Clover | Medicinal Uses, Nutritional Benefits & Cultivation (2024)

FAQs

Clover | Medicinal Uses, Nutritional Benefits & Cultivation? ›

Red clover is a wild plant belonging to the legume family. Cattle and other animals graze on red clover. It has also been used medicinally to treat several conditions including cancer, whooping cough, respiratory problems, and skin inflammations, such as psoriasis and eczema.

It's also rich in isoflavones, plant substances known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These compounds can also act like estrogen in the body, so they're sometimes called phytoestrogens. Another variety, Dutch White Clover, is rich in vitamins A and C.

The plants are useful as livestock feed and can be planted as a cover crop or used as a green manure. The flowers are highly attractive to bees, and clover honey is a common secondary product of clover cultivation.

Both the greens and flowers are edible. Dry the flowers for tea, or add to vodka and fruit jellies for a clover infusion. Fresh flowers and greens can be added to salads, co*cktails, and to canapes and desserts for garnish. The flowers taste like raw green beans with just a hint of sweetness, and look just gorgeous.

When used as a cover crop or green manure, decomposing Clover adds large amounts of organic matter to the soil, contributing to healthy texture, moisture-holding capabilities, and soil nutrients.

Estrogens, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control pills: Red clover may increase the effects of estrogen. Tamoxifen: Red clover may interfere with tamoxifen. Anticoagulants (blood thinners): Red clover may enhance the effect of these drugs, increasing the risk of bleeding.

All parts of the clover plant appear to be edible, although the seed pods are generally reserved for animal feed. Clover blossoms are used to make teas and jellies, while the leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.

Both the flowers and leaves of red clover are edible but the flowers are more commonly used. You can eat them fresh or dried. They are high in protein and contain B vitamins and vitamin C. You should avoid eating the stems and any old or discoloured flowers.

Red clover is a short-lived perennial legume that typically lasts for two to four years. In contrast to white clover, it has an upright growth habit and a strong, deep taproot. Red clover is typically higher-yielding than white.

These polyphenols and flavonoids have been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved heart health and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The white clover fusion, in particular, can help boost the immune system and treat a variety of illnesses such as colds, fevers, and coughs.

Can I just throw clover seed on the ground? ›

As mentioned earlier, you may want to mix the clover seed with lime or low nitrogen fertilizer to give you more substance to work with. Clover seed planted deeper then 1/4 inch in the soil may not emerge; therefore, ensure the clover seed is spread on the surface or just lightly raked in to the soil.

Clover also attracts wildlife such as deer, turkey, and rabbits. Clover wasn't always considered a weed, and it's not all bad. Clover seed used to be a standard element of grass seed mixes before broadleaf weed herbicides were invented in the 1950s.

Clover is resilient, and its strength actually smothers other weeds. If your mower is tired of picking up those pesky, hard-to-kill weeds, clover may be the way to go. Growing clover does not allow room for typical lawn weeds to thrive, meaning the lawns you mow could be weed-free and beautiful!

The Clover Difference.

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Cloves have antioxidants that help in fighting free radical damage to the body and boost our immune system. 2. Cloves also have antiseptic, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties that keep common infections, cold, and cough at bay.

Lowers blood pressure: Red clover has special benefits that include lowering inflammation across the body, especially in the cardiovascular system. According to numerous studies, red clover tea can greatly decrease the tension in the arteries and blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure.