Properties and benefits of alfalfa

What is alfalfa and what is it for?

The alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)it’s a plant legume grown on a large scale fodder, although it has numerous nutritional and medicinal properties. It is also common to find it in wastelands, grasslands and ditches in a good part of Europe, including the northeast of the peninsula.

It is believed to come from Central Asia., and that it could have been introduced into Europe by the Arabs, although it could also have arrived much earlier, by the hand of the Persians through Greece. The truth is in China it has been used for human consumption since at least the sixth century in order to combat digestive pain and kidney disorders.

It is an erect, pubescent plant, trifoliate leaves and blue or yellow flowers. He fruit is a bean very curved or round. Blooms from May and during the summer, and for medicinal purposes are harvested flowery tops in full bloom.

Nutritional properties of alfalfa

Alfalfa stands out for its high content of vitamins –K, E, D and A–, mineral salts such as iron, calcium, zinc and phosphorus, saponosides and isoflavones. It is therefore used as restorative naturally in states of weakness, anemia and physical fatigueas well as in states that require an additional supply of vitamins: it is a powerful invigorating.

Given these properties, alfalfa promotes recovery after an illness and helps to recover the appetite. In such cases, nothing better than taking the fresh plant – the leaf or the sprout of seeds–, integrated in salador in tabletsfrom 2 to 4 units of up to 300 mg per day.

Medicinal uses of alfalfa

alfalfa can help with other ailments:

For menstruation and hemorrhoids: Due to its vitamin K content, it is especially indicated to correct heavy periods, superficial, nose and dental bleeds and bleeding hemorrhoids. For these purposes, it is recommended to use fresh or germinated grass, because the potential in Vitamin K can be lost through cooking.To regulate cholesterol: like the alfalfa seeds are also considered lipid-loweringits inclusion in the diet is a good option.For the bones: Due to its contribution of isoflavones and calcium, alfalfa helps strengthen bones and prevents osteoporosisAt menopause: Various ways of taking it are recommended, such as sprouts in salads, fresh alfalfa juice micronized -between 500 and 700 mg daily in three doses-, or in capsules, liquid extract and tablets.

Precautions and contraindications

should be avoided in treatments with estrogens or anticoagulants and patients with lupus erythematosus.

Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”