Pink Saturday

Welcome to Pink Saturday

I thought I would share Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) with you this week.



















Red Clover is a wonderful herb. Note that it has a pink bloom, sometimes though it has a lavender bloom. See the leaf, and the chevron shape on it..THIS is sure identification that this is a Red Clover.

From Herbalpedia;

Properties: sweet, cooling, alterative that relaxes spasms and has diuretic and expectorant
effects, anti-tumor, anticoagulant.

Good for use in salves for skin ailments, such as eczema and psoriasis as well as cancers.
Red clover is used internally for skin complaints, especially eczema and psoriasis. It
may be used with complete safety in cases of childhood eczema, cancers of the breast,
ovaries, and lymphatic system, chronic degenerative diseases, gout, whooping cough
and dry cough.

It has been given as part of a holistic treatment for breast tumors and fibroids, both associated with excess estrogen, because the herbal version competes with excess estrogen, allowing the
body to come into balance. The estrogenic effect may be of use in treating menopausal
complaints.

Red clover blossoms have been long used in the form of a salve for the removal of external cancer and indolent ulcers. A tea is also helpful to bathe the affected part, making it fresh daily.

The Pennsylvania Dutch called Red Clover, Rhoda gae Blumma. They brewed the
dried blossoms into a tea as a remedy for croup and whooping cough.

Crimson Clover Cough Syrup:
1 oz fresh or ½ oz dried red clover flowers, 1 cup hot water,
2 cups sugar. Place all ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for
10-15 minutes. Strain, pour the liquid into a container and cap immediately. Store in a dark
cool place and use 1 tsp as needed.

I like to collect the blooms and first 3 leaves to make

Red Clover jelly

2 cups fresh (or dried) red clover blooms
6 cups water
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer for 10 minutes, cover and let set until cooled
Strain, bring liquid back up to 6 cups by adding water.
Make jelly using 7 cups of sugar and 1 box surejel.
Add a few drops of red food coloring to give it that pretty soft red color.

This is a soft jelly, very gentle flavor, similar to plum.

I hope this has sparked an interest in learning more about Red Clover.

Many thanks to Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for bring us Pink Saturday stop over and visit all the lovely Pink blogs with their Pink posts.

Happy Pink Saturday everyone. Please leave a comment so I will know you stopped by.