I can remember spending hours in the neighbor’s yard sorting through clover patches looking for that lucky four-leaf variety. Twice I found such a specimen and still have one in my wallet today, 35 years later. While that clover could have brought countless amounts of luck, it is the flower that is considered lucky in alternative medicine. Red clover or trifolium pratense, is a herb that has compounds called isoflavones. Isoflavones are a form of estrogen.

Cancer

Current studies show that isoflavones, such as those in red clover, may help prevent the formation of cancer cells and may even kill cancer cells in laboratory tests. But red clover has estrogen-like effects that could aid the spread of certain estrogen-hungry cancers in much the same way as human estrogen.

Phytoestrogens are the estrogen-like compounds contained in red clover. Estrogen can overstimulate the body and cause certain types of cancer, such as uterine cancer, which develops in the lining of the uterus. Long-term use of herbs with phytoestrogens could contribute to cancer, but there is evidence to the contrary as well. People who eat a mostly plant-based diet, such as vegetarians or vegans, have a greater freedom from notable cancers. Researchers believe that phytoestrogens bind to certain cells in the body, thus preventing human estrogen from combining with those cells and stimulating the production of cancer cells.

Red clover can alter the effects of any medications that contain hormones or hormone derivatives such as birth control pills for hormone replacement therapy, as well as the levels of natural hormones in the body.

Research is unclear on the consumption of red clover phytoestrogens by pregnant or lactating women. It is also not certain whether women with breast cancer or other hormone-based cancers should use red clover supplements or teas. In the area of ​​prostate health, studies are underway to treat prostate cancer and enlargement.

Red clover is currently used to combat symptoms of early and perimenopausal menopause, menstrual pain, enlarged prostate, osteoporosis, and high cholesterol. The pink flowers of the red clover are processed to obtain extracts that can be put into capsule or tablet form. There are also recipes for red clover tea or liquid tinctures.

Isoflavones, Menopause and Osteoporosis

Isoflavones have shown potential in the treatment of several conditions associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, cardiovascular health, and osteoporosis.

There is not enough reliable scientific evidence to recommend red clover for osteoporosis. Menopause increases a woman’s risk of developing osteoporosis (significant bone loss). Taking red clover has been shown to help delay osteoporosis in women who have not reached that stage of life.

Red clover can be a source of several nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, niacin, and calcium, to name a few. It is currently available in various forms as a liquid extract, tea or tincture, and capsule or tablet. Red clover is also known as bee bread, purple clover, or cow clover and is used as an alternative medicine therapy for the treatment of early stages of cervical dysplasia.