Red clover and its uses in womens health – Part 3

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a native plant of Europe, West Asia, and Northwest Africa that has been used in a variety of ways thought to be beneficial to women’s health. Although this herbaceous perennial plant has typically been grown as a fodder crop, good for nitrogen fixation, its suggested health benefits have ranged from menopause treatment to eczema, coughs, sore throats, mouth ulcers and bronchitis, and even to cancer treatment. But is there is any truth in its hypothesised efficacy or is it just an old wive’s tale or specious alternative remedy?

The reason why it is thought to be useful for menopause treatment is because of the presence of substances called isoflavones and phytoestrogens. These are organic biomolecular compounds that act like estrogens thus supplementing the body’s own supplies. One suggestion as to how they might help in post-menopausal women is by helping to maintain proper bone density. They are also potent antioxidants and may be linked to the prevention of cancer and possibly for cholesterol regulation as well.

It has also been shown that red clover does indeed contain an active ingredient that is capable of helping to fight cancer. Caffeic acid is one of a number of phenolic compounds that are clinically proven to have anticarcinogenic properties. In particular, it is thought to be beneficial to cancer sufferers by starving tumors.

Caffeic acid is found not only in red clover but also in many other herbs as well as fruit and vegetables. As the name suggests it is also to be found in coffee as well. Besides it anti-cancer properties caffeic acid has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, and also to limit damage to the skin by normally harmful ultraviolet radiation, particularly the UVB and UVC variants of ultraviolet radiation.

All in all red clover is potentially a source of a number of useful substances in the diet that may well help to alleviate symptoms of menopause and help in the fight against breast cancer, for example. But having said that, red clover doesn’t appear to have any ingredient in it that is unique to red clover. The active ingredients cited can also be found in other common dietary constituents. So it is questionable as to why you would want to pay for this particular source of those ingredients when you can pick up the same substances from other more common elements of the diet anyway.