The red clover herb can be described as a perennial herb that is found in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is one of the oldest agricultural crops in the world, which has therapeutic benefits, because it contains powerful antioxidants and phytoestrogens. The red clover herb is a member of the bean family and therefore, it has been used for its nutritious as well as its medicinal properties for centuries. Because of the several known red clover health benefits, this herb has now been naturalized in North American and Australia too. The small aromatic red leaves that are a part of the red clover herb, give the plant its name.
There are several health benefits that have been associated with the red clover herb. While stating red clover uses, studies indicate that extracts of the red clover herb has four anti-tumor compounds. It also contains a powerful antioxidant known as tocopherol, a form of vitamin E. These are the antioxidants that combat the harmful free radicals in the body, thereby preventing diseases like cancer. Moreover, the red clover herb contains phytoestrogens that can stimulate the estrogen tissue, as well as isoflavones, which can be useful in the treatment of hot flashes and mood swings. Several health experts also recommend a red clover supplement to deal with loss of sexual desire.
Supplement
To derive maximum benefits of the red clover herb, it is important to take a red clover supplement that has the standardized herbal extracts of pure red clover. There are several red clover supplements available in the market today, that do not contain the standardized extracts. Such products are cheaper to manufacture and therefore cost a lot less; however, such products are not very useful as they do not contain the adequate amount of active ingredients to provide all the red clover health benefits. In fact, a red clover supplement that is not of good quality could also contain harmful contaminants, which cause serious damage to the body.
Side Effects
Although there are several health benefits that are normally associated with the red clover herb, there are certain red clover side effects. Recent reports have stated that it adds artificial hormones to an organism, which can trigger off harmful side effects like the risk of breast cancer and infertility. Hence, it is best if red clover is taken for a short period only. Therefore, before taking any red clover supplements or extracts, it is important to check with a doctor.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.