Plant Comparison

Midland Hawthorn vs Red Clover

A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.

First plant

Second plant

Plant AMidland HawthornCrataegus laevigataRosaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BRed CloverTrifolium pratenseFabaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Midland Hawthorn and Red Clover: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, cardiovascular / heart health, inflammation (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.

Midland HawthornRed Clover

Constituents22

Pharmacological actions410

Indicated uses716

Safety notes22

Cited sources2244

Indicated uses

Only Midland Hawthorn

Insomnia / sleeplessness

Shared (6)

Arthritis / joint painCardiovascular / heart healthInflammation (general)Menstrual crampsMuscle spasmSkin irritation

Only Red Clover

BronchitisCoughRespiratory supportMenopauseHot flashesHigh cholesterolCancer (anticancer research)Blood sugar / diabetes supportCognitive functionWounds

Pharmacological actions

Only Midland Hawthorn

Sedative / sleep support

Shared (3)

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAntispasmodic

Only Red Clover

ExpectorantLipid-loweringAnticancer (preclinical)Neuroprotective / cognition supportAntidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)AntimicrobialVulnerary (wound healing)

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Midland Hawthorn	Red Clover	Verdict
Arthritis / joint pain	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Cardiovascular / heart health	1/10	9/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Inflammation (general)	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Menstrual cramps	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Muscle spasm	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Skin irritation	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover

Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.

Key Constituents

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins and flavonoids^[5]

The principal cardioactive and antioxidant constituents, the basis for extract standardisation.

ProanthocyanidinsFlavonoidsQuercetin

Phenolic acids

Additional antioxidant constituents of the flower, leaf and fruit.

Phenolic acidsChlorogenic acid

Isoflavones (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, genistein)^[14]

Phytoestrogenic isoflavones responsible for the plant's estrogenic and cardiovascular research interest; one of the richest known plant sources.

Flavonoids

Coumarins^[40]

Contribute mild anticoagulant activity; relevant to the plant's caution around blood-thinning medication.

Coumarins

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[9, 15, 16]}

Antioxidant^{[2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16]}

Antispasmodic^{[2, 10, 11, 15, 16]}

Antispasmodic (cramp easing)

Sedative / sleep support^{[12, 15, 16]}

Anti-inflammatory^{[4, 14, 17, 22, 28, 33, 34, 40, 41]}

Antioxidant^{[4, 6, 14, 16, 17, 22, 28, 29, 40, 41]}

Antispasmodic^{[8, 14, 40, 41]}

Antispasmodic (cramp easing)

Expectorant^{[14, 40, 41]}

Lipid-lowering^{[5, 11, 13]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36, 37]}

Neuroprotective / cognition support^{[23, 30, 31, 32]}

Antidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)^{[24, 25, 38]}

Antimicrobial^{[17, 27]}

Vulnerary (wound healing)^{[17, 39]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Inflammation (general)^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from sedative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

Menstrual cramps^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Menstrual cramps

Muscle spasm^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Muscle spasm

Skin irritation^{[15, 16]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

Arthritis / joint pain^{[14, 34, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Bronchitis^{[14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5

Label: Bronchitis

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[2, 10, 13, 14, 16, 33, 40, 41]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Cough^{[14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5

Label: Cough

Inflammation (general)^{[14, 28, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Inflammation (general)

Menstrual cramps^{[8, 14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

Evidence: 5

Label: Menstrual cramps

Muscle spasm^{[8, 14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 5

Label: Muscle spasm

Respiratory support^{[14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5

Label: Respiratory support

Skin irritation^{[7, 14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Skin irritation

Menopause^{[1, 5, 11, 12, 15]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: Menopause

Hot flashes^{[1, 5, 11, 12]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: Hot flashes

High cholesterol^{[5, 11, 13]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: High cholesterol

Cancer (anticancer research)^{[16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36, 37]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 7

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Blood sugar / diabetes support^{[24, 25, 38]}Traditional · 2/10

Evidence: 2

Label: Blood sugar / diabetes support

Cognitive function^{[23, 30, 31, 32]}Good · 8/10

inferred from neuroprotective action

Evidence: 8

Label: Cognitive function

Wounds^{[17, 39]}Good · 7/10

inferred from vulnerary action

Evidence: 7

Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[15, 16]}Caution

Generally safe and well tolerated. High doses may cause low blood pressure and sedation. May interact with cardiac glycosides (digoxin) and antihypertensive drugs. Consult a physician before using with existing heart medications.

Safety note^{[15, 16, 17]}Info

Duke (2002) rates hawthorn (Crataegus spp., including C. laevigata) as a triple-plus herb (+++) with Commission E approval (score 2-3) for decreasing cardiac output in functional Stage II heart insufficiency (NYHA). Clinical evidence supports hawthorn standardized extracts (80-500 mg, standardized to flavonoids or procyanidins) for angina, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Hawthorn may potentiate digitalis and other cardiac medications and is not considered suitable for self-medication without professional guidance (Duke, 2002).

Safety note^{[14, 40, 41]}Caution

Generally safe in normal dietary amounts. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens — exercise caution in oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer patients or those taking hormone therapies. May interact with warfarin (antiplatelet activity). Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Well tolerated in most adults.

Safety note^{[14, 40, 41, 42]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates red clover as +++ and provides clinical evidence (score 2) for estrogenic activity — the plant is one of the richest plant sources of isoflavones (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, genistein). Clinical applications include menopausal symptom relief, osteoporosis prevention, and cardiovascular protection in peri-menopausal women. Dose: standardized extract providing 40–160 mg isoflavones daily. Duke cautions that due to strong estrogenic activity, red clover is not recommended in estrogen-dependent cancers (breast, uterine) or alongside hormone replacement therapy without medical supervision. Anti-coagulant coumarins are also present (Duke, 2002).

