\r\n \r\n (NaturalNews) Red clover, that versatile flower little girls use to decorate
\ntheir hair and string into necklaces, has been shown to be very good for big
\ngirls too. Women have a history of using red clover to alleviate the symptoms of
\nestrogen insufficiency and help restore hormonal balance. Red clover has long
\nbeen a staple of natural healers as one of their evidence based therapies. New
\nstudies are now documenting and quantifying the many benefits of red clover for
\nwomen and also for men.
\n
\nRecent studies show red clover provides a wealth of benefits to women in
\nhormonal decline
\n
\nHormone replacement with synthetic or conjugated estrogen drugs has fallen out
\nof fashion. These drugs don\'t really even offer a replacement to estrogen at
\nall. They offer only an alternative to estrogen. Because these drugs do not
\nreplicate the natural estrogen made in the body, they have a long list of side
\neffects associated with them. Since they are foreign substances that are not
\nrecognizable by the body, they produce a response from the immune system, taking
\nthe immune system away from the job it was meant to do. They need to be
\ndetoxified in the liver, and they prompt the body to mount resistance to them.
\n
\nAs reported in the November edition of the journal Gynecology Endocrinology,
\nresearchers looking for alternatives to estrogen drugs studied red clover to
\ndetermine its effect on the lipid (another word for fat) profile of
\npostmenopausal women with increased body mass index. Sixty postmenopausal women
\naged 40 and older who were not users of hormone therapy were randomly assigned
\nto one of two groups. Group one took capsules containing 80mg. of red clover
\nisoflavones daily for a 90 day period. Group two took a placebo. After a seven
\nday period to allow the isoflavones to clear from the bodies of group one
\nparticipants, the groups were switched so that at the end of the study both
\ngroups had taken the isoflavones.
\n
\nThe study results showed that the isoflavone supplementation had a positive
\neffect on the lipid profile of the women with increased body mass index,
\nevidenced by significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and
\nlipoprotein A levels. The researchers concluded that red clover isoflavones are
\nan attractive therapeutic alternative to hormone drugs.
\n
\nIn the second study, reported in the October issue of the journal Fertility and
\nSterility, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of phytoestrogens as
\ntreatment for symptoms of hormonal decline in rabbits with surgically induced
\nmenopause. Twenty-four menopausal rabbits and six non-menopausal rabbits were
\ndivided into three groups. Group one was given a synthetic estrogen drug. Group
\ntwo was given diadzein, and group three was given red clover isoflavones. The
\nfourth group served as a control. Hormone levels, uterine weight, vaginal blood
\nflow, femoral density, and clitoral structure were assessed. The researchers
\nfound that supplementing with red clover isoflavones leads to significant
\nimprovements in bone density, tissue integrity, and vaginal blood flow with
\nminimal effect on uterine weight. They concluded that red clover isoflavones is
\na viable alternative to conventional treatments using synthetic estrogen drugs.
\n
\nRed clover is good for what ails men too
\n
\nA study published earlier this year in Urology assessed the effect of red clover
\nisoflavone extract on the prostate, liver function, quality of life, and sexual
\nfunction in men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein
\nproduced by the cells of the prostate gland that is viewed as a biological tumor
\nmarker. Twenty men were treated with a daily dose of 60 mgs. isoflavone extract
\nfor a period of one year.
\n
\nResults indicated that the average PSA level was reduced by 33% over the study
\nperiod. Sexual hormone levels did not change throughout the study, and sexual
\nfunction was not influenced by the treatment. Another positive finding involved
\nliver health. All three liver enzymes studied showed significant increases.
\n
\nRed Clover offers nutrients galore
\n
\nRed clover is a perennial herb that grows wild throughout North America, Europe
\nand Asia. The red flowers contain the therapeutic isoflavones. In addition to
\nits phytoestrogens, red clover is a valuable source of calcium, chromium,
\nmagnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C.
\n
\nIsoflavones are related to the flavonoid group and retain many of the group\'s
\ncharacteristics. They fight infection, suppress appetite, and are cleansing of
\nthe blood. They have expectorant, antispasmodic, and relaxing affects, and can
\nbe used for inflammatory bowel disease, kidney problems, liver disease, skin
\ndisorders, and weakened immune system.
\n
\nRed Clover fits into estrogen receptors
\n
\nThe isoflavones from red clover are water soluble compounds with a molecular
\nstructure close to that of estrogen. This structure allows isoflavones to mimic
\nthe actions of estrogen in the body by fitting into estrogen receptors.
\n
\nRed clover has a history of use for cancer treatment due to its ability to
\nstimulate the immune system. Other recent research has found evidence that it
\nmay prevent the growth of cancer cells or kill cancer cells in test tubes. It is
\noften use in alternative cancer treatment for cancer of the breast and other
\nhormone related cancers. Since it is able to fit into estrogen receptors it can
\nblock some of the action of more potent estrogens that often exist in the body
\nof women with breast cancer. These more potent estrogens are the result of
\nhormonal imbalance resulting from the body\'s continuing production of estrogen
\nafter progesterone and testosterone levels have declined.
\n
\nEarlier studies have also suggested that red clover isoflavones can slow bone
\nloss and boost bone mineral density in pre and perimenopausal women.
\n
\nRed clover may protect against heart disease through its ability to increase HDL
\ncholesterol in pre and postmenopausal women. One study found that menopausal
\nwomen who took red clover supplements had more flexible and stronger arteries.
\nRed clover may have blood thinning properties that help prevent blood clots.
\n
\nSources:
\n
\n"Red Clover", University of Maryland Medical Center.
\n
\nH.J. Teede, et al., "Isoflavones Reduce Arterial Stiffness: A Placebo Controlled
\nStudy in Men and Postmenopausal Women", Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and
\nVascular Biology, June, 2003.
\n
\nT. Powles, "Isoflavones and Women\'s Health", Breast Cancer Research, 2004.
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