
  • 1 part mint leaves;
  • 1 part dried St. John's wort.

Use the collection when preparing tea, brew in the usual way, preferably sweeten with honey. The freshness of mint harmonizes perfectly with the delicate aroma of St. John's wort; the tea turns out very tasty, relaxing and soothing.

Recipe No. 3:

  • 4 parts of dried meadow inflorescences;
  • 2 parts mint leaves;
  • 2 parts currant leaves;
  • 2 parts dried St. John's wort;
  • 1 part oregano.

This extraordinary fragrant collection has a fresh aroma and makes the taste of tea unique. Brew the herbs prepared in advance as usual, sweeten with honey.

Clover is a cure for many ills

The usefulness of clover drink is due to its chemical composition, the presence of a huge amount of vitamins A, B, C, E, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus. Clover inflorescences and leaves are rich in glycosides, essential oils, and alkaloids. Moreover, the drink has antimicrobial, choleretic, antisclerotic properties, helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity.

A tea drink with clover flowers is an ideal stimulator of human immunity. With its regular use, protective functions against infections improve. It is able to cleanse the liver and blood of toxins and restore intestinal function.

Stop clover tea!

Despite all the benefits of clover tea, it also has its contraindications. It should not be used by those who suffer from heart disease, thrombophlebitis, or increased blood clotting. And also for pregnant women, since clover drink can affect hormonal levels and increase the tone of the uterus, provoke a miscarriage and negatively affect the formation and development of the fetus. Tea will be very useful for mothers who have just given birth, thanks to the same property of contracting the uterus, and will also increase lactation, stop bleeding and relieve pain.

Some interesting things about red clover

For many years, shamrock has had a reputation as a magical herb. There are many legends about him. A flower is a symbol of fabulous luck if the leaf has four petals. Each of the four petals symbolizes fame, love, health, and wealth. According to legend, whoever encounters a four-leaf clover will subsequently gain extraordinary luck. In addition, the lucky one will bring good luck and happiness to loved ones, as well as those whom he meets in life.

The three-leaf clover was used as a talisman and amulet, and the two-leaf clover foreshadowed a quick meeting with a lover. If a couple in love ate a four-leaf clover for two, then their relationship grew stronger, and their love became stronger and more passionate.

Red clover is a popular perennial plant of the legume family. Residents of Ukraine call this grass konyushina. It is found in the wild in fields and meadows. Since ancient times, people have used its flowers in folk medicine. The herb has many beneficial properties, even helping with diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Red clover is a popular perennial plant of the legume family.

This is a herbaceous plant 25-50 cm high, with small spherical inflorescences. The flower has a delicate lilac or red color. This plant should not be confused with its “brother” - creeping clover, the inflorescences of which are exclusively white.

The grass has a long flowering period. The first flowers appear in the second half of May. And the last inflorescences fade only at the end of September. This makes the grass an excellent honey plant, because bees can collect pollen throughout the warm period of the year.

The fruits ripen in October. The seeds have different shades: from soft yellow to rich dark purple. Wild clover is found in many central countries. But most often the plant can be seen in the meadows of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

The medicinal plant is rich in many beneficial substances and vitamins. It contains micro- and macroelements, flavonoids, acids, vegetable proteins and fats, fiber and essential oils.

Clover is rich in substances such as:

  • vitamins A, E, C, K and group B;
  • chromium;
  • iron;
  • phosphorus;
  • magnesium;
  • calcium;
  • tannins;
  • salicylic and coumaronic acids.

All parts of the herb are used to prepare medicines: leaves, flowers and roots. Let's consider the medicinal properties of the plant and contraindications, find out for what diseases it can be used and in what form.

Gallery: red clover (25 photos)



Red clover (video)

How and when to collect a plant

Ready-made dried red meadow clover can be purchased at the pharmacy. However, if desired, the raw materials for the preparation of medicines can be prepared independently. If everything is done correctly, the medicinal properties of the plant will be fully preserved.

The herb becomes most useful during the flowering period, when the inflorescences fully open. You need to collect the plant in the morning, as soon as the dew has subsided. But if it rained the day before, it is better to postpone the procedure to another day.

Only herbs that grow in a field or forest are suitable for preparing traditional medicine recipes. Red clover flowers can also be found in cities, however, due to the proximity of industrial enterprises, landfills and a large amount of transport, the plant becomes unsuitable for use for medicinal purposes. In addition, since you cannot wash the grass before drying it, it must be as clean as possible (free from dust and dirt).

The plant is dried naturally: in a well-ventilated place, protected from the sun. If the herb gets damp, it will lose all its medicinal properties, so dry raw materials should be stored in a tightly closed glass jar.


