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HERBAL OVERVIEW
ALFALFA
Medicago sativa L. (family Fabaceae)
Also known as Lucerne, Holy-Hay, and Trefoil.
TRADE NAMES
Alfalfa, Alfalfa Concentrate, Alfalfa Fortified, Alfalfa Natural, Alfalfa Organics, Alfalfa Whole Juice Concentrate, Alfamin
DESCRIPTION
A nutritious fodder plant with violet flowers. Its roots extend some three and one-half inches below the soil. If you have ever driven across the desert west of the United States and noticed occasional fields of bright green grass, chances are you saw alfalfa. Alfalfa is one of the oldest cultivated plants. It has been used for centuries for hay, but it has also been used for centuries as a human food. Its name comes from the Arabic, al-fac-facah, "father of all foods."
PARTS USED
Seeds, sprouts, and the above ground parts of the plant as a bulk her, for teas and in capsules.
RANGE
First cultivated in Persia, it was taken to Greece in the fifth century B.C. and to Spain in the eighth century A.D. Spaniards introduced it to North and South America.
DESCRIPTION
Alfalfa is one of the most mineral-rich foods known, alfalfa has roots that grow as much as 130 feet into the earth. Alfalfa is available in liquid extract form and is good to use while fasting because of its chlorophyll and nutrient content. It contains digestive-aiding enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, plus all known vitamins. As a food, alfalfa provides beta-carotene and vitamins C, E, and K (although it is not, as frequently claimed, a source of vitamin A). The minerals are in a balanced form, which promotes absorption. These minerals are alkaline, but have a neutralizing effect on the intestinal tract.
If you need a mineral supplement, alfalfa is a good choice. It has helped many arthritis sufferers. Alfalfa, wheatgrass, barley, and spirulina, all of which contain chlorophyll, have been found to aid in the healing of intestinal ulcers, gastritis, liver disorders, eczema, hemorrhoids, asthma, high blood pressure, anemia, constipation, body and breath odor, bleeding gums, infections, burns, athlete's foot, and cancer.
Alfalfa is widely used in the treatment of gout, with much success. A flare-up of gout due to use of alfalfa is most likely caused by an allergic reaction in the individual, as many people are allergic to alfalfa. Symptoms of an allergic-type reaction can include dermatitis (skin rash), shortness of breath, diarrhea, gas, muscle pain, fatigue, kidney problems, and others. Also, alfalfa extracts, which may contain large amounts of alcohol, are not beneficial to gout sufferers.
Alfalfa is one of the ingredients in our MoonDragon's Pregnancy Tea. It is a very nutritious supplement for pregnancy. When it is added with equal parts of nettles and peppermint leaf and 2 times the amount of red raspberry leaf herbs, it supplies the valuable vitamins and minerals that a pregnant mother needs to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
In place of vitamin K injections (a prescription drug) for newborns or to help with other blood clotting concerns, we use a natural concentrated alfalfa liquid (it can be purchased with mint added for a nice flavor) rich in vitamin K from chlorophyll if the need arises. Usually an eyedropper or two of this liquid is sufficient to help with clotting concerns. The liquid actually has a "green, slightly minty" taste that is not unpleasant to the taste.
If you answer no to the question "Got milk" you should answer yes to the question "Got alfalfa".
Alfalfa is one of the best natural sources of vitamin K. This nutrient helps blood to clot by moving calcium into proteins that form a microscopic net to capture red blood cells. Vitamin K likewise helps bones to knit by working with vitamin D and glutamic acid to activate osteocalcin. The combination of these three nutrients is essential to building good bone. Your body can't use calcium without it.
Alfalfa not only helps keep calcium in bones, it helps keep calcium out of the linings of arteries. You've probably heard of "hardening of the arteries" known in medical terms as atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis. Hardened arteries are a result of calcium replacing cholesterol in the lining of the blood vessel. This calcification happens when a microscopically small amount of cholesterol becomes lodged in the arterial wall. White blood cells known as macrophages feed on cholesterol, and they make a surveillance run throughout the bloodstream to keep the arteries open. Sometimes, however, a macrophage gets imbedded in the arterial wall and can't get out. It dies trying to feed on the excess cholesterol, and other macrophages are signaled to clean up the new and larger problem in the lining of the blood vessel. There can eventually be a visible mass (sometimes the size of the period at the end of this sentence, but sometimes a lot larger) consisting of a tiny bit of cholesterol and a whole lot of dead white blood cells. The dead white blood cells can be replaced by artery-hardening calcium.
Vitamin K from alfalfa, however, keeps that from happening. Just as vitamin K makes sure calcium moves into bones, the best information from current science is that it keeps calcium out of arterial clogs.
Preventing arteriosclerosis isn't quite the same thing as lowering cholesterol. There is good preliminary evidence that alfalfa seeds can lower cholesterol levels in a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. This form of high cholesterol does not usually respond to other medications. The levels of cholesterol after taking alfalfa for eight weeks aren't good, but they are 18 to 20% lower than the baseline and better than for statin drugs. In people who don't have familial hypercholesterolemia, there's no clear benefit for lowering cholesterol.
Alfalfa is used with homeopathic remedy Lactuca Virosa to stimulate milk production in breastfeeding mothers. It can also be used with blessed thistle, fenugreek, and/or marshmallow for this purpose.
PRECAUTIONS
The biggest risk in using alfalfa is eating sprouts grown in contaminated water. This is also the simplest risk to avoid. Avoid limp or smelly sprouts, and rinse sprouts before use.
