Red clover

Red clover  Trifolium pratense

Red clover contains four types of isoflavones, which are plant oestrogens. Scientists have carried out tests to see whether red clover extracts could help menopausal women suffering from various symptoms. The women taking the red clover extracts said that their hot flashes were fifty percent less severe and occurred half as often as they had been occurring before they took the extract.(1) Researchers also found that red clover may slow the rate of bone loss in post menopausal women, so could be used to prevent osteoporosis.(2)

Red clover isoflavones have many other potential benefits, such as possibly increasing good cholesterol in post menopausal women and reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men but most of the research done so far has been carried out on small numbers of women and men. So it would be a good idea to carry out more research on larger numbers of people.

(1)  Huntley A.L., Ernst E. A systematic review of herbal medicinal products for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Menopause. Sept - Oct 2003; 10 (5);465-467.

(2)  Atkinson C, Compston JE et al. The effects of phytoestrogen isoflavones on bone density in women : a double blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial. Am J. Clin Nutr 2004: 79; 326-333.