Sweet clover
Sweet clover is a plant whose flowering twigs and leaves are used to make medicine.
Sweet clover is used to increase the elimination of fluids from the body. It is also used for varicose veins and to relieve symptoms of poor circulation including leg pain, heavy legs, night cramps, itching and water retention. Sweet clover is sometimes used in conjunction with regular medication to treat blood clots in the veins.
Other uses include the treatment of hemorrhoids and blockages in the lymphatic system. Some people apply sweet clover directly to the skin for bruising.
How does sweet clover work?
Sweetclover contains ingredients that thin the blood and can help heal wounds.
How effective is sweet clover?
Sweet clover is potentially effective when used for circulatory problems including leg cramps and swelling, as well as varicose veins. There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of sweet clover for water retention and hemorrhoids, and when applied to the skin for bruising. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of sweet clover in these applications.
Safety and side effects
Sweet clover appears to be safe and harmless for most people when used appropriately. However, it can cause liver damage and bleeding problems when used in large amounts.
Precautions and warnings
Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of sweet clover during pregnancy and lactation. Although a small study found no harmful side effects when used during the last 6 months of pregnancy, it is better not to use sweet clover during pregnancy and breastfeeding until more is known about its safety.
Liver disorders: There are concerns that sweet clover may aggravate existing liver problems. For this reason, you should discuss the use of sweet clover with your doctor if you suffer from liver problems.
Operations: Sweet clover could slow down blood clotting. There are concerns that this could increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. For this reason, the use of sweet clover should be stopped at least 2 weeks before planned operations.
Interactions
Care should be taken when combining sweet clover with the following medications:
Medications that can damage the liver
Large amounts of sweet clover could damage the liver. The use of sweet clover in combination with medicines that can damage the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. For this reason, you should avoid sweet clover if you are taking medication that can damage the liver.
Medication that slows down blood clotting
Sweetclover could slow down blood clotting. Taking sweet clover in conjunction with medications that also slow down blood clotting could increase the risk of bleeding and the tendency to bruise.
Some medications that can slow blood clotting include aspirin, diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen, naproxen and others.
Dosage
The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:
Oral:
- For poor circulation (chronic venous insufficiency): 2 to 3 cups of sweet clover tea daily. One cup consists of 1 to 2 teaspoons of finely chopped sweet clover which is infused with 150 ml of boiling water and then left to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. If you use sweet clover, you should have liver tests carried out, especially if you suffer from liver damage or a liver disease.