Trifolium pratense, Red Clover is a member of the Fabaceae family. It is a perennial found growing in North America, Europe, and Central and Northern Asia from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle and high up into the mountains.
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and has a taproot. The flowers bloom during May to September.
Field of Red Clover
When harvesting red clover, it is very important to make sure they have not been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. Though you may be tempted to pick the ones by the side of the road, try to find a few growing in an open field away from pollution. If you can grow them yourself, that is the best way to go and the safest.
Red clover has been known to ease the most common menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.
Here is a great explanation by Julie James from Green Wisdom describing how this works.
"Thoughts on helping menopausal hot flashes:
Menopausal hot flashes are happening because the hypothalamus is trying to signal the ovaries to up their production of estrogen, but the ovaries are not doing that anymore.
They are not producing the estrogen they were. Estrogen production is shifting from primarily ovarian production to other secondary sources -- the liver produces some, fat cells produce some, the adrenals produce some. There are a lot of other tissues that make estrogens, but the form of estrogen changes to a weaker form.
The hypothalamus is saying give me more estrogen, and all of the other endocrine glands and the autonomic nervous system is in between the conversation that the hypothalamus is trying to have with the ovaries.
So we have the vasomotor flushes and vasodilatation, and it is no fun. You can certainly use phytoestrogenic plants.
Phytoestrogen plants are going to be able to provide compounds. Red clover is a great option. Beans, peas, soy, alfalfa, and red clover are in the Fabaceae family. They are all pretty abundant in isoflavones that combine with estrogen receptor sites and kind of modify that drop in estrogen levels while the hypothalamus is trying to figure out how to live in a body where the ovaries are not producing estrogen anymore."
She continues to share details about two other beneficial herbs, Sage and Blue Vervain.
Take a minute to watch when you get a chance. Great information!
Here's the link to her video:
https://www.facebook.com/248789909820/videos/298127578714521
Now that we know what red clover can do, let's prepare them. Here I am soaking the flowers in a little Apple Cider Vinegar to get the bugs to scurry.
Making an oxymel:
As you can see on my label, I filled the jar with 2/3 of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/3 of raw local honey. Be sure to put the red clover flowers in first so you do not overfill the jar.
Finally, cover with wax paper and make sure the lid is airtight. I am using the folk method with this one.
Trifolium pratense, Red Clover Oxymel