Herb Profiles

Red Clover Blossom

by katheryn Langelier February 04, 2021

RED CLOVER BLOSSOM

Trifolium pratense

Family: Fabiaceae

Part used: Flowers, leaves

Energetics: Sweet, salt, cool, moist

Actions: Alterative, demulcent, expectorant, lymphatic tonic, nutritive

Red clover is a plant that we use as a cover crop here on the farm for its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, but it’s also an incredible medicinal. We harvest the blossoms when they’re beautiful and vibrant and dry them to use in tea and vinegar. I use red clover for lymphatic congestion, swollen lymph nodes, skin issues and cleansing the blood. Red clover has been used for hot flashes during menopause as well as for circulation and thinning the blood. If you live near an organic farm, you should check to see if they grow red clover as a cover crop. If they do, it’s worth asking whether they’d let you harvest some of the red clover blossoms. Harvesting and drying your own means you’ll have good-quality flowers throughout the winter season. You can buy it, but it tends to be expensive because it’s so labor intensive. If you do buy it, I suggest purchasing from a smaller local herb farm or Healing Spirit Farm, Zack Woods or Oshala Farm.

Contraindications: None known.

katheryn Langelier

Author

Also in Herb Profiles

Ashwagandha

by katheryn Langelier March 10, 2021

Ashwagandha, native to India, grows on our farm in Maine as an annual. I harvest the roots every fall to make into tinctures and dry for teas, soup stocks and powder. Ashwagandha is a wonderful adaptogen that can be used as a daily tonic. It is part of the nightshade family, so if you have allergies you may want to avoid this herb. Otherwise, it’s a wonderfully rejuvenating and nourishing herb that I like to use as a brain tonic and to clear up brain fog and poor memory. It helps induce sleep, relieves anxiety and stress and is great for supporting the reproductive system. Ashwagandha is a great herb for rebuilding vitality and overall strength in the body.

Astragalus

by katheryn Langelier March 10, 2021

Astragalus, part of the pea family, is a perennial that we grow here on the farm. We harvest the roots in its third year to make into tincture or dry for teas, soup stocks, syrups and elixirs. Astragalus is a great herb to use when building back strength and vitality. I like to use it as immune support to help prevent colds and flu and help with allergies. Astragalus is a rejuvenative herb for when you are depleted and weak, helping restore vitality and energy. Helps improve digestion, nutrient absorption and cardiovascular function. This is a great front-line herb for immune support and preventive care.

Blue Vervain

by katheryn Langelier March 09, 2021

Blue vervain is a great herb to add to any garden. When we moved to the farm, I found a couple of plants growing wild along the stream. I loved that so much. I like to use blue vervain for nervous system issues such as anxiety, especially associated with PMS and menopause and it can also be used for spasms and tics. As a diaphoretic, it’s been used for relieving fevers and other flu symptoms, such as aching muscles.