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Alfalfa alfalfa field herb image

perennial, clover-like, leguminous plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), known for its tolerance of drought, heat, and cold; for the remarkable productivity and the quality of its herbage

Common Name: Alfalfa
Scientific Name: Medicago sativa

Its high protein content and abundant stores of vitamins make it a good nutritional source for humans and provides an excellent protein-rich food source for cattle, horses, sheep, and other animals.

Alfalfa, called the "Queen of the Forages," is the fourth most widely grown crop in the United States behind corn, wheat and soybeans and double the cotton acreage.

Alfalfa is one of the earliest cultivated plants, used for centuries for feeding livestock, because it is easy to grow, thrives in many varied climates throughout the world, The name alfalfa comes from the Arabian al-fac-facah, for "father of all  foods"
Nutrient : Biotin, calcium, choline, inositol, iron, magnesium, PABA, phosphorus, potassium, protein, sodium, sulfur, tryptophan (amino acid), and vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, K, P, and U.
Constituents : Contains organic minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium and almost all known vitamins, as well as very high in chlorophyll

How It Is Used

Historic (but undocumented) medicinal uses of alfalfa include treatment of stomach upset, arthritis, bladder and kidney problems, boils, and irregular menstruation.

Alfalfa is very rich in many nutrients, including calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, beta carotene, and vitamins C, D, E and K, making it a wonderful tonifying herb that restores strength to the sick and weak. It is used to treat all chronic and acute digestive weaknesses, since it helps the body to assimilate nutrients. Alfalfa builds strength and vitality and can be used to increase weight. Its cooling properties make alfalfa ideal for disorders related to aging problems that have too much heat and inflammation. Use this herb for cystitis, burning urine, prostatitis, insomnia, increasing mother's milk, lowering fevers, lowering cholesterol, diabetes, ulcers, arthritis and rheumatic problems, lower back ache and to encourage blood clotting.
Dosage: Standard infusion, take one cup three times a day. Also available in capsules and tinctures.
Safety: Safe. Chronic use of alfalfa tablets should possibly be avoided by people with lupus. Warfarin's activity could be reduced by the high vitamin K content of alfalfa
.

Benefits

Alfalfa plant or Alfalfa sprout juice Alfalfa plant, which is also known as lucerne or bum clover, is usually known to fatten cattle, and the juice has long been employed to put weight on people. Combined with carrot and lettuce, alfalfa juice is reputed to aid the growth of hair. Like comfrey the alfalfa plant has exceptionally long roots, sometimes over 120 ft (37m).

Uses : Alfalfa tea is commonly used as a beverage; it is also used medicinally. Nutritious fresh or dried leaf tea traditionally used to promote appetite, weight gain, diuretic, stops bleeding.

A source of commercial chlorophyll and carotene, both with valid health claims. Contains the anti-oxidant tricin.

Experimentally, antifungal, and setrogenic. Unsubstantiated claims include use for cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, arthritis, etc.

High in chlorophyll and nutrients. Alkalies the body and detoxifies the body, especially the liver. Good for all colon disorders, anemia, hemorrhaging, indigestion, vitamin or mineral deficiency, laxative, cystitis, blood purifier, gas, edema, diabetes, ulcers, and arthritis. Promotes pituitary gland function. Contains an antifungus agent.
Dosage : Infusion: mix 1 tbsp. dried herb with 8 oz. of warm water. Drink 1 cup of this home brewed tea daily.

Fresh: toss alfalfa sprouts in a salad.

For relief of rheumatoid arthritis, take 9 to 18 alfalfa tablets daily.

 Growing Alfalfa

Dr. Larry Teuber at UC Davis did studies under controlled conditionsthat showed that seedling alfalfa roots grow best at 2 inch average soiltemperatures 69 to 76oF. These temperatures occur in mid-September to earlyOctober and again from late April to early May. However, his studies alsoshowed that at temperatures above 68oF the young alfalfa plant sends moreof its energy into making top growth than root growth, and below 68oF willsend more energy into making roots. Consequently, planting in early fallwill not only give the optimum temperatures the plant needs to grow butmore of that growth will be directed at developing a good root system.

More Facts about Alfalfa

 The first documented use by the Chinese dates back to the 6th century.

Chinese healers use alfalfa for kidney stones and normal water retention.

First discovered by the Arabs, they dubbed this valuable plant the "father of all foods

Alfalfa is an herbaceous perennial legume that grows throughout the world in a variety of climates. A mature plant may have from 5 to 25 stems, which usually reach a height of 15-25 inches (38-63 cm). The stems are branched and slender and bear pinnate leaves which are arranged alternately on the stem. Alfalfa has blue-violet flowers. It is grown in many areas of the US, accounting for nearly 30 million acres (12 million ha) of production. A wide range of soil and climatic conditions are suitable for alfalfa, but for best production it requires a well-drained soil with nearly neutral pH and good fertility. Alfalfa doesn't do well in poorly drained or acid soil or areas where sporadic drought may occur. Alfalfa is used primarily as a hay crop. It has the highest feeding value of all commonly grown hay crops when harvested at late bud or early flower stage of maturity, and produces the greatest amount of protein per acre of any livestock feed. It can be made into silage, pellets, meal, or cubes.

 

 

 

 

 aloe vera wild image
Alfalfa has blue-violet flowers.

           Herb Index A to Z

 A  B  C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

Beth Root - AKA: BIRTHROOT, COUGHROOT, GROUND LILY, INDIAN BALM, INDIAN SHAMROCK, PLANT, PURPLE TRILLIUM, SNAKEBITE, SQUAW ROOT, TRILLIUM PENDULUM, WAKE-ROBIN

Chaste Tree - AKA: Vitex, Monk's Pepper and Wild Pepper

 

Comfrey - AKA: Knitbone, common comfrey, symphytum, blackwort, healing herb and bruisewort
 

Condurango - AKA: Eagle vine

Elder -AKA: American Elder , Sweet Elder and Common Elder 

 

Golden Rod -  AKA: Virgaurea, Herba Solidaginus

 Gravel Root - AKA: Gravelweed, Joe-Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow, purple boneset, trumpet weed, kidney root

 

Ground Ivy - AKA: Alehoof, Cat’s foot, Creeping Charlie, Gill-over-the-ground, Gillrun, Hay maids, hedge maids

 

Guaiacum - AKA: Guaiac, Lignum vitae, pockwood

Gotu kola

 

H       A  B  C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

Hawthorn - AKA: Haw, May Blossom, Maybush, May Tree, Quick-set, Shan-cha

 

Horehound - AKA: Marrubium, Hoarhound, White Horehound

 

Mustard - AKA White Mustard, Yellow Mustard, Black Mustard, Kedlock

Myrrh  -   AKA: Balsamodendron

Senega - AKA: Milkwort, Rattlesnake Root, Seneca Snakeroot, Snake Root