Red Clover - Medicinal Uses, Interactions, Side Effects, Dosage
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<p><strong>Red Clover </strong></p>
<p>Red clover is a legume in the pea family often used for hay and as a nitrogen-fixing crop. This three-leaf clover is thought to be the model for the suit of clubs in playing cards, and perhaps for the Irish shamrock. The dried reddish flowers are used medicinally. </p>
<p><strong>Uses and Benefits: </strong> </p>
<p>Red clover has gained widespread popularity as a phytoestrogen, along with other isoflavone-containing legumes such as soybeans. It is commonly used as a natural "estrogensubstitute" for menopausal symptoms and for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in women. It is also being marketed for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate health in men. Traditionally, red clover has been used for dermatologic disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, for venereal disease, and as an expectorant, antispasmodic, and sedative. Many supporters believe that red clover has anti-cancer properties, and this herb was included in the Hoxsey anti-cancer formula in the 1940s, which is still used in some alternative cancer clinics. </p>
<p><strong>Pharmacology:</strong></p>
<p>Red clover contains phytoestrogenic isoflav­ones (1.0-2.5%) such as genistein and daidzen, and especially their methylated precursers biochanin A and formononetin., Other constituents include coumarins, saponins, and salicylic acid. Whole red clover extracts increase uterine weight in rats and have significant estrogen-agonist and progesterone-antago­nist activity <em>in vitro </em>This estrogenic activity is due to the isoflavonoid constituents, predominantly genistein. These isoflavones also have anti-tumor properties in mice and inhibit human cancer cell lines <em>in vitro. </em><br>
</p>
<p> <strong>Clinical Trials:</strong></p>
<p>Red clover contains some of the same iso­Ilavone phytoestrogens found in soy products (genistein and daidzen), but the potential health benefits of red clover extracts Ilave not been demonstrated in high-quality, randomized, con­Irolled trials (RCTs). The most heavily promoted product is I)romensil, a standardized extract containing 40 mg of total Isoflavones that has been evaluated in several studies (some are Ivailable only as unpublished abstracts from the manufacturer). </p>
<p><strong>Adverse Effects: </strong></p>
<p>Adverse effects <em>have </em>not been reported with red <em>clover </em>extracts or supplements; no side effects <em>have </em>been reported in the controlled clinical trials. </p>
<p><strong>Side Effects and Interactions:</strong></p>
<p>No drug interactions <em>have </em>been reported. Herbal medicine authorities often recommend that red <em>clover </em>should be <em>avoided </em>in patients at high risk of bleeding, such as those taking anticoagulants or soon to undergo surgery. This recommendation is based on the natural coumarin constituents of red <em>clover; </em>these occur in many plants and are often confused with the drug Coumadin or warfarin. Although cattle can <em>develop severe </em>bleeding tendencies when grazing on moldy alfalfa hay (sweet <em>clover), </em>an anticoagulant compound is produced only when a mold con<em>verts </em>a specific coumarin compound in alfalfa (4-hydroxy­coumarin) to bishydroxycoumarin (dicoumarol). The possibility of there being anticoagulant effects with red <em>clover </em>or any other coumarin-containing herb (there are over 1300 different natural coumarin compounds) is unlikely. </p>
<p><strong>Cautions: </strong></p>
<p>Abundant feeding on red <em>clover </em>has caused infertility in animals, presumably due to the estrogenic <em>isoflavones. </em>Although estrogenic effects <em>have </em>not been clearly demonstrated in controlled clinical trials, these effects may be dose-dependent, and <em>excessive </em>amounts should be <em>avoided </em>during pregnancy and lactation. The safety of red <em>clover </em>has not been established for patients with estrogen-dependent tumors such as breast cancer or for those on hormonal therapies. Usual recommended doses do not appear to <em>have </em>clinical estrogenic effects and are probably not contraindicated; <em>however, </em>the absolute risk of any dose is unknown, and therefore large amounts should be avoided.</p>
<p> <strong>Preparations </strong><strong>& </strong><strong>Doses:</strong></p>
<p>Products standardized to 40 mg total isoflavones are usually administered in 1-2 doses daily. The product tested in most of the clinical trials, Promensil (Novogen), contains 4 mg genistein, 4.5 mg daidzein, 24.5 mg biochanin A, and 8 mg formononetin. More traditional forms are less precisely ad­ministered as 4 g of dried flowertop, or by infusion, fluid extract, or tincture t.i.d.</p>
<p><strong>Summary Evaluation: </strong></p>
<p>Red <em>clover </em>contains isoflavone phytoestrogens, similar to soy products. The herb has estrogenic activity in animals and <em>in vitro, </em>but red <em>clover </em>products <em>have </em>not demonstrated systemic thera­peutic estrogen effects in humans at usual doses. Claims that red <em>clover </em>isoflavones can benefit menopausal symptoms or cholesterol levels are not supported by evidence from placebocontrolled trials. Beneficial findings on bone density are promising, but require further study. Red <em>clover </em>is well tolerated, with no documented <em>adverse </em>effects.</p>
About the Author
Steve Mathew is a writer, who writes many great articles on <a href="http://www.online-health-care.com/herbal-medicines/index.htm">herbal medicines </a> for common ailments and diseases. For more information on herbal remedies and <a href=http://www.home-remedies.info/home-remedies/index.htm">home remedies </a> visit our site on <a href="http://www.health-care-tips.org">health care</a>.
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