Alfalfa means "the father of all foods", which, surely, is a hefty name to live up to. Considering the myriad of ways in which alfalfa lends itself therapeutically, I'm convinced that it easily lives up to its name.
Alfalfa has historically been used as a feed for horses and cows. Alfalfa is a legume, believe it or not, and currently the most cultivated legume in the whole world! Alfalfa grows very deeply in the soil, it's roots therefore able to access many nutrients which are available to us when we take alfalfa therapeutically. Alfalfa has a full spectrum of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. According to Robert Rogers' (my herbology guru), alfalfa has 3 times the calcium of milk, 5 