Post Collapse Uses of Red Clover

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.


I had other plans for writing today, but as I was out working in the yard this morning, I saw a few patches of red clover and remembered that I had missed out on harvesting it last year.  I figured today was the day to do it.  And when Lydia came in as I was writing this article and asked which herb she should start working with next, I suggested red clover.  Her timing is impeccable.

Red clover, Trifolium pratense, is harvested just as the blossoms appear, and for medicinal purposes, you want only the blossoms.  You can feed the leaves to your livestock and they will be very happy, unless they are like Bambi's Thumper, who only wanted to eat the blossoms. 

There are numerous clinical studies on the uses of red clover, some of which I have posted links for below.  Red clover probably doesn't make anyone's top ten lists of essential medicinal herbs, but still, it has its uses, especially for menopausal women.

MEDICINAL USES

• Menopause, especially to alleviate hot flashes and prevent bone loss
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Whooping cough, to reduce spasmodic coughing
• Upper respiratory infections, including colds, sore throat, and bronchitis
• Asthma
• Psoriasis and eczema

Infusion.   Prepare an infusion using one to two teaspoons dried flowers steeped in boiling water for 15 minutes.  When there is no higher medical care, this infusion may help in managing the following conditions:

• Whooping cough
• Asthma
• Upper respiratory infections
• Gout and arthritis
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Menopausal issues such as hot flashes and bone loss
• Halting the progression of prostate cancer in men

Tincture.  Prepare a tincture in a 1:5 ratio of dried blossoms to 30-40% alcohol.  Put the blossoms in a canning jar and add the appropriate amount of alcohol, seal, and place in a dark cabinet.  Shake daily for six weeks, strain, and put in a dropper bottle.  The adult dosage is 2-6 ml, up to three times per day, for the same conditions as above.

Salve.  Fill a pint jar with dried blossoms and cover with olive oil or melted coconut oil.  Let infuse in a dark cabinet for four weeks.  Strain out the blossoms and discard.  Put the infused oil in a double boiler and add 1-2 tablespoons of beeswax.  Melt completely and stir until combined, and then pour into a jar.  Use for psoriasis and eczema.

Note that for many of these conditions, especially dealing with menopause or lowering cholesterol or blood pressure, it may take up to three months of daily usage to see results.

Contraindications:  Red clover is not for use by women who are pregnant, nursing, or wishing to conceive.  It is not for use by those taking blood thinners.  Do not use prior to surgery, as it may increase surgical bleeding.

Cautions:  Red clover should be avoided by those with a peanut allergy, as the two plants are closely related.

Possible side effects:  Nausea, muscle aches, heavy menstrual bleeding, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, acne.

For further reading:
https://draxe.com/red-clover/
http://www.medicinehunter.com/red-clover
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16645539
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/red-clover.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12496063
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25074017
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26471215
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724018/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17350196
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3206499/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17078110
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-308/red-clover
https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-red-clover-89577

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com 

17 july 2023

The Medicinal Uses of Red Raspberry Leaf

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.


When my family and I talk about the five years that we lived in Missouri, we usually mention the only three good things about our time there, the three F's:  friends (a few great friends), fireflies (who doesn't love them?), and fireworks (the most phenomenal displays I ever saw were put on by a lawyer friend from church--nothing at Disneyland, or at city/county Fourth of July events, or even Michael Milken's personal event at Lake Tahoe--no, we weren't his guests, just on a neighboring section of the beach--could come close to this lawyer's show).  But as I begin this post on raspberries, I remember how prolific the raspberries in my garden there were.  I spent a couple of hours three times each week during harvest season to pick them.  Wow, I miss those raspberries.

And as delicious and desirable as those raspberries were, the true treasure was in the leaves.  Little did I know then.  Raspberry leaves are loaded with vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and E, as well as the essential minerals iron (one ounce of raspberry leaves yields 18% of the RDA for iron), magnesium, potassium, zinc, and calcium.  For this reason alone you are really going to want these gems growing on your property in addition to being able to find them elsewhere.

Time to harvest:  Raspberry leaves should be harvested in the summer, rinsed, and dried well in a dehydrator or in the shade.  Insufficiently dried leaves can become toxic.

Fortunately, raspberry leaves are very easy to use.  Their active constituents are, in contrast to many other herbal remedies, extracted with water.  No alcohol involved.

Infusion:  One to two teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of boiling water.  Let steep for fifteen minutes. Drink three to four cups per day for treating diarrhea, incontinence, PMS symptoms, leg cramps, gout, and arthritis. It is particularly useful for easing painful menstrual cramps and regulating menstrual flow, especially when taken regularly.  Historically, raspberry leaf tea was used to ease labor pains, improve the quality of contractions, and help build a good supply of breast milk.  Though some sources suggest it can be used for treating morning sickness and nausea, it should be used with caution and only under the direction of a licensed medical practitioner during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. 

Decoction:  Steep five tablespoons of raspberry leaves in one quart of water for fifteen minutes.  Use as a rinse or gargle to treat tonsillitis, canker sores, cold sores, gingivitis, and sore throat.  This same decoction can be used for treating eczema, acne, dermatitis, and itching of the skin.  The cooled and filtered decoction is used to treat conjunctivitis of the eyes.

Poultice:  Dip a clean cloth into the decoction above and apply to minor wounds, varicose veins, and minor burns like a sunburn.

Contraindications:  Raspberry leaf is not for internal use in people with gastritis or peptic ulcer, or those with uterine fibroids, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or endometriosis. 

For further information:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1016/S1526-9523%2801%2900095-2
https://www.drugs.com/npp/raspberry.html#fandc-np5263.b2
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/red-raspberry-leaf-tea#bottom-line
https://theherbalacademy.com/3-raspberry-leaf-benefits-for-women/


© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com

12 september 2022

27 september 2020