Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is an herb historically used to treat joint pain, menopause symptoms, and other health conditions. The herb can be found naturally in Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. Today, the supplement is used to help with bone health, menopause, heart health, and arthritis.
Red clover may be helpful in treating conditions like bone health, menopause symptoms, heart health, and arthritis.
May Improve Bone Health
Bone loss is common around menopause. This happens because of low estrogen levels in the body. Bone loss can lead to conditions like osteopenia (low bone density), osteoporosis (brittle bones), and a high risk for fractures.
Natural supplements like red clover have become more popular over the past 10 years as an option for treatment. Red clover lowers how quickly bone material is broken down and improves the creation of new bone material. It may also help limit the breakdown of cartilage between your joints.
Only a small number of studies have been performed with red clover in bone health. One 3-month study in 2015 gave participants a daily supplement containing about 37 milligrams of red clover. The study found that those taking red clover had an improvement in bone mineral density (BMD). A low BMD means you are at a higher risk for fractures.
More research is needed to understand the role red clover may play in improving bone health.
May Ease Menopause Symptoms
Red clover may help treat menopause-related symptoms, like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. Red clover contains isoflavones, which are compounds that have a similar structure to the hormone estrogen. Because of this, isoflavones may “act” like estrogen in the body, and help relieve symptoms caused by low estrogen levels.
Research is mixed on how well red clover treats menopause symptoms. One study found that the supplement lowered hot flashes by almost double compared to no treatment. Another study found that taking 80 milligrams of a specific red clover brand for 12 weeks lowered the frequency of hot flashes by 30%-50%.
However, other studies found that taking 40-120 milligrams of red clover daily for up to 12 weeks did not improve menopause symptoms at all.
More studies are needed to determine if red clover can significantly help with menopause symptoms.
May Support Heart Health
Red clover may also help with health heart health by lowering cholesterol and improving blood flow. Isoflavones found in red clover attach to other compounds in the body that help create and break down cholesterol.
Research is mixed on how well red clover lowers cholesterol. Many studies have found that 40-120 milligrams daily for three months to one year did not lower any type of cholesterol.
Other research has reported that red clover can lower total cholesterol by about 11 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). However, there was no significant effect on “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL), “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL), or blood fats (triglycerides).
May Relieve Arthritis
Applying red clover directly to the skin may help relieve symptoms caused by arthritis. The supplement acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
One study in people with knee osteoarthritis found that applying red clover oil on the knee for four weeks helped with symptoms. The participants also took Mobic (meloxicam), an anti-inflammatory medication often prescribed for arthritis. Those who used red clover oil had less pain, stiffness, and better movement after using the supplement oil. No serious side effects were reported. Researchers suggest these results may show red clover could be a useful option in arthritis treatment.
More studies are needed to understand how red clover may help with arthritis and joint pain.
Red clover is considered safe in doses up to 80 milligrams for as long as two years. Possible side effects from red clover include nausea and muscle aches.
Red clover may interact with certain medications, including:
- Estrogen: Large amounts of red clover can interact with estrogen treatment. The supplement may block estrogen from working as it should in the body.
- Methotrexate: Red clover can raise your risk for methotrexate toxicity. Symptoms usually include vomiting, fever, kidney failure, and infection. Methotrexate is used to treat certain cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Tamoxifen: Red clover can lower how well tamoxifen works. Tamoxifen is used to treat estrogen-related breast cancer. However, some researchers also believe the supplement may help with menopause symptoms if you are already taking tamoxifen.
If you are pregnant or lactating, you should not take red clover. The supplement is similar to estrogen, and there is not much research available on the effects it can have.
Talk to your doctor before taking red clover. They can help you decide if the supplement is a good option for you and your health concerns.
Red clover is often taken by mouth in doses of 40-80 milligrams daily. Products are also available for topical use (applied directly to the skin).
Red clover supplements are available in pill, liquid, or tea form. As a topical product, you can typically find red clover in the form of a cream or oil. It is important to read the label of the product you use for dosage information. Products can have different amounts of red clover and isoflavones based on the ingredients used.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is an herb that may be helpful for bone health, menopause symptoms, and heart health. However, more research is needed to understand the use and effectiveness of the supplement.
Talk with a healthcare provider if you are interested in taking red clover. They can help you decide if the supplement is safe for you and beneficial for your health condition.
