Description.
Clover meadow (red) from the family of legumes. Clover is a perennial plant, reaching a height of 50 cm. It has a core root, with pronounced branching. Flowers are globular large heads of dark purple or pink. Fruit is an ovoid single-seeded bean. It blooms in July - August, the fruit ripens in August-September.
In our country is found everywhere in the northern and forest parts of the European zone, in the Urals, in Siberia. Flowers are harvested as medicinal raw materials, which are torn off, or cut without the remains of the peduncle near the base of the head. Dry clover in attics, outdoors under a canopy, making sure that the raw materials do not dry out, because the overdried heads quickly crumble. Store it in a dry, dark place.
Composition and useful properties.
The heads of the clover contain:
- essential oil,
- glycosides (isotripolin and trifolin),
- trifolizin (has antifungal properties),
- ascorbic acid,
- alkaloids,
- resinous substances,
- vitamins of group B,
- carotene (in the body of it is formed by vitamin A),
- fatty oil,
- organic acids (salicylic and coumarinic),
- biocquinone A (contains coenzyme Q10, which promotes energy metabolism in tissue cells),
- isoflavones.
The leaves contain pigments and ascorbic acid.
Red clover has astringent, tonic, antiallergic, antitumor, antisclerotic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, diuretic and restorative properties. In addition, clover meadow is an excellent honey plant.
Application in folk medicine.
Red clover found application in medicine for a number of diseases like:
- tonic and restorative means - a source of vitamins and other biologically active substances - with beriberi (deficiency of vitamins), after the transfer of serious diseases during recovery, to stimulate the protective functions of the body (immunity), with anemia (a source of vitamin C that promotes better absorption of iron);
- antibacterial, expectorant - for colds, diseases of the lower and upper respiratory tract;
- astringent in case of diarrhea;
- diuretic in diseases of the cardiovascular system, and in any other diseases that are accompanied by edema;
- Diuretic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent - various kidney diseases;
- external remedy for furuncles, frostbites, purulent wounds, burns in the form of lotions;
- antitumor agent in tumoral formations of all possible localization;
- antiallergic agent - bronchial asthma, scrofula (exudative diathesis) and other allergic skin diseases;
Recipes of traditional medicine.
From red clover at home you can cook the following:
- Infusion for internal use:
a tablespoon of chopped dry raw material pour a glass of boiling water, insist 15-20 minutes, strain, then top up to the same level, and take half an hour before eating, three times a day for half a glass;
- Infusion for external use:
they cook exactly the same way, they only take 2 tbsp. l. for 1 cup of boiling water;
- Tincture:
4 tbsp. l. plant flowers pour half the diluted pure alcohol or vodka, insist 10 days in a dark place, then strain. The received tincture should be taken thrice a day for 1 tbsp. l. half an hour before a meal;
- Decoction for internal use:
a teaspoon of chopped dry raw material pour a glass of hot boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, cool, take four times a day for one st. l. ;
- Decoction for external use:
4 tbsp. l. feed half a liter of hot boiling water, cook for 10 minutes on a small fire, then cool, the resulting broth filter, use as a lotion or as an external means for washing the wounds;
- Ointment:
quarter a glass of crushed fresh flowers pour a glass of water, place on a water bath in a sealed container and evaporate until a viscous mass is obtained; then filter and mix with the same volume of ointment base;
- Application of clover as a restorative means:
Milk, boiled with clover heads for a quarter of an hour.