Also known as lucerne, alfalfa is a type of plant that belongs to the pea family, and is found throughout western Asia and eastern Europe. It can reach a height of approximately three feet, with smooth, sharply angled stems and clover-like flowers that can range in color from yellow to violet. The sprouts of the alfalfa plant are a popular food, and are often used with salads and other meals. In herbal remedies, the plant's leaves and seeds are often employed. They are removed from the plant and dried before being added to herbal preparations.
As a type of folk medicine, alfalfa has been used to treat conditions such as diabetes and malfunction of the thyroid gland, and to help with blood clotting. In traditional Chinese medicine, alfalfa leaves have been used to treat digestive disorders and to help retain water. Alfalfa seeds are sometimes ground into a poultice and applied to the skin to treat rashes and insect bites.
Alfalfa leaves contain a variety of chemical compounds, including flavones, isoflavones, sterols, and derivatives of coumarin. Because of their high isoflavone levels, alfalfa is sometimes used to treat the symptoms of menopause.
The amount of alfalfa to be taken depends on the condition being treated. Bulk amounts of alfalfa sprouts are often used in salads and sandwiches, and as a garnish for other meals. Some herbalists recommend between 500 and 1,000 milligrams of powdered alfalfa leaf, or 1-2 milliliters of an alfalfa tincture.
Alfalfa is available in a wide variety of forms. Alfalfa sprouts can be found at most supermarkets and herbal shops. Alfalfa supplements are available as pills, powders, extracts and tinctures.
Alfalfa is generally considered safe; the American Herbal Products Association has given it a class 1 rating, meaning that it can be safely consumed when used appropriately. Some patients have reported allergic reactions to alfalfa; in these instances, use of alfalfa products should be discontinued immediately. Ingestion of extremely large amounts of alfalfa for extended periods of time has been linked to the onset of lupus in animal studies, but these results have not been duplicated in humans.
As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with alfalfa. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking alfalfa or any other dietary supplement or herbal remedy.
References
Over my almost 30 years in clinical practice, I have used Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang extensively for a wide array of clinical presentations ranging from chronic headaches to anxiety, insomnia, and prescription drug withdrawal symptoms if these situations fit the appropriate patterns – all with extremely positive clinical outcomes.
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