SAMARA:
Red clover - Trifolium pratense
One of the few wild flowers around at this time of year.
Red Clover is a perennial herb, origin believed to be Britain where it is abundant, now a world wide escape, naturalised in nearly every country, even the Arctic Circle and high up into mountains. The long root is rhizome, and sends out runners, producing several stems 1 to 2 feet high, slightly hairy; leaves ternate, leaflets ovate, slightly toothed, ending in long point often lighter coloured V shape in centre, flowers red to purple, fragrant, in dense terminal ovoid or round heads.
In folk magic Red Clover is used in a ritual bath to attract money and prosperity to the bather and is also used as a floor wash to chase out evil and unwanted ghosts. The four-leaf clover is believed to protect from evil spirits, witches, disease and the evil eye. This familiar childhood rhyme for a four-leaf clover actually originates from the Middle Ages:
One leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth,
One for a faithful lover,
And one leaf to bring glorious health,
Are all in a four-leaf clover
The four-leaf clover was said to enable its wearer to ward off evil and witches, to see fairies and various spirits, to heal illnesses, to have good fortune, and to escape military service. The five-leaf clover was said to be unlucky and the two-leaf clover was to enable a maid to see her future lover. With its three leaves, Clover is a very shamanic plant allowing one to see into and interact with the Other World. It is a good talisman for protection and power for travelling out of body and walking between worlds.
The flowers were a popular anti-cancer remedy as late as the 1930's especially for cancer of the breasts and ovaries and this is a cancer cure from the hills of Tennessee: "Place two to three teaspoons of red clover blossom in one cup of boiling water, steep mixture until a tea is formed. Drink one cup a day."
Considered also an excellent remedy for children with skin problems, it was also thought to be of particular benefit for children with eczema and asthma. It is also held to be of value in other chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis.
The expectorant and antispasmodic actions of Red Clover made it a traditional treatment of coughs and bronchitis and particularly in whooping cough, while a syrup made from the infusion of Red Clover was used to relieve stubborn, dry coughs.
The fresh, crushed flowers can be applied to bites and stings. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, the white crescent markings on the leaflets of red clover were seen as a sign that the plant could be of benefit in the treatment of cataracts while a tincture of Red Clover in water may be used as an eyewash for conjunctivitis.
Clovers are rich in nutrients and vitamins and the leaves and flowers can be added to salads or used as garnish. Use the new green leaves when eating them raw, but you can also add the tougher older leaves to sautéed or steamed greens like spinach and kale. You can even add the leaves into stir fries, soups, and pasta sauces, but add them last and just cook until wilted to retain the nutrients. Even the roots can be eaten when cooked. You can batter and fry Clover flowers just like Elder flowers. The flowers of both types of clover can be used to make homemade wines. Red Clover flowers are steeped to make a popular tea which, although drunk for pleasure, can be used to treat liver and gallbladder issues, stomach and digestive issues, as well as for women’s menstrual and fertility issues. A popular jelly was made from the red blooms.
Red clover - Trifolium pratense
One of the few wild flowers around at this time of year.
Red Clover is a perennial herb, origin believed to be Britain where it is abundant, now a world wide escape, naturalised in nearly every country, even the Arctic Circle and high up into mountains. The long root is rhizome, and sends out runners, producing several stems 1 to 2 feet high, slightly hairy; leaves ternate, leaflets ovate, slightly toothed, ending in long point often lighter coloured V shape in centre, flowers red to purple, fragrant, in dense terminal ovoid or round heads.
In folk magic Red Clover is used in a ritual bath to attract money and prosperity to the bather and is also used as a floor wash to chase out evil and unwanted ghosts. The four-leaf clover is believed to protect from evil spirits, witches, disease and the evil eye. This familiar childhood rhyme for a four-leaf clover actually originates from the Middle Ages:
One leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth,
One for a faithful lover,
And one leaf to bring glorious health,
Are all in a four-leaf clover
The four-leaf clover was said to enable its wearer to ward off evil and witches, to see fairies and various spirits, to heal illnesses, to have good fortune, and to escape military service. The five-leaf clover was said to be unlucky and the two-leaf clover was to enable a maid to see her future lover. With its three leaves, Clover is a very shamanic plant allowing one to see into and interact with the Other World. It is a good talisman for protection and power for travelling out of body and walking between worlds.
The flowers were a popular anti-cancer remedy as late as the 1930's especially for cancer of the breasts and ovaries and this is a cancer cure from the hills of Tennessee: "Place two to three teaspoons of red clover blossom in one cup of boiling water, steep mixture until a tea is formed. Drink one cup a day."
Considered also an excellent remedy for children with skin problems, it was also thought to be of particular benefit for children with eczema and asthma. It is also held to be of value in other chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis.
The expectorant and antispasmodic actions of Red Clover made it a traditional treatment of coughs and bronchitis and particularly in whooping cough, while a syrup made from the infusion of Red Clover was used to relieve stubborn, dry coughs.
The fresh, crushed flowers can be applied to bites and stings. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, the white crescent markings on the leaflets of red clover were seen as a sign that the plant could be of benefit in the treatment of cataracts while a tincture of Red Clover in water may be used as an eyewash for conjunctivitis.
Clovers are rich in nutrients and vitamins and the leaves and flowers can be added to salads or used as garnish. Use the new green leaves when eating them raw, but you can also add the tougher older leaves to sautéed or steamed greens like spinach and kale. You can even add the leaves into stir fries, soups, and pasta sauces, but add them last and just cook until wilted to retain the nutrients. Even the roots can be eaten when cooked. You can batter and fry Clover flowers just like Elder flowers. The flowers of both types of clover can be used to make homemade wines. Red Clover flowers are steeped to make a popular tea which, although drunk for pleasure, can be used to treat liver and gallbladder issues, stomach and digestive issues, as well as for women’s menstrual and fertility issues. A popular jelly was made from the red blooms.