Western Herbalism
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Also known as Lucerne, Medicago, Spanish Clover, California Clover.
On taking large doses of an infusion of the leaves of alfalfa as one would drink tea or coffee, there is a sensation of warmth in the stomach with fullness of the blood vessels of the head. (A sensation which gelsemium removes.) The stool early in the morning is mushy, and dark green, much like after taking bismuth, but without pain or tenesmus.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Convalescence
- Assimilation (poor)
- Malabsorption
- Maldigestion
- Menopause
- Estrogen deficiency
- Nutritional deficiency
- Debility
- Avitaminosis A
- Hypoprothrombinaemic purpura
- Debility of convalescence
Safety
Breastfeeding: Use with care while breastfeeding
The record lists 2 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Tincture (1:2-1:3) | 1-3 ml TID | 1-3 mL |
| Infusion | 2-3 tsp/c TID | |
| Bulk herb | 5-30 g/d | 5000-30000 mg |
| Dried herb 5-10 g as an infusion three times daily | 5000-10000 mg | |
| (G7) Liquid extract 5-10 mL (1 : 1 in 25% alcohol) three times daily .(G7) | 5-10 mL | |
| On taking large doses of an infusion of the leaves of alfalfa as one would drink tea or coffee, there is a sensation of warmth in the stomach with fullness of the blood vessels of the head. |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Physiological Action. On taking large doses of an infusion of the leaves of alfalfa as one would drink tea or coffee, there is a sensation of warmth in the stomach with fullness of the blood vessels of the head. (A sensation which gelsemium removes.) The stool early in the morning is mushy, and dark green, much like after taking bismuth, but without pain or tenesmus.
indications. Alfalfa is traditionally indicated for: Convalescence, Assimilation (poor), Malabsorption, Maldigestion, Menopause, Estrogen deficiency, Nutritional deficiency, Debility.
constituents. Notable constituents of Alfalfa include: Terpenoid saponins, Phytosterols, Isoflavones (formononetin, daidzein, coumestrerol, diochaninA), Coumestins, Alkaloids, Minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese), Flavonoids, Saponins, Protein, Vitamin K.
dose-reference. Reference preparation/dosing for Alfalfa: Long infusion to best extract minerals; Tea not useful for phytoestrogen extraction; Tincture (1:2-1:3)=1-3 ml TID; Infusion=2-3 tsp/c TID; Bulk herb=5-30 g/d
Drawn from Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
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