Herb Profiles

Red Clover Blossom

February 04, 2021

RED CLOVER BLOSSOM

Trifolium pratense

Family: Fabiaceae

Part used: Flowers, leaves

Energetics: Sweet, salt, cool, moist

Actions: Alterative, demulcent, expectorant, lymphatic tonic, nutritive

Red clover is a plant that we use as a cover crop here on the farm for its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, but it’s also an incredible medicinal. We harvest the blossoms when they’re beautiful and vibrant and dry them to use in tea and vinegar. I use red clover for lymphatic congestion, swollen lymph nodes, skin issues and cleansing the blood. Red clover has been used for hot flashes during menopause as well as for circulation and thinning the blood. If you live near an organic farm, you should check to see if they grow red clover as a cover crop. If they do, it’s worth asking whether they’d let you harvest some of the red clover blossoms. Harvesting and drying your own means you’ll have good-quality flowers throughout the winter season. You can buy it, but it tends to be expensive because it’s so labor intensive. If you do buy it, I suggest purchasing from a smaller local herb farm or Healing Spirit Farm, Zack Woods or Oshala Farm.

Contraindications: None known.

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