Meadow clover - healing effect, use and cultivation in the own garden

Red clover can relieve menopausal symptoms

Meadow clover, also known as red clover, is as common as it is effective - it helps against the symptoms of menopause and against inflammation of the mucous membrane. He also enriches the kitchen with healthy sprouts. The plant naturally occurs from Europe to Asia. He loves nutrient-rich soils and sun, meadows, light forests and roadsides to the mountains. Today, the clover is also grown as a medicinal plant, in China as in Eastern Europe.

contents

• Red clover can relieve menopausal symptoms
• A deep root
• Meadow clover as a remedy
• Meadow clover in the garden
• A light germ
• No balcony plant
• to water
• A kitchen plant
• Recipe for meadow clover tea
• side effects
• Buy meadow clover
• Speculation and fashion
• How does red clover??

A deep root

Wiesenklee is a deep root. Its tap roots grow up to 2 meters deep, and therefore the plant conquers a variety of habitats. The leaves are up to six inches long, smooth on the edge and almost always appear in three - hence the four-leaf clover as a lucky symbol, it is very rare.

Clover is a herbaceous plant with showy red or pink flowers. (Image: M. Schuppich / fotolia.com)

Meadow clover as a remedy

The clover contains plant estrogens and therefore traditionally serves as a remedy for menopausal symptoms. These can lead to hot flashes, sleep disturbances, increased irritability and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, impaired memory and a diminishing density of bones.

Since menopause is associated with a decline in estrogens, estrogens are considered a successful medicine against the symptoms associated with this phase. However, they are suspected of causing significant side effects.

In the past, meadow clover has been used as a remedy for various ailments: It should relieve menstrual cramps, purify the blood, help with liver diseases, counteract coughing, accelerate wound healing, lessen inflammation of the intestines, slow down diarrhea and heal inflammation of the mucous membranes. In addition, our ancestors led this clover against worms, rheumatism or gout.

Meadow clover is available as capsules, tablets or tea.

Meadow clover in the garden

Red clover is easy to cultivate in the garden. He prefers a sunny location, but also accepts partial shade, loves nutrient-rich, well-drained and slightly moist soil - and that is the rule in northern Germany.

If you want to create a wildflower meadow, the clover is one of the very few plants that also prevail on an existing sward. So you do not have to laboriously remove the lawn like most other naked people - it's enough to loosen up the floor.

Meadow clover is easy to cultivate in your own garden. (Image: animaflora / fotolia.com)

A light germ

You can sow meadow clover at any time between March and August at a maximum depth of 1 cm, as it sprouts in the light. To do this, squeeze the seeds into the ground and sprinkle just a little soil over them, or mix the seeds with potting soil and sprinkle this mixture on the surface. The clover attracts a lot of nutrients and therefore the distance between each plant should be 20 cm or more.

No balcony plant

Although red clover has low claims, but as a balcony plant is not recommended because the roots can reach up to 2 meters in length. If you still want to taste it, then offer the clover a deep pot to give room for the roots.

to water

In the garden, the plant generally needs no additional watering. Although she likes it a bit humid, she pulls the water deep out of the earth and has no problems with dry seasons.

She hibernates without problems. The roots are preserved, and the foliage dies. Next spring, the plant will start again.

A kitchen plant

We mainly know grass clover as animal feed and green manure. But it is not only suitable for rabbits, but also for humans and goes well with green salads. We use the meadow cuttings and sprinkle them like watercress on the prepared field, iceberg or lettuce.
In the kitchen, the sprouts need about a week, until they are worth to eat.

The flowers also taste mild and can be used in sauces, salads and spreads.

Recipe for meadow clover tea

We prepare a tea by letting 3 teaspoons of dried flowers in boiling water, about 15 minutes. Then we pour the water off. It is recommended to drink up to three cups a day.

With the dried flowers of the clover, for example, a soothing herbal tea can be prepared. (Image: Heike Rau / fotolia.com)

side effects

There are no valid studies on the side effects of red clover products. Estrogen is generally considered to be problematic, and it is questionable whether such artificially introduced hormones promote or even trigger breast cancer. Conversely, one of these isoflavones, biochanin A, even showed protection against breast carcinomas.

Studies have shown headache and nausea for a long period of time. However, there is no sufficient evidence that these were causally related to the plant.

Buy meadow clover

Capsules, teas and tinctures are not medically required and can therefore be purchased in normal shops as a dietary supplement. However, you will hardly find the clover fresh on the vegetable counter.

Seeds for self-cultivation, special sets to pull sprouts and fresh seedlings are available at nurseries, health food stores and vegetable shops.

Speculation and fashion

Red clover has become fashionable in recent decades. The reason for this is that Asian women are less likely to suffer from menopausal symptoms than Central Europeans. Some blame the proportion of plant estrogens in soybeans.

Proof that the regular consumption of such plant estrogens slows the menopausal symptoms, however, is missing. In any case, the clover contains these phytoestrogens, biochanin A, formononetin, daidzein and genistein and is suitable for estrogenic fans.

How does red clover??

So far, there is no clinical evidence that Wiesenklee reduces the symptoms of menopause. This is because he has not been extensively studied scientifically.

As a precaution, you should not take the plant if you are pregnant or have estrogen-linked breast cancer. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)