Alfalfa
Botanical Name: Medicago sativa
Family: Fabaceae
Other Names: Buffalo herb, lucerne, purple medic
Description: A perennial plant Grows 60-90cm/2-3ft has deep tap roots and erect stems. The leaves are trifoliate, narrow and egg shaped. The flowers are like clover flowers blue/purple in colour and bloom in-between June and October
Native to: Mediterranean and Western Asia
Introduced to: Britain
Propagation: Sprout the seeds and plant out in little pots
Parts Used: Whole herb
Harvesting: Leaves can be gathered anytime
Classification: Bitter
Actions: Alterative, antispasmodic, antopyretic, digestive, diuretic, circulatory, hypocholesterolemic action, stomachic
Constituents: Isoflavones –biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, genistein. Coumarins –coumestrol, daphnoretin, lucernol, medicagol, sativol, trifoliol. Alkaloids –trigonelline, stachydrine, homostachydrine Volatile oil: hexanol, hexanal. Fixed oils and resins: octacosanal, triacontanol. Saturated fatty acids: palmitic, lauric, myristic. Flavonoids: tricin, genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, formononetin. Saponins (2-3%): soyasapogenols A, B, C, D, E, hederagenin, medicagenic acid, steroidal saponins –beta sitosterol, alpha spinasterol, stigmasterol, cycloartenol, campestrol Sugars: fructose, glucose, sucrose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, ribose. Starch (3-8%). Vitamins: biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin E, vitamin K
Circulatory, muscle joint: Arthritis, rheumatism
Digestive: Stomach ulcers, jaundice, water retention
Dosage: Dried powdered: 5-10gm 3xs a day
Aqueous alcoholic extract (70:30) 5-10ml 3xs a day
Other Notes: It is used as animal feed
Alfalfa originates from the Iranian word “aspasti” meaning “horsefodder”
It has been cultivated since 2000-1000BC in Armenia.
It was introduced to Greece around 490BC
Caution: Do not use in large doses. Do not use if pregnant