ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) +

ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) +

Activities (Alfalfa) — Abortifacient (f; MAD); Alterative (f; PED); Antiatherosclerotic (1; APA);
Antibacterial (1; CRC; WOI); Antiinflammatory (f; APA); Antipyretic (f; PED); Antiscorbutic
(1; CRC); Antispasmodic (f; PED); Antithrombic (f; PED); Aperitif (f; CRC; SKY); Bitter (f;
PED); Cardiotonic (f; CRC); Choleretic (1; PNC); Cyanogenic (f; CRC); Deobstruent (f; CRC);
Depurative (f; CRC; PED); Digestive (1; PED); Diuretic (1; CRC; PED; PH2); Ecbolic (f; CRC);
Emetic (f; CRC); Emmenagogue (1; CRC; FNF; UPW); Estrogenic (1; CRC; FAD; SKY);
Fungicide (1; FAD); Hemolytic (f; APA); Hemostat (f; FAD); Hypocholesterolemic (f; CAN;
PED); Hypoglycemic (f; PED); Lactagogue (1; CRC; FNF; UPW); Stimulant (f; CRC); Stomachic
(f; CRC; PED); Tonic (f; CRC; PED).
Indications (Alfalfa) — Alcoholism (f; FAD); Allergy (f; APA); Anorexia (f; CRC; FAD; SKY);
Arthrosis (f; APA; CRC; FAD; MAD); Asthma (f; APA); Atherosclerosis (1; APA); Bacteria (1;
CRC; FNF; WOI); Bleeding (f; FAD); Blood Clot (f; APA; PED); Boil (f; CRC); Cancer (f;
FAD; JLH); Cholecystosis (f; APA); Cough (f; CRC); Cramp (f; PED); Debility (1; CAN);
Diabetes (1; APA; CAN; FAD; MAD; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; APA); Dysuria (f; CRC; PED);
Enterosis (f; CRC); ERT (1; FAD; FNF; SKY); Fever (f; CRC; PED); Fungus (1; FAD); Gall
Bladder (1; PNC); Gastrosis (f; CRC); Gravel (f; CRC); Halitosis (1; FNF); High Cholesterol
(1; APA; CAN; PED; PNC); Hyperglycemia (f; PED); Hypoprothrombinaemic Purpura (1; CAN);
Indigestion (1; PED); Induration (f; MAD); Infection (1; FAD); Inflammation (f; APA); Mycosis
(1; FAD); Myxedema (f; MAD); Nephrosis (f; APA; CRC); Ophthalmia (f; MAD); Otosis (f;
DEM); Poor Milk Supply (1; FAD; FNF); Prostatosis (1; APA; FNF); Rheumatism (f; PED;
MAD); Swelling (f; MAD); Thrombosis (f; PED); Thyroidosis (f; PHR; PH2); Water Retention
(1; CRC; PED; PH2); Wound (f; MAD); Yeast (1; CAN).

Dosages (Alfalfa) — 1–2 tsp dry leaf/cup water 3 ×/day (APA); 5–10 g/herb/day (CAN); 6–12
g/dry herb/day (PED); 5–10 ml tincture (1:1 in 25% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 15–30 drops tincture
4 ×/day (SF2); 3–4 (370 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (NH); 1–2 (500 mg) capsules/day (SF); 8–9 (400–500
mg) capsules/day (SF2).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Alfalfa) — Class 1 (AHP). PHR is too
kind with their usual template. None known with proper dosage (which they don’t define) (PH2).
Stachydrine and l-homostachydrine, in the seeds, may be emmenagogue and lactogenic. One
patient died from listerosis after ingesting contaminated alfalfa tablets (LRNP, March 1991).
Seeds and/or sprouts may contain 13,000 ppm canavanine, which may be implicated in hypocomplementenemia,
lupus, and pancytopenia. Canavanine, a toxic amino acid, may cause
systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome (CAN). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like
manifestations, skin reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, raised serum urate levels are symptoms
that have been associated with alfalfa use in humans. Seeds should not be ingested during
pregnancy or lactation (CAN). May cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Believed by some
herbalists to be helpful in delaying absorption of cholesterol and dissolving plaque deposits on
arterial walls (TMA). Consumption of alfalfa tablets contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
was linked to a fatal case of listerosis. One case of allergic reaction (from contamination with
grass pollen) in alfalfa tablets has been reported (SF2). Flatulence, abdominal discomfort, loose
stools, diarrhea, and loss of appetite may result from ingesting large amounts of alfalfa seeds
(120 g/day).
Extracts (Alfalfa) — Purines in seeds may raise mean serum urate levels (AEH). Porphyrins may
photosensitize (PNC). Saponins decrease plasma cholesterol without changing HDL cholesterol,
decrease intestinal absorption of cholesterol, increase excretion of neutral steroids and bile acids,
and prevent atherosclerosis. Saponins hemolytic, may interfere with vitamin E utilization. Root
saponins, selectively antiyeast and fungicide, also hypocholesterolemic, in monkeys (CAN). “Saponin
contents act on the cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems” (PHR). Alfalfa sprouts, not
recommended, contain trace of COX-2 inhibitor apigenin (70 ppm ZMB) (COX). Forty g heattreated
alfalfa seed, 3 ×/day/8 weeks, helped normalize serum cholesterol concentrations in Type
2 hyperlipoproteinanemia. Alfalfa extracts, possibly due to the high manganese content, may reduce
blood sugar, but only in patients with inability to use their stored manganese (CAN).

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