JewelWeed and Benefits of Red Clover Leaf, Blossoms, and Tea
Red Clover is an easily grown plant, from seed or root cuttings, and requires little attention.
The long root is rhizome, and sends out runners, producing several stems 1 to 2 feet high, slightly hairy; leaves
ternate, leaflets ovate, slightly toothed, ending in long point often lighter colored V shape in center, flowers
red to purple, fragrant, in dense terminal ovoid or round heads.
The red clover plant blooms from April thought out
the summer months.
It’s technical name is: Trifolium pratense. Other names include: Meadow Honeysuckle
- Meadow Trefoil
- Peavine clover
- Purple Clover
- Trefoil
- Wild Clover
- Cleaver Grass
- Marl Grass
- Cow Grass
It’s natural habitat for Trifolium pratense, the perennial herb where its origin is believed to be Britain. This
is where it is abundant. Although, it is now a world wide plant and is naturalized in nearly every country, even
the Arctic Circle and high up into mountains.
It also has unique properties as Red Clover leaf and blossoms are edible and medicinal, the young leaves and new
flowers are harvested, and are very nutritious, used in salads, soups, or as a pot herb. The sprouted seeds are edible
in salads and have a crisp texture and robust flavor. A delicate sweet and medicinal red clover tea is made from
the fresh or dried flowers, it is alterative, antiscrofulous, antispasmodic, aperient, detergent, diuretic, estrogenic,
expectorant, sedative and tonic.
Red Clover has also shown anticancer activity, poultices of the herb have been used as local applications to cancerous
growths. Internally, the Red Clover plant is used as an alternative medicine for skin complaints such as eczema and
psoriasis, cancers of the breast, ovaries and lymphatic system, chronic degenerative diseases, gout, whooping cough
and dry coughs.
Red clover is now involved in research for a certain medicinal alkaloid “slaframine” which
is often found in diseased clover, this substance has shown antidiabetic and anti-Aids activity.
The Folklore associated with this plant during the middle ages associated it as a charm to ward off evil spirits
and witches. The four leaf clover was said to have even more power against evil, a five leaf clover was said to be
worn by witches to give them evil powers, and a two leaf clover would give a maiden the power to see her future lover.
Try This Recipe
Red clover medicinal tea: To 1 tbls. dry flowers or herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep 10 min., sweeten to taste,
drink warm for cough and upset stomach.
“Jewelweed” A Natural Remedy for Winter Dry Skin
Jewelweed is an effective natural herbal remedy and offers immediate relief for winter dry skin, poison ivy, poison
oak, okra spines, stinging nettle, and other irritating plants; as well as bug bites and razor burn. Jewelweed is
also used in herbal medicine for acne, heat rash, ringworm and many other skin disorders.
A native plant of Eastern North America, Jewelweed grows in damp woods. Also known as “touch-me-nots” because
the oblong seed capsules when ripe, will explode at the slightest touch, scattering the seeds widely. The soothing
sap of the plant is clinically proven to be medicinal and a remedy for relief of many skin problems. Keep Jewelweed
spray handy during the summer months too, for sunburns.
