One of the healthiest "weeds" that an organic gardener (or even a low-chemical gardener) can encourage in their garden is the red clover. One should be able to identify this plant easily, as I'm sure most of us looked through our parent's yards for that four-leafed clover. Of the various clovers out there, the red clover is preferred by gardeners and herbalists.
Red clover generally grows around here in early spring, and is distinguished from its cousins by its pinkish-purplish flower. White clover tends to flower later in warmer weather and while equally beneficial in the garden, it is not as equally preferred by many herbalists.
The red clover is, believe it or not, a legume...a plant that actually removes nitrogen from the air and puts it into the soil, thus feeding the plants around it. Many organic gardeners use this as a winter cover crop to replace any nitrogen that other plants use. We don't get technical like that...we just let it grow wild wherever it feels like, only cutting it back when it gets too out of hand.
.....Note to absolute noobs...nitrogen is like carbohydrates to the plant world. They can't live without them. Natural sources of nitrogen, such as legumes (which includes beans and peas), fish meal, blood meal, bone meal, and compost are like feeding your "kids" wheat bread, oatmeal, meat and potatoes. Unnatural sources of nitrogen (fertilizers with a number rating over 12), or high nitrogen manures like un-composted chicken muck, are like feeding your kids nothing but sugar....and too much can cause them to "burn" and die.
Red clover is edible. It contains calcium and magnesium, vitamin C, and a host of many other beneficial vitamins and minerals. It also contains isoflavones, which are estrogen-like compounds. It is often used as an animal feed, but can also be added to salads, or a tea made out of it. It is one of the ingredients in 8-herb essiac tea. Use the leaves and flowers. The lightly sweet-tasting flowers can be gathered in the spring and fall. The leaves can be difficult to digest (causing gas like all other legumes), and are best dried and made into a tea.
Red clover generally grows around here in early spring, and is distinguished from its cousins by its pinkish-purplish flower. White clover tends to flower later in warmer weather and while equally beneficial in the garden, it is not as equally preferred by many herbalists.
The red clover is, believe it or not, a legume...a plant that actually removes nitrogen from the air and puts it into the soil, thus feeding the plants around it. Many organic gardeners use this as a winter cover crop to replace any nitrogen that other plants use. We don't get technical like that...we just let it grow wild wherever it feels like, only cutting it back when it gets too out of hand.
.....Note to absolute noobs...nitrogen is like carbohydrates to the plant world. They can't live without them. Natural sources of nitrogen, such as legumes (which includes beans and peas), fish meal, blood meal, bone meal, and compost are like feeding your "kids" wheat bread, oatmeal, meat and potatoes. Unnatural sources of nitrogen (fertilizers with a number rating over 12), or high nitrogen manures like un-composted chicken muck, are like feeding your kids nothing but sugar....and too much can cause them to "burn" and die.
Red clover is edible. It contains calcium and magnesium, vitamin C, and a host of many other beneficial vitamins and minerals. It also contains isoflavones, which are estrogen-like compounds. It is often used as an animal feed, but can also be added to salads, or a tea made out of it. It is one of the ingredients in 8-herb essiac tea. Use the leaves and flowers. The lightly sweet-tasting flowers can be gathered in the spring and fall. The leaves can be difficult to digest (causing gas like all other legumes), and are best dried and made into a tea.
Be sure to gather red-clover from "clean" sources....stay away from areas that may be sprayed with herbacides or insecticides, and do not gather from road sides (where they may have absorbed toxins produced by vehicles). I would also stay away from stream beds (you never know what is coming down stream) or near industrial areas.
WARNING: The following is for your entertainment and information purposes only. We are not doctors, nor do we play one on television, and we do not give out medical advice.
Traditional uses of red clover are for women's troubles, due to its estrogen-like compounds...it is said to help improve fertility, aid in regulating menstruation, and as an aid for menopause. While the use of isoflavens as a hormone replacer has been known to cause other problems, the isoflavones in this plant are generally considered fairly low, lower in fact than soy products.
Other traditional uses for red clover are as anti-mucus, anti-spasmotic, and mild sedative for asthma, bronchitis, and ulcers. It has been used externally to help with skin troubles, like burns or acne. It is also said that a twice-daily cup of tea made of red clover has been known to not only stop but completely cure cancer...I've heard this from many sources, including a former EMT who claims her uncle was cured of terminal cancer by this plant. But we can't have a medicine that we can pull out of our back yard for free, can we? No profit in that.
But, as I said...this is for your entertainment purposes only. Do with it as you will.
WARNING: The following is for your entertainment and information purposes only. We are not doctors, nor do we play one on television, and we do not give out medical advice.
Traditional uses of red clover are for women's troubles, due to its estrogen-like compounds...it is said to help improve fertility, aid in regulating menstruation, and as an aid for menopause. While the use of isoflavens as a hormone replacer has been known to cause other problems, the isoflavones in this plant are generally considered fairly low, lower in fact than soy products.
Other traditional uses for red clover are as anti-mucus, anti-spasmotic, and mild sedative for asthma, bronchitis, and ulcers. It has been used externally to help with skin troubles, like burns or acne. It is also said that a twice-daily cup of tea made of red clover has been known to not only stop but completely cure cancer...I've heard this from many sources, including a former EMT who claims her uncle was cured of terminal cancer by this plant. But we can't have a medicine that we can pull out of our back yard for free, can we? No profit in that.
But, as I said...this is for your entertainment purposes only. Do with it as you will.
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