Harvesting Red Clover Blossoms and Making Them Into Tincture

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)typically doesn't grow in Texas, but it was growing on Maypop Farms. The blossoms are edible and have a neutral, sweet, and satisfying taste. They have an affinity for the salivary glands causing slight stimulation, which is helpful in quenching thirst (Wood 1997). The flowers can be dried or used fresh to make an herbal tea infusion. It's long been considered a blood cleanser and can be used to support the reproductive system and the liver. Since it works well in assisting detoxify the body, it has long been recommended to drink the tea in an effort to address troubled skin.

Red Clover is considered an alterative; when used over time on a regular basis helps alter the body in some way. In the case of Red Clover, it is said to alter the lymphatic system and helps the liver remove waste. Since it has an affinity to salivary glands and glands in general, it has been used to reduce swelling in glands and has been used to address salivary stones.

On a hike at the farm, we found a stand of red clover. Their leaves are very smooth and soft. They love growing in grasses and partly sunny areas. Once the blossoms were gathered, they were placed in jars to make into tincture. Pictured above is a glycerite tincture preparation using Simpler's method (compacting the plant material tightly in a jar then filling up with vodka or glycerin and shaken daily for two weeks). Seeing that I have a salivary stone myself...I'll be first in line to use this tincture in hopes of addressing the stone in my submandular gland.

Reference taken from Mathew Wood's "The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicine" 1997.

Herbal Retreat: Maypop Farms

Maypop Farms is lovingly named after the enticing passion flower (pictured here growing at the farm). The Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine, led by Nicole Telkes, took a field trip to this amazing land in Montgomery, Texas. The Farm is cared for by an herbalist named Larry (pictured here teaching us how to make delicious peach wine). I took so many pictures and cannot describe how important this trip is for a budding herbalist. Where else can you see stands of red clover growing freely, along with bee balm, passion flower, elderberry, heirloom garlic, wild oats, millet, wheat, and a myriad other edible plants and herbs?

Many "herb nerds" as Nicole dubs us slept in tents, in open air platforms, or in their vehicles (like yours truly). With screened in back windows, a fan, and my comfy bedding from home - I soon created a "home away from home" in the suburban. Waking up at the crack of dawn, stepping outside and washing up on the tailgate, prepping my breakfast, lunch and dinner in the "kitchen quadrant" of the 'burban, was so invigorating! I just loved this experience. Most of all, I loved connecting with the plants and other herbalists who understand and respect the plants.

I took so many pictures, I'll have to work them in as I feature them individually in other postings. I simply cannot wait until I have the energy to post them and discuss them. As I type, I have bee balm spread out on paper ready to be dehydrated (pictured above). I'm going to infuse this bee balm in oil to make a very special lotion. (sigh) now to unpack all my bags! ciao!