External Ids

Gbif: 8252683

Wikidata: Q159553

Gbif: 8324121

Wikidata: Q156635

Botanical Description

Small deciduous tree or large shrub with thorny branches and glossy, shallowly lobed leaves (less deeply cut than common hawthorn). Clusters of small, five-petalled white (occasionally pink) flowers with a strong scent appear in spring, followed by small red berries (haws), each usually containing two seeds (nutlets).^[1]

Height: 4-8 m

Habit: Small deciduous, thorny tree or large shrub

Leaves: Glossy, shallowly lobed (less deeply cut than C. monogyna)

Flowers: Clusters of small, five-petalled white to pink, strongly scented flowers

Stem: Thorny branches; grey, fissured bark on older wood

Root: Deep, spreading root system

Fruit: Small red berry (haw), usually with two seeds

Flowering Period: April-May

Short-lived perennial herb with trifoliate leaves, each leaflet oval and often marked with a pale chevron, arising from a spreading, slightly hairy stem. Dense, rounded, pink to magenta flower heads are borne at the stem tips.^[40]

Height: 20-60 cm

Habit: Short-lived perennial herb, spreading via a branching taproot

Leaves: Trifoliate, each leaflet oval with a pale chevron marking, slightly hairy

Flowers: Dense, rounded heads of small pink to magenta pea-like flowers

Stem: Slightly hairy, branching, spreading

Root: Branching taproot with nitrogen-fixing root nodules

Fruit: Small pod containing 1-2 seeds, enclosed within the dried flower head

Flowering Period: May-September

Habitat

Grows in woodland, woodland edges, hedgerows and scrub, typically on richer, damper soils than common hawthorn; native to western and central Europe.^[1]

Grows in meadows, pastures, roadsides and grassy waste ground; native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa and widely naturalised and cultivated as a forage crop elsewhere.^[40]

Harvesting

Flowers are picked as they open in spring, leaves are picked with the young flowering shoots, and the ripe red berries (haws) are gathered in autumn; all three parts are used, often combined, in hawthorn preparations.^[1]

Parts: Flower, Fruit, Leaf

Season: Flower and leaf in spring; fruit in autumn

The flowering heads are picked at full bloom in summer and dried quickly in a warm, shaded, airy place to preserve isoflavone content and colour.^[40]

Parts: Flower, Leaf

Season: Summer, at full bloom

Traditional Uses

Hawthorn flower, leaf and berry have a long European tradition, and substantial modern clinical study, as a cardiovascular tonic - supporting heart function, mild circulatory complaints and calming nervous tension - reflected in its traditional use for 'heart strengthening' and its modern standing as a well-studied botanical for mild heart failure symptoms.^[1]

Red clover flower has a long folk tradition as a blood-purifying and expectorant remedy for coughs and skin complaints, and more recently has become one of the most studied herbal sources of isoflavone phytoestrogens, researched for menopausal symptom relief and cardiovascular and bone support.^{[14, 40, 41]}

Preparations

Standardised extract^[1]

Leaf-and-flower extract standardised to flavonoid or oligomeric proanthocyanidin content, taken as tablets or capsules; the best-studied clinical form.

Infusion (flower)^[40]

Dried flower heads infused in hot water as a traditional tea for coughs and as a general tonic.

Standardized isoflavone extract^[14]

Standardized isoflavone extract in tablet form, the form used in most menopause-related clinical research.

Dosage

Standardised extract^[14]

The EU herbal monograph on Crataegus spp., folium cum flore gives dry extracts in divided daily doses of 240-900 mg (single dose 80-450 mg) or, for one quantified extract, 570-1750 mg daily (single dose 190-350 mg), in adults and elderly. If symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks a doctor should be consulted, and hawthorn is never used as a substitute for prescribed heart medication without medical supervision. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Herbal tea^[14]

The EU herbal monograph gives 1-2 g of the comminuted leaf and flower in 150 mL of boiling water as an infusion, up to 4 times daily (maximum 6 g daily), in adults and elderly. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Standardized extract^[14]

Clinical research commonly uses around 40-80 mg isoflavones daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-0782, REF-0783, REF-0784, REF-1779, REF-1780, REF-1781, REF-1782, REF-1783, REF-1784, REF-1785, REF-1786, REF-1787, REF-1788

REF-1104, REF-1105, REF-1106, REF-1107, REF-1108, REF-1109, REF-1110, REF-1111, REF-1112, REF-1113, REF-2344, REF-2345, REF-2346, REF-0013, REF-2347, REF-2889, REF-2890, REF-2891, REF-2892, REF-2893, REF-2894, REF-2895, REF-2896, REF-2897, REF-2898, REF-2899, REF-2900, REF-2923, REF-2924, REF-2925, REF-2926, REF-2927, REF-2928, REF-2929, REF-2930, REF-2931, REF-2932, REF-2933, REF-2934

Drug Class Interactions

Safety note^{[18, 19, 20]}Caution

Drug Class: cardiac-glycosides

Mechanism: Hawthorn has its own positive effect on the heart (a Cochrane review found it improves heart-failure symptoms and exercise tolerance) and shares P-glycoprotein handling with digoxin, so combining it with digoxin or other cardiac-glycoside heart drugs should be supervised even though a controlled study found no major change in digoxin levels.