Tori Hudson, N.D., of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Oregon, believes that red clover products such as Promensil are promising but that further research is needed. She notes that two other studies of the supplement showed no benefit, although a third study indicated promise for reducing the risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women who took the herb. The jury is still out on all the potential benefits of phytoestrogens and the best way to get them. Phytoestrogens come in many forms. The most potent are compounds called isoflavones , which are found in high concentrations in legumes, especially soy, as well as in red clover and other herbs.
Soy contains a variety of isoflavones, including two potent ones called genistein and daidzein.
But red clover, in comparison, has two additional ones called formononetin and biochanin. Red clover also contains flavonoid compounds called coumestans, which some studies suggest have six times more estrogenlike activity than most isoflavones. People in some 33 cultures use red clover to treat a range of ailments, including chest congestion, gout, eczema, psoriasis, swollen glands, and even venereal diseases such as syphilis. Though we wouldn't recommend red clover for all these complaints, it may be worth a try for symptoms of menopause. It may take four to five weeks to see results.