Clover, Calories, benefits and harms, Benefits

There are hundreds of types of clover, and most of them are used
in medicine due to the formation of vitamins E and C in the leaves, “antimicrobial”
tripolyrizin – in the roots of the plant and a whole “bouquet” of nutrients
– in clover inflorescences. Overdose and ill-considered combination
clover with medications can cause a negative reaction,
however, with a rational approach, clover can significantly facilitate the process
treatment and make it more effective.

Useful properties of clover

Composition and nutrients

What exactly is used and in what form

In the pharmaceutical industry and in the system of traditional medicine as
raw materials are most often used clover-head inflorescences (clover
mountain, meadow clover
) and the herb of the plant (creeping clover)..

In the treatment of various diseases, infusions and decoctions from inflorescences are used
clover. Externally, they practice poultices with clover broth (for burns,
joint problems). Shredded clover leaves superimpose
for ulcerative skin lesions and festering wounds. Fresh clover
juice treat allergic manifestations in the eye area. Clover flowers
brewed and drunk like tea. Alcohol tincture is prepared on the basis of clover[2,7].

Clover tea

Medicinal properties

Red (meadow) clover inflorescences contain trifolin glycosides
and isotrifoline, tannins, essential and fatty oils, organic
acids, including salicylic acids, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, C, E,
K. In the roots of clover, the antimicrobial component tripolyrizin is formed.
Ascorbic acid is formed in the leaves during the flowering period.
and tocopherol.

Red clover has an expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic,
anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects on the body.
This remedy is used as an expectorant for inflammatory
processes in the upper respiratory tract. Red clover assigned
with anemia,
cystitis,
bronchial
asthma, painful menstruation and experienced rheumatism.

Clover inflorescence tincture is recommended for atherosclerosis
(subject to normal and stable blood pressure).
For edema of cardiac and renal etymology, carminative is used
clover effect. A strong decoction of mountain clover is taken on a hungry
stomach with
hernia. Mountain clover sitz baths are prescribed for
hemorrhoids. Infusion of plowed clover grass is useful for tuberculosis
lungs, gastritis
with high acidity, kidney and bladder diseases, with
migraines and nervous disorders..

In official medicine

  • The pharmacy assortment offers the drug “Cloverol»
    – a product created on the basis of an extract from red clover.
    «Cloverol“Is prescribed in the complex treatment of vegetative
    and emotional and mental disorders arising against the background of development
    premenopausal or climacteric state. Means
    has a positive effect on
    insomnia, irritability, hot flashes, characteristic of
    menopause.
    How does clover work in menopause? This effect of the drug
    is explained by the content in “Cleverol” of phytoestrogens, active
    substances that make up for the reduced level of estrogen in the body
    women during menopause, or after removal of the ovaries.
  • Clover is also present in the system of the developed dietary supplements.
    Dietary supplement “Red clover»Useful
    and is used to strengthen the immune system, with general depletion
    the body caused by the transferred frequent infectious diseases,
    as a supplement to a balanced menu.
  • Alcoholic tincture of meadow clover is also available “Red
    clover
    ».
  • Red clover flowers and herb are offered in the medicinal market.
    means in the form of filter bags, for brewing.

Dried clover

In folk medicine

  • For coughs and complicated colds, clover decoction is useful: dining room
    pour a spoonful of inflorescences with 200 ml of boiling water, let it boil, insist
    at least two hours in a warm place. Strain and take in a third
    glasses three times a day half an hour before meals.
  • With anemia
    recommend infusion of clover: steam 3 teaspoons of inflorescences
    200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 60 minutes, drain. Accept
    a quarter glass 4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.
  • RџSЂRё
    for headache attacks, pour a tablespoon of inflorescences with boiling water,
    insist half an hour and squeeze. Take 100 ml three times a day
    for 14 days.
  • With dysmenorrhea, steam two tablespoons of clover in 200 ml of boiling water,
    let it brew in a thermos for half a day. Strain, drink by
    50 ml 4 times a day half an hour before meals.
  • For cystitis: pour a tablespoon of inflorescences with 0,5 liters of water. To bring
    before boiling. Drink 2 spoons at intervals of two hours..
  • With atherosclerosis, accompanied by headache and tinnitus
    (subject to normal blood pressure) tincture is useful
    clover: 40 g of dry raw materials are infused in 0,5 l of alcohol by strength
    40 degrees for 10 days. Drink the strained tincture 20 ml
    before lunch and in the evening, before bedtime. Duration of treatment is 90 days,
    with a break of 10 days..
  • To improve digestion, prepare a mixture of clover inflorescences
    red, peppermint leaves and centaury herbs (all herbs
    a tablespoon). Pour raw materials with 300 ml of boiling water, let it brew
    and take 100 ml three times a day half an hour before meals.

Outwardly:

  • For the preparation of lotions and poultices, a decoction of inflorescences is used
    clover (20 g of flowers per glass of boiling water).
  • RџSЂRё
    rheumatism three tablespoons of plowed clover herb wrap
    in cheesecloth and dipped in boiling water, then squeezed, and, not scalding
    hot applied to the affected area of ​​the body..