The plant is found in the wild in fields and meadows

Healing properties

The medicinal properties of red clover are recognized not only by folk medicine, but also by traditional medicine. The plant extract is included in many preparations. It is used as an external remedy and for oral administration. The herb is used in forms such as:

  • tinctures;
  • ointments;
  • lotions;
  • shampoos;
  • juices

Beneficial features:

  • anti-inflammatory;
  • wound healing;
  • painkillers;
  • antiseptic;
  • antitumor.

The product has a diaphoretic effect, so decoctions, infusions and tea can be used as an antipyretic. And the tincture has a diuretic, hemostatic and expectorant effect.

The beneficial properties of the plant are used to cleanse the lymphatic system, treat cough and fever. With its help, you can remove bile from the body, overcome fatigue and eye strain.


The medicinal properties of red clover are recognized not only by folk, but also by traditional medicine.

Preparations based on medicinal herbs are used to treat inflammatory processes and cancer. And the ability to increase hemoglobin makes clover decoction an excellent remedy for anemia. It is used in gynecology to relieve painful menstruation and as a hemostatic agent for uterine bleeding. The benefits of stables for pregnant women have been proven.

Most often, red clover is used in folk medicine to normalize cholesterol levels. In addition, it is used for ulcers, abscesses and skin burns. The plant successfully fights foot fungus.

Despite the extraordinary level of usefulness and the possibility of use even for infants (in the form of baths), the plant has a number of contraindications. Therefore, before using the products, you should consult a specialist.

Properties of red clover (video)

Contraindications

The beneficial properties and contraindications of clover have been known for a long time. Herbal treatment is not recommended for patients with diseases such as:

  • varicose veins;
  • any type of allergy;
  • thrombophlebitis;
  • frequent diarrhea;
  • exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases;
  • pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

When taking clover-based products, intolerance rarely occurs. However, everything is possible, because each person is individual. If side effects occur, you should consult a doctor to change the drug.

Possible side effects of taking medications include:

  • headache and muscle pain;
  • nausea or vomiting;
  • rash;
  • vaginal bleeding.

If you do not violate the instructions, brew the product correctly and take it strictly as prescribed by your doctor, then the occurrence of side effects is unlikely.

The medicinal properties and contraindications of red clover may coincide. So, in some cases it is prescribed to women during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding the plant improves milk production. But at the same time, herbal medicine can harm both the woman and her child (fetus), so the drugs can only be taken under the strict supervision of a specialist.

Clover is contraindicated for people who have had a heart attack or stroke.

Traditional medicine recipes

The widespread use of red clover has led to the emergence of many different traditional medicine recipes. Below are the most popular and effective ones.

For the development of skin diseases, the formation of abscesses or boils, a decoction of the plant is used. You will need 3 tbsp. l. dried flowers and 200 ml of water. You need to boil water, add the herb to it and cook for a minute. After which the liquid is removed from the heat and left covered for 2 hours. The decoction can be used to treat not only damaged skin. It is often used to wash the eyes during inflammatory processes.

It is recommended to use ointment to treat wounds and rheumatism. Dried raw materials (100 g) must be filled with any vegetable oil (50 g). The ointment is infused for 14 days in a warm place, protected from light. After which it must be filtered and used as prescribed by a doctor.

The tincture can be prepared with water or alcohol. In the first case, 2 tbsp. l. herbs pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and leave for 1 hour, wrapped in a towel. The infusion helps with almost any disease of the internal organs (as part of complex therapy).

Alcohol infusion:

  • dried clover - 1 tbsp;
  • vodka or diluted alcohol - 0.5 l.

The grass should be doused with alcohol and left in a dark place for 10 days. The mixture is shaken daily.
Clover tea is prepared with the addition of other plants. Depending on the additional components, it is used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, diseases of internal organs, anemia and nervous strain.

The classic tea recipe includes the following components:

  • 2 tbsp. l. red clover;
  • 1 tbsp. l. St. John's wort;
  • 1 tbsp. l. currant leaves.

To prepare a mint drink you need 5 tbsp. l. clover, 1 tbsp. l. St. John's wort and 1 tbsp. l. mint. The mixture should be brewed like regular tea and drunk with honey.

The most unusual is the third collection option:

  • 4 tbsp. l. main component;
  • 2 tbsp. l. mint;
  • 2 tbsp. l. currant leaves;
  • 2 tbsp. l. St. John's wort;
  • 1 tbsp. l. oregano.

The last recipe is a combination of the previous two and can be used for almost any ailment. However, the occurrence of unpleasant consequences in this case is more likely.

People with thrombophlebitis, heart disease and increased blood clotting should not drink tea. It is also contraindicated during pregnancy (at any stage). But for women in labor, tea will have the maximum benefit: it will speed up uterine contractions and increase milk production.

Clover begins to bloom in the midst of summer - July and August. The plant is a recognized honey plant, as well as an excellent forage crop. Since clover contains a number of valuable, beneficial substances, it has been used in traditional medicine for a very long time. For example, clover was used to heal various ailments in ancient China. In America, it has been used for more than a century to treat diseases of the liver, joints, gout, and heal the intestines and gall bladder. Typically, red clover and pink clover are used for treatment.

As medicinal raw materials, grass, flowers, and roots of the plant are used, which are harvested in the summer, during the flowering period. The leaves of the flowers are cut and then dried in the shade, after which they are used to prepare healing infusions and decoctions.

I’ll tell you more about how clover is useful to humans, what medicinal properties and contraindications this plant has:

For what ailments is clover used?

Red clover has been used by healers since time immemorial. People have long noticed that water infusions and decoctions of this plant have a positive effect on well-being. After all, it contains useful substances that have a positive effect on health.

For example, clover is considered a source of magnesium, copper, calcium, chromium, iron, and phosphorus. It contains vitamins A, C, a group of B vitamins, other valuable substances, for example, isoflavones, as well as other flavonoids.

Due to its composition, the plant is considered an effective remedy for liver intoxication and improves the flow of bile. Decoctions and infusions based on it have the ability to cleanse the blood, lymph, and normalize intestinal function. In addition, its medicinal properties are used to prepare products with expectorant, diuretic, and mild laxative properties.

The plant is used in the treatment of serious diseases such as hepatitis and mononucleosis, since clover flowers and roots have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

In this regard, healers use the medicinal properties of clover in the treatment of coughs, as an expectorant. Infusions and decoctions are prepared from it, which are used externally for skin diseases, joint ailments, for example, psoriasis, eczema (childhood), diathesis, rheumatoid arthritis. It is taken orally for the complex treatment of malaria, rheumatism, and alleviates the condition of women during menopause. Used for urolithiasis, bleeding, anemia.

Recipes for preparing medicinal products

To improve the condition of blood vessels, as an anti-sclerotic agent, for the treatment of chronic ailments of the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract, prepare a healing infusion: Place 2 tbsp in a cup. l. fresh flowers (about 5-7 pieces), add one and a half cups of boiling water. Cover the cup with a saucer, wrap it in a towel, and leave for 10-15 minutes. Strain the finished infusion and drink it all day as tea. It is allowed to drink 3-4 glasses per day. It is useful to add a little honey there.

For joint diseases, gout, metabolic disorders, and also as a blood cleanser, drink freshly squeezed juice of the plant. It is recommended to drink a third of a glass of juice 4 times a day. Treatment - a month. This same remedy perfectly eliminates vitamin deficiency.

To treat muscle and joint pain, prepare medicinal oil. To do this, fill a liter jar with fresh flowers and fill it up to the neck with vegetable oil. Close tightly, put in a cool, dark place, wait 1.5-2 months. Strain the finished product and store in the refrigerator. Take 1 tbsp on an empty stomach. l. 3-4 times a day. Rub the heated medicinal oil on sore joints and make compresses.

As we said, the medicinal properties of clover are used in the treatment of many diseases. This can be used to effectively treat cystitis, urolithiasis, menstrual irregularities, and bleeding. To do this, prepare an infusion: Pour 2 tsp into a thermos. dried herbs, add half a liter of boiling water. Leave it on all night. In the morning, strain the product, drink on an empty stomach, a quarter glass 3-5 times a day.

To improve lactation, healers recommend preparing the following remedy: Mix together 2 tsp. dried pink clover flowers, the same amount of dried St. John's wort (herb). Now add 2 tbsp. l. currants Brew the mixture like tea and drink throughout the day.

For inflammatory diseases of the ovaries or for the treatment of tumors, prepare a decoction from the roots of the plant. To do this, pour 2 tsp into an enamel saucepan. dried, crushed roots. Pour a glass of boiling water. Place in a water bath, keep there at low boil for half an hour. Then remove from the stove, dilute with boiled water to the initial volume. Take a sip before meals, up to 5 times a day.

Contraindications

Like most medicinal plants, clover has contraindications for use. For example, it should not be used during pregnancy. Preparations based on it are contraindicated in cases of increased blood clotting. Therefore, refrain from using them for varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and when recovering from a stroke or myocardial infarction.

In any case, in order to avoid complications and get the maximum healing effect from clover treatment, do not forget to first discuss your intentions with your doctor. Be healthy!