Nutritional naysayers offer a long list of potential objections to using sprouts, most of them based on incomplete information. For most people, alfalfa sprouts are inherently safe, but they do interact with certain medications.
If you are taking anti-rejection drugs for kidney transplant, do not use any form of alfalfa. The herbs and the medications you need to benefit from the transplant simply may not mix. There is no need to panic if you are a transplant patient and you have been using alfalfa products because the risk of adverse reaction is low. The reason not to use alfalfa is that while the risk of damage to the kidneys is very remote, it is also very serious.
Similarly, you probably should treat alfalfa the same way you treat any other green, leafy vegetable if you take Coumadin. Alfalfa is rich in vitamin K that can interfere with the drug's anti-coagulant effects. If you are on Coumadin, you should have been advised on the safe consumption of not just alfalfa but also of all other green, leafy vegetables.
For everyone else, the main concern about alfalfa is the chemical L-cavanine. It's found in alfalfa herb, alfalfa sprouts, and alfalfa seeds, and any product made from them without heating. L-cavanine, in extremely rare instances of excessive consumption, can cause abnormal red blood cell counts, enlargement of the spleen, or relapses of lupus. Recent epidemiological research has found that it does not cause lupus; in fact, in the most recent study, women with lupus were less likely to have eaten the herb than women who are free of the disease.
How to avoid problems with L-cavanine? You can still use alfalfa, just used in teas or as a cooked vegetable, or in its raw form up to twelve 1-gram capsules or 3 tablespoons a day. Just don't overdo. The basic law in life and well-being is ALL THINGS IN MODERATION.
Megadoses of any herb or supplement should only be consumed under the supervision of a health care provider. If you have health problems or you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your midwife or health care provider before beginning any type of therapy. If you have any adverse reaction to any substance, discontinue immediately and seek medical attention, if needed.
MoonDragon's Health Information: Nutrition Basics: Herbal Index
SUPPLEMENT DIRECTIONS
Alfalfa sprouts are often found in grocery stores and salad bars. These are easy to grow at home for your own use when you purchase organic alfalfa sprouting seed. Capsules or tablets containing alfalfa leaves or seeds as well as the bulk powdered herb are found in health food stores. These items are available on-line (see links below). The usual dose of alfalfa for tea is 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup, steeped in boiling water for 10 to 20 minutes. Capsules and tablets of whole alfalfa should be taken according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
ALFALFA SUPPLEMENTS & PRODUCTS
Alfa Max, Alfalfa Extract, Nature's Way, 525 mg, 100 Caps
Nature's Way Alfa-Max Alfalfa Extract capsules is a 10x extract of fresh green Alfalfa leaves.
Chlorophyll With Alfalfa Powder, NOW Foods, 100 mg, 90 Caps
Chlorophyll is a unique substance found in all green plants and is sometimes called the blood of plant life. Identified as sodium-copper chlorophyllin, this water soluble extract is derived exclusively from alfalfa through a natural process.
Alfalfa, NOW Foods, 650 mg, 500 Tabs
NOW Food's Alfalfa tablets deliver excellent health benefits. Alfalfa is a rich natural source of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and protein which supports a healthy colon.
Alfalfa Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is Useful to generate energy and endurance; a tonic for the whole body, due to its highly nutritive value.
Alfalfa Leaf Root (Medicago sativa) Powder, Kosher, 4 oz. Bulk
Alfalfa's (Medicago sativa) deep root system pulls valuable minerals from the soil. With the aid of sunlight, nutrients including beta carotene and chlorophyll are made available to the body in a usable form.
Alfalco (Alfalfa Tonic), Homeopathic Boericke & Tafel (B&T), 8 fl. oz.
Alfalco, Alfalfa Tonic, relieves fatigue, stress & sleeplessness and is a natural homeopathic.
Alfalfa Leaves, Nature's Way, 405 mg, 100 Caps
Nature's Way Alfalfa Leaves are organically grown by Trout Lake Farm, Washington, and Certified Organically Processed in accordance with Oregon Tilth standards and the California Organic Foods Act of 1990.
Alfalfa Powder Whole Food Supplement, NOW Foods, 1 lb.
Alfalfa Powder is a supplement which can be blended into vegetable juices or used in baking or in vegetarian dishes. It is 20% protein and 15% fiber; plus it contains 16 amino acids, 13 trace minerals and 13 vitamins. Alfalfa Powder is a whole food supplement highly valued for its nutrition.
FOR MORE PRODUCTS & INFORMATION CLICK ON THESE LINKS:
Mountain Rose Herbs: Bulk Herbs - Alfalfa Leaf, Alfalfa Powder & Alfalfa Sprouting Seed, 100% Organic, 4 oz to 1 lb size
HerbalRemedies: Alfalfa / Medicago Sativa / Buffalo Herb / Lucerne / Mu-su / Purple medic Supplements & Products
HerbalRemedies: Alfalfa / Medicago Sativa / Buffalo Herb / Lucerne / Mu-su / Purple medic Information
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HELPFUL PRODUCTS & FURTHER EDUCATION
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 2nd Edition
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 4th Edition
Prescription for Herbal Healing: The A-To-Z Reference To Common Disorders
-- by Phyllis A. Balch
The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
This is only a small sample of educational materials and products available through Amazon.com. Use the search box provided below to search for a particular item.
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