Red clover looks pretty with its almost pink flowers, but I never would have thought that this inconspicuous plant could help with so many things. I knew it had something to do with isoflavones*, so I've taken a closer look at the plant this year. The botanical name is Trifolium Pratense, meaning "tri" for three and "folium" for leaves, and Pratense refers to its meadow habitat.
The plant helps in the following areas:
Red clover tincture has a blood-purifying effect
It is an effective and natural home remedy for colds
The tincture also helps with PMS, menstrual and menopausal symptoms
Used as a cure, the tincture helps to strengthen after a long illness and in difficult life situations.
The relaxing and calming effect also has a positive influence on depressive moods and anxiety
And last but not least: red clover is said to have a rejuvenating effect thanks to the isoflavones it contains.
The starting point for the use of plant-based hormones was the observation that Asian women suffer less frequently from menopausal symptoms . This fact was attributed, among other things, to their soy-rich diet .
In addition to soy, red clover has also been established as a herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms in recent years. The isoflavones it contains make it an ideal remedy for many women's ailments. This tincture is suitable for both internal and external use .
During menopause, a woman's estrogen levels gradually decline. Since estrogen not only contributes to the regulation of the menstrual cycle but is also involved in other processes in the body, various symptoms occur during this time.
The most common menopausal symptoms include hot flashes and mood swings . In the long term, the hormone deficiency also increases the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, it's important to consider this topic. If hormone replacement therapy with synthetic hormones isn't appealing to you (increased risk of breast cancer and heart attack), replacing them with plant-based hormones is certainly an alternative. The phytoestrogens they contain help improve general well-being and alleviate mood swings , sleep disorders , and hot flashes . This is particularly beneficial on hot summer nights.
Do you also become a beast when your period is approaching? Then this tincture is definitely for you, because:
It has a balancing effect and helps with mood swings. The isoflavones in red clover tincture are also helpful for menstrual problems such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea . Furthermore, regular use balances fluctuations in the menstrual cycle .
The application
Take 15 drops three times daily before meals (neat or diluted in water). After three months or when symptoms subside, a one-week break should be taken.
The plant is also incredibly helpful in the beauty industry. Applied externally, red clover supports collagen production in the skin , thus contributing to the faster healing of skin conditions and relieving psoriasis and eczema . To do this, a cloth soaked in red clover tincture is applied to the affected area or sprayed on. The antiseptic effect also relieves pain and helps with inflammation. The tincture has also helped me a lot with an itchy scalp .
This is what you need to make your own red clover tincture :
a handful of red clover flowers from an uncontaminated meadow
Base alcohol or other neutral alcohol with at least 40% vol., such as grain alcohol or vodka (I always find something in the cellar that no one drinks)
Screw-top jar for ripening, for example an empty jam jar
Coffee filter or nut milk bag for filtering the finished tincture
Brown glass dropper bottles for storage
How to make the tincture:
Fill the flowers into a screw-top jar and press down lightly.
Fill with alcohol until all flowers are completely covered.
Close the container and let it steep in a warm, dark place for three weeks.
Shake the jar gently about every other day to help dissolve the active ingredients and prevent mold growth.
Strain the finished tincture and pour into brown glass bottles.
This tincture has become a valuable companion for me and helps me balance my hormones. I'm excited to hear what you have to say.
Here are some other important summer medicinal plants, more on that soon.
Summer greetings from Ascona
Your Ursula
Isoflavones are secondary plant compounds found primarily in soybeans , but also in red clover and kudzu (an Asian legume). The structure and mode of action of isoflavones are similar to that of the female sex hormone estrogen , which is why they are also called phytoestrogens . The most important isoflavones are genistein (soy, red clover) and daidzein (soy). Chickpeas and red clover also contain the even less effective isoflavone biochanin A.
In addition to isoflavones, another group of secondary plant substances, lignans , also has a weak estrogenic effect. Lignans are found primarily in flaxseed (max. 2 tablespoons per day), sesame seeds , sunflower seeds , and olives , but also in cereals (wheat bran, rye, buckwheat, oats), vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, fennel, onions, and garlic , as well as certain fruits ( apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums ).
A US study has shown that severe hot flashes, in particular, can be significantly improved by a low-fat, vegan diet in which half a cup of cooked soybeans (about 80 grams) is consumed daily . The purely plant-based diet changes the bacterial spectrum in the gut, although this takes several weeks. The "new" bacteria convert the genistein contained in the soybeans into the somewhat more potent phytoestrogen equol . This type of diet also contains a lot more lignans. I think I'll give it a try, what do you think? But be sure to supplement with vitamin B12 on a purely vegan diet.
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