By Menopause is one of the many transformations a woman’s body goes through in their lifetime. While there is no magical cure for menopause, especially one without side effects, there are a few herbal supplements that recent research has shown to be promising. One such supplement is Red Clover. Red Clover is a flowering herb that is native to North America and has been traditionally used by the women of the Iroquois First Nations of eastern Canada and the State of New York to aid with the “Change of Life” (7).
Before we get into how Red Clover helps with menopause, it’s wise to explain what menopause is. During this aptly named “change of life” by the Iroquois people, women experience a steep decrease of the hormone estrogen, as well as a decrease in other hormones produced by the ovaries like progesterone and testosterone (8). These cause a whole list of symptoms including lower libido, mood changes, hot flashes, night sweats, loss of bone density, weight gain and many others. Many women look for ways to reduce these symptoms through Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). While this can bring great relief it comes with risks and side effects (9,10). Side effects are dependent on medication and dosage, and should be discussed with your doctor. Risks often increase with prolonged use, these include an increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke. Yet for many women the relief and the benefits that include maintaining muscle strength, preventing osteoporosis and the general lessening of the menopausal symptoms outweigh the negatives of HRT.
Yet to others, the risks outweigh the benefits and looking for different options, or are looking for something to help after using HRT. This is where herbal supplements are often sought out. As the popularity of these supplements has increased, there has been an increase in the research surrounding these supplements. Red clover is one such herbal supplement that has been researched for the last 20 years to identify what it does and how it does it..
While there are some seasonal changes in the ratios (7) there are four isoflavones: Daidzein, Genistein, Formononetin, and Biochanin A. These isoflavones found in red clover have been shown to act as natural estrogen (5). Phytoestrogens (compounds found in plants that act like estrogen) can alleviate some of the symptoms caused by menopause as they mimic the effects of estrogen. Based on looking at recent research Red Clover has been seen to improve scalp, hair and skin status, hot flashes, night sweats, mood, sleep, and energy levels (4,3). While the impact on libido seems to differ between studies, this might be more dependent on the dose than effectiveness (3).
While red clover can be bought over the counter and is generally safe, it is important to discuss any new supplements with your doctor as there can be complications with other medications. In a survey in 2006, it was found that 79% of women use herbal supplements, and yet 70% of those did not inform their doctor of their herbal supplement use. This is especially important if other medications are also being taken, as many pharmaceuticals can be impacted by the food and supplements we might be taking.
