Alfalfa

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

If you think alfalfa for animal feed or annoying weeds in your yard, this article will try to convince you of the multifaceted benefits of this plant not on four-legged pets, but on ourselves, humans.

The truth is that alfalfa has been used as a food for hundreds of years because it has great nutritional value and pronounced healing properties. However, its use should be done very carefully and after consultation with a specialist.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family. It is rich in useful ingredients and is therefore extremely suitable for feeding domestic animals, for which purpose it is used both fresh and dried.

This herbaceous herbaceous plant has agrotechnical significance because it significantly enriches the soil with useful substances, such as sodium, calcium, etc., after its plowing. Alfalfa is usually sown in spring, from 1 to 15 April, but if there are conditions for permanent irrigation, then it can be sown in late summer to early autumn. The main rule to be observed is that the alfalfa has sprouted by October 1 so that it does not freeze.

History of alfalfa

For the first time in historical texts it is mentioned about alfalfa in the book of the Emperor of China, which was written in 2939 BC. The Chinese have traditionally used alfalfa since time immemorial to reduce swelling and treat fluid retention problems.

The Arabs were among the first to assimilate the beneficial properties of alfalfa. This herb was so valued in their culture that they even called it "Alfalfa", which means "father of all foods". They gave alfalfa to their horses to make them stronger and more resilient. A little later, they began to use alfalfa as food and medicine because of its rich set of nutrients.

They found that salad from a young age alfalfa can help prevent constipation. In German folk medicine, a water infusion of dried alfalfa stems is still used in diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction.

In folklore it is believed that burnt and scattered alfalfa around the house can protect the home and the people in it. The plant was an integral part of Wicca rituals aimed at protecting the home and was believed to protect against poverty and hunger.

Composition of alfalfa

Alfalfa is extremely rich in minerals, vitamins and various nutrients. It contains eight essential amino acids, as well as a bouquet of antioxidants. It contains a generous content of proteins, flavoys and isoflavones (with estrogen-like effects), saponins (2-3%) and sterols.

Alfalfa is also rich in lorophyll coumarin derivatives

It contains high doses of vitamins - carotene, A, D, B1, B4, B6, E, K, U, as well as a bomb of minerals, with the largest amount of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, silicon, zinc.

Alfalfa is a source of basic enzymes - amylase, coagulase, emulsin, invertase, lipase, pectinase, peroxidase, protease. Alfalfa also contains a lot of fiber, as well as digestive enzymes, which are very important for the work of the digestive tract and are effective in dieting.

Use of alfalfa

Although very useful, alfalfa should not be used "on its own". On the market you can find dried alfalfa leaves in the form of tablets or capsules. You can also find liquid extracts in pharmacies. The desired dose is indicated on most packages and in the leaflets of the various preparations, but no therapeutic dose of alfalfa has been established for humans.

According to some herbalists, the required daily dose for a person is 500-1, 000 mg of dried leaves or 1-2 ml of tincture 3 times a day. It is advisable to resort to alfalfa tablets and capsules only after consultation with a doctor or a reliable specialist. Be sure to take the pills according to the instructions on the package leaflet.

Tea from alfalfa you can prepare from 1 tablespoon of the herb, which is soaked in 220 ml of boiling water for 10 to 20 minutes. Drink 1 cup of tea every day.

Alfalfa tablets are sold at a very affordable price. For many people, these capsules are even better than a soluble multivitamin tablet because of the natural abundance of useful ingredients. This also means that these nutrients are absorbed much faster and easier by the body.

Benefits of alfalfa

The whole herb and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. Clinical studies have shown that alfalfa has a good effect at menopause in combination with sage, has a positive effect on high cholesterol and works well for those suffering from loss of appetite.

Useful alfalfa hides a whole range of positive and health benefits on the human body. It has an alkalizing effect and detoxifies the body, especially the liver, because it blocks the absorption of cholesterol and detoxifies the liver.

It successfully stimulates the function of the pituitary gland and has an anti-anemic effect. It even contains an antifungal agent. Alfalfa has the ability to excite the appetite, acts as a diuretic, is nutritious and has a laxative effect. If you apply alfalfa on yourself, your body will feel significantly more toned.

Alfalfa as a diuretic, it has been used very successfully to remove excess fluid from the body, which was known to the Chinese and Indians as early as the 6th century, and was used to treat even kidney stones. Combined with nettle and oats, alfalfa is an excellent remedy for anemia and also helps with boils. Alfalfa can be used for irregular menstruation as well as menopause.

The herb acts as an antithrombotic agent and to support blood clotting. It is often used in heart disease because it prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and stroke.

Alfalfa can have a positive effect even on drug and alcohol addiction. Many evidences show that this plant helps with dyspepsia, peptic ulcer, poor absorption of nutrients, indigestion because it regulates the intestines, relieves stomach ulcers and stomach disorders.

In disorders of the kidneys, bladder and prostate, alfalfa can again be a faithful helper because it clears the kidneys, kidney stones, and also relieves urinary problems and infections. Alfalfa paws are used for boils and pimples, and it can also help with insect bites.

The positive effects of alfalfa in hay fever and arthritis, jaundice and asthma have been proven. Alfalfa is said to help even in cases of cancer by binding carcinogens in the colon and speeding up their elimination from the body.

Alfalfa stimulates the overall condition of the body and tones it. It works quite well when tired, stimulates the growth of supporting connective tissue and can help the weak among us who want to put on another ring. For this purpose it can be consumed fresh in green salads.

Harm from alfalfa

Alfalfa and its beneficial or harmful effects have not been fully studied, so it should be handled carefully. Although useful for nursing mothers, alfalfa is not recommended for them, for pregnant women and young children, because it has the ability to cause menstruation. It has the estrogenic effects of some of the components in it.

Alfalfa has a high content of vitamin K, which can interfere with the good action of some other drugs. Therefore, be sure to consult a doctor if you intend to use alfalfa in any form.

There are known health risks from the use of alfalfa. Powdered alfalfa, sprouted alfalfa and alfalfa seeds contain L-canavanine. This substance can cause abnormal blood cell counts, an enlarged spleen, a recurrence of lupus in people who have had the disease.