Red Clover 

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb red clover— 

common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more 

information. Like peas and beans, red clover belongs to the family of plants 

called legumes. Red clover contains phytoestrogens—compounds similar to 

the female hormone estrogen. 

Common Names—red clover, cow clover, meadow clover, wild clover 

Latin Name—Trifolium pratense 

What It Is Used For 

•	 Historically, red clover has been used for cancer and respiratory problems, 

such as whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis. 

•	 Current uses of red clover are for menopausal symptoms, breast pain 

associated with menstrual cycles, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and 

symptoms of prostate enlargement. 

How It Is Used 

The flowering tops of the red clover plant are used to prepare extracts available 

in tablets and capsules, as well as in teas and liquid forms. 

What the Science Says 

•	 Although several small studies of red clover for menopausal symptoms had 

mixed results, a large study found that red clover had no beneficial effects 

on menopausal symptoms. 

•	 There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether red clover is 

effective for any other health conditions. 

•	 NCCAM is studying red clover to learn more about its active components 

and how they might work in the body, including a clinical trial investigating 

the safety and effectiveness of red clover for menopausal symptoms. 

Side Effects and Cautions 

•	 Red clover seems to be safe for most adults when used for short periods of 

time. No serious adverse effects have been reported. 

•	 Because red clover contains estrogen-like compounds, there is a possibility 

that its long-term use would increase the risk of women developing cancer 

of the lining of the uterus. However, studies to date have been too brief (less 

than 6 months) to evaluate whether red clover has estrogen-like effects on 

the uterus. 
 

•	 It is unclear whether red clover is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or 

who have breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancers. 

•	 Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you 

use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. 

Sources 

Red clover. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturaldatabase.com on 

July 5, 2007. 

Red clover (Trifolium pratense). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturalstandard.com on 

July 3, 2007. 

Fugh-Berman A, Kronenberg F. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) for menopausal women: current state of knowledge. 

Menopause. 2001;8(5):333-337. 

Tice JA, Ettinger B, Ensrud K, et al. Phytoestrogen supplements for the treatment of hot flashes: the Isoflavone Clover 

Extract (ICE) study. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003;290(2):207-214. 

Red clover (Trifolium pratense). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New 

York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:587-602. 

For More Information 

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view: 

•	 What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements at nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/ 

•	 Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too at nccam.nih.gov/health/supplement-safety/ 

NCCAM Clearinghouse 

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615 

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov 

CAM on PubMed 

Web site: nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/ 

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements 

Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov 

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. 

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute 

for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage 

you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The 

mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM. 

National Institutes of Health 

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

D319 

Created June 2006 

Updated June 2008 

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