Clover tincture

In oriental medicine

Tibetan doctors use lupine clover in the treatment of diseases
liver and biliary tract, with jaundice.

Avicenna prescribed fresh clover herb juice for the treatment of bronchial
asthma. A decoction of clover recommended for the healing of wounds and ulcers in scrofula,
and used it as a diuretic for kidney pathologies.

In Central Asian countries, clover decoction is used to treat colds,
malarial fever, used for weakened and reduced digestive
functions as an astringent..

In scientific research

P.B. Clifton-Bligh, R. Beiber, J. Fulker, M. Neri, T. Moreton investigated
the effect of isoflavones in red clover on lipid
exchange and metabolic processes in bone tissue..

Nestel P.J., Pomeroy T., Kay S. note the effect of isoflavones,
isolated from red clover associated with changes (improvement
conditions) of the walls of blood vessels in women in menopause..

The pharmacokinetic aspect of red clover is highlighted in the work of Hawes.
J., Waring M., Huang L., who analyze the rate of assimilation
isoflavones in the body..

Using red clover as a prescription drug for women
during the post-menopause period were studied by S. Exanpur, M. S. Salehi, B. Solfagari..

Wong I., V. Man Guo, S. Chen also determined the role of substances contained
in red clover when prescribing estrogen replacement therapy..

The study of the active components of meadow clover, flavonoids, is devoted to
research by Novikov O., Pisareva D., Zhuravel M..

In cooking

All parts of the plant are suitable for culinary experiments: sprouts
clover
eaten fresh, or lightly boiled in salted
water, flowers used raw, dried, for
preparation of various desserts and drinks. And seeds
and flowers
can be ground into flour.

Clover tea

Ingredients that you need to make a fragrant
and a healthy drink: one cup of clover flowers, two tablespoons
tablespoons of dried or fresh mint,
four cups of water, honey
or sugar to taste. Rinse the clover flowers thoroughly under a running water
water. Steam mint and clover in boiling water. Insist 10
minutes. Then strain and add honey or sugar..

Clover honey

Clover cookies

To make these cookies, you will need: 2 cups of wheat
flour, half a cup of almond flour, one tablespoon of baking powder,
1/3 cup room temperature butter, 2 eggs, half a cup
plain yogurt, vanillin on the tip of a knife, 1 cup chopped
dry or fresh clover flowers. Combine flour, baking powder and
butter and knead until smooth. Beat eggs with yogurt separately
and vanilla. Add clover flowers to the egg mixture and gradually
introduce the resulting mass into a dough base of flour, butter and baking powder.
Roll out the kneaded dough on a floured surface. Cut
using cookie cutters. Bake until gilded. Serve
ready-made cookies with jam or hot chocolate..

White clover mousse

To create this gourmet dessert you will need: 2 cups, disassembled
for flowers of inflorescences of white clover, one tablespoon of gelatin
(or one plate of sheet gelatin), a cup of water, half a cup of freshly squeezed
orange
juice, 4 tablespoons honey, a cup of whipped cream, a pinch
salt.

Dissolve the gelatin in a quarter cup of water. In a saucepan on slow
gradually bring to a boil a mixture of clover flowers, water,
orange juice, honey and salt. Remove from heat, add gelatin,
stirring until completely dissolved and let cool. Leave in the refrigerator
until it starts to solidify. Whisk a cup of cream
and mix gently with a slightly hardened jelly mass. Transfer
in a glass bowl and refrigerate until the mousse is completely
will not freeze..

In cosmetology

Does clover help with wrinkles? Skin care cosmetics based on the extract
clover covers products intended for mature, aged
skin with pronounced signs of aging. Active ingredients,
secreted from clover are characterized not only by anti-aging
impact. They effectively heal acne-affected skin,
soothe sensitive and irritated skin. Clover is useful
and for hair: clover extract is part of the
their loss..

Other uses

Clover is a highly productive honey plant. Fresh clover honey transparent,
with a delicate scent, during crystallization, the honey clover mass turns white
and hardens.

Clover is used by farmers as a plant to improve
soil composition. The plant not only has a positive effect on the structure
soil, strengthens it, but also leads to an increase in the amount of rain
worms and various beneficial microorganisms that populate the land
plot. The clover root system contains specific bacteria,
whose function is the accumulation of nitrogen. As a result, the soil, on
which clover grows are always enriched with this mineral fertilizer.
This feature of clover is actively used by agronomists when sowing
fields.

Clover quatrefoil and horseshoe for good luck

Interesting Facts

An unusual collection of clovers with four leaves (it is they, according to
believe they bring good luck), compiled by Alaska resident Edward Martin. Idea
collectibles occurred to Mr. Martin back in 1999.
the original collection currently contains over 11 quatrefoils.

One of the symbolic meanings of clover has biblical origins. It is believed
that when she was expelled from the Garden of Eden, Eve took the famous four-leafed
with you for good luck. Therefore, the clover symbolizes a piece of paradise on Earth.

In the Christian tradition, three leaves of clover are associated with God the Father,
God the Son and the Holy Spirit. The fourth leaf of a plant means mercy
divine..

Folk signs associated with clover can help determine will
whether it is raining, or bad weather is approaching: before the rain, the clover leaves straighten,
and on the eve of a storm and bad weather, the clover folds the leaves.

Dangerous properties of clover and contraindications

Clover is contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation. Clover not recommended
those who are taking any hormonal therapy (isoflavonoids,
contained in it, create in this case additional hormonal
load). Considering that clover is a source of phytoestrogens,
you should refrain from using any medications
based on clover when taking oral contraceptives, estrogens,
progesterone drugs, anticoagulants, aspirin.

Uncontrolled and excessive use of clover can
the following side effects are observed: headache, muscle
weakness, nausea, allergic reactions.

It is dangerous to take clover at the same time as any blood-thinning
drugs to avoid liver damage and the occurrence of internal
bleeding..

We have collected the most important points about the benefits and possible dangers of clover
in this illustration and we will be very grateful if you share
a picture on social networks, with a link to our page:

Useful properties of clover

Botanical description

This is a representative of the legume family.

Origin of the name

Among the many folk analogous names of the plant: redhead,
red gruel, honey color, meadow shamrock, trinity, scrofulous
grass, fever grass, trojan
… Latin generic name
clover cLOVER translated as “shamrock».

Types

Botanists know 244 types of clover,
among which:

  1. 1 Red clover (red) – growing
    practically everywhere in Europe, in the Far East, Kamchatka, in
    the Siberian region, in the north of Africa, in the Central Asian countries.
    It is widely used in traditional medicine recipes, in homeopathy,
    in the culinary tradition, the species has proven itself as a popular food
    culture. A fodder pasture plant and a productive honey plant.
  2. 2 Mountain clover – perennial,
    representative of the mountain flora of Europe, the Asian part., some
    countries of Asia. For the preparation of medicines, grass and inflorescences are used.
    of this type. Mountain clover extract has found active use
    in the creation of cosmetics.
  3. 3 White clover (creeping) – area
    growth of this perennial is unusually wide: Europe, Caucasian
    region, Siberia, North Africa, Asian countries, American continent,
    Australia and New Zealand. Popular forage crop. Clover
    white is used medicinally and is an excellent honey plant.
  4. 4 Cultivated clover – annual plant,
    common in the European region, in the Western
    Siberia. Has medicinal value.
  5. 5 Alpine clover – grows on
    ledges and cracks in rocks, found on gravelly and
    in the river valleys. Distributed in the Alps, mountainous Crimea, in the Caucasus
    and Altai.[1,2].

Types of clover: meadow (red), mountain, white (creeping), plowed, alpine

Red clover (meadow) – herbaceous plant tall
from 15 to 40 (sometimes 60) cm, with a woody rhizome, ascending
stems and trifoliate leaves characteristic of all clover.
Flowers of dark pink, dirty purple, ash pink, red-purple
or white are collected in rounded heads. Fruit type – bean. Period
clover bloom from May-June to September. You can meet the plant
on forest edges, by the road, on slopes, glades, meadows with soils
medium humidity and among bushy thickets..

Growing conditions

Clover is a typical representative of temperate crops.
zones. The plant prefers moist soils, drought affects
clover is negative. During the growing season, clover is best
low temperatures are suitable. Seed germination
occurs at a plus temperature of 2 degrees. Ascended plant
able to adapt to light frosts. Clover is also good
tolerates wintering with severe frosts under the condition of dense snow
cover. The preferred time for planting clover is early spring.
Before sowing, the soil is treated to eliminate possible pests
and fed with microfertilizers..

Collecting clover inflorescences should be started in dry and sunny weather.
When collecting, cut off the inflorescences-heads together with the apical leaves.
The clover is pre-dried in the sun, then dried in
a room with good ventilation. When drying, the inflorescence should not be intensively
shake to prevent massive crushing of raw materials into small
flowers It is necessary to store the clover in a dry place, since at a certain
the level of moisture in the inflorescences starts enzymatic processes,
spoiling the medicinal properties of the plant and even contributing to the formation
poisonous and harmful substances. Clover shelf life is up to 2 years. At home
conditions, small armfuls or bunches of clover are wrapped in a dense
paper and kept hanging..

If fresh clover blossoms are used, remember that between
flowers, each plant can have a significant amount
insects attracted by the scent and nectar of clover. To clear
clover from insects, you need to soak the inflorescences in salted water for about
for a quarter of an hour. Salt water at the rate of: a teaspoon of salt per
liter of liquid. Then the inflorescences should be rinsed under running water...

Power circuit

Clover is important a source of protein food
for animals. Numerous types of clover are grown as forage
pasture crops intended for large and small horned
livestock. The nutritional value of clover is very high: the plant is used
for fortification of feed for farm animals, for grazing,
for the preparation of hay flour, silage and hay.

Video

What secrets does the humble meadow flower hide? All about the beneficial properties of clover.

Useful and dangerous properties of other herbs:

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Anna Evans

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