Botanical name:
Medicago
sativa
Parts used and where
grown
Alfalfa, also known as lucerne, is a
member of the pea family and is native to
western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean
region. Alfalfa sprouts have become a popular
food. Alfalfa herbal supplements primarily use
the dried leaves of the plant. The heat-treated
seeds of the plant have also been
used.
Alfalfa has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health
concern for complete
information):
| Health
Concerns |
|
Menopause (in combination with sage) |
|
High cholesterol
Menopause
Poor
appetite |
Historical or
traditional use (may or
may not be supported by scientific
studies)
Many
years ago, traditional Chinese physicians used
young alfalfa leaves to treat disorders of the
digestive tract. Similarly, the Ayurvedic physicians of
India prescribed the leaves and flowering tops
for poor digestion. Alfalfa was also considered
therapeutic for water retention and arthritis.
North American Indians recommended alfalfa to
treat jaundice and to encourage blood
clotting.
Although conspicuously absent from many
classic textbooks on herbal medicine, alfalfa
did find a home in the texts of the Eclectic
physicians (19th-century physicians in the
United States who used herbal therapies) as a
tonic for indigestion, dyspepsia, anemia, loss
of appetite, and poor assimilation of nutrients.
These physicians also recommended the alfalfa
plant to stimulate lactation in nursing mothers,
and the seeds were made into a poultice for the
treatment of boils and insect
bites.
Active
constituents
While
the medicinal benefits of alfalfa are poorly
understood, the constituents in alfalfa have
been extensively studied. The leaves contain
approximately 2–3% saponins. Animal studies
suggest that these constituents block absorption
of cholesterol and prevent the formation
of atherosclerotic plaques. One small human
trial found that 120 grams per day of
heat-treated alfalfa seeds for eight weeks led
to a modest reduction in cholesterol. However,
consuming the large amounts of alfalfa seeds
(80–120 grams per day) needed to supply high
amounts of these saponins may potentially cause
damage to red blood cells in the body.
Herbalists also claim that alfalfa may be
helpful for people with diabetes.
But while high amounts of a water extract of the
leaves led to increased insulin release in
animal studies, there is no evidence that
alfalfa would be useful for the treatment of
diabetes in humans.
Alfalfa leaves also contain flavones,
isoflavones, sterols, and coumarin derivatives.
The isoflavones are thought to be responsible
for the estrogen-like effects seen in animal
studies. Although this has not been confirmed
with human trials, alfalfa is sometimes used to
treat menopause symptoms.
Alfalfa contains protein and vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and
vitamin
K. Nutrient analysis demonstrates the
presence of calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc.
How much is usually
taken?
Dried alfalfa leaf is available as
a bulk herb, and in tablets or capsules. It is
also available in liquid extracts. No
therapeutic amount of alfalfa has been
established for humans. Some herbalists
recommend 500–1,000 mg of the dried leaf per day
or 1–2 ml of tincture three times per
day.
Are there any side
effects or interactions?
Use
of the dried leaves of alfalfa in the amounts
listed above is usually safe. There have been
isolated reports of people who are allergic to
alfalfa. Ingestion of very large amounts (the
equivalent of several servings) of the seed
and/or sprouts has been linked to the onset of
systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) in animal studies.
It has also been linked to the reactivation of
SLE in people consuming alfalfa tablets. SLE is
an autoimmune illness characterized by inflamed
joints and a high risk of damage to kidneys and
other organs. The chemical responsible for this
effect is believed to be
canavanine.
