Sweet Clover

Sweet clover, long popular as food for grazing animals, is used medicinally as well. It contains various substances in the coumarin family. These chemicals help reduce fluid leakage from blood and lymph vessels. For this reason, sweet clover has been used in the treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency (two closely related conditions). Sweet clover (oral or topical) is also used for hemorrhoids, bruises, and minor injuries. However the evidence that it is effective for any of these conditions remains weak. In addition, use of sweet clover presents some significant safety concerns. (See Safety Issues for more information).

The name Melilotus originates from the Greek word for honey, meli, and a term for clover-like plants, lotos. There are four common species in this genus of Eurasian origins: Melilotus alba, M. indica, M. officinalis, and M. altissimus. The fresh or dried leaves and flowering stems of sweet clover were traditionally used as a diuretic.

Germanys Commission E has authorized use of sweet clover extract for symptoms of venous insufficiency (pain, heaviness, swelling, itching, and cramping in the legs), as well as for the treatment of phlebitis and hemorrhoids. When used for this purpose, sweet clover is generally combined with bioflavonoids such as oxerutin. There is no meaningful evidence that sweet clover taken alone is effective for these conditions. Sweet clover contains coumarins, substances related to the prescription blood-thinner warfarin. Prescription drugs that combine coumarins and bioflavonoids have also been used to treat venous insufficiency, as well as numerous conditions, including lymphedema (leakage from lymph vessels), elephantiasis, hemorrhoids and mild digestive disturbances. However, it isn't clear whether sweet clover extracts containing coumarins would work in the same way as the coumarin portion of these pharmaceutical products. Topical treatments made from sweet clover are sometimes recommended for the treatment of bruises, hemorrhoids and minor injuries, but as yet there is no real scientific evidence to support these proposed uses.

Sweet clover products are standardized to their coumarin content. For treating symptoms of venous insufficiency/ varicose veins, a daily dosage of a sweet clover preparation or extract providing 3 to 30 mg of coumarin is taken internally.(See Safety Issues below).

The safety of any medicinal use of sweet clover has not been established in humans. Sweet clover contains various substances in the coumarin family. Many (but not all) of these substances thin the blood, and might cause excessive bleeding in some individuals. In particular, sweet clover should not be combined with blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin or drugs in the aspirin family. Safety in pregnant or nursing women, young children, or individuals with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.

If you are taking blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, clopidogrel (Plavix), pentoxifylline (Trental ) or drugs in the aspirin family, you should not use sweet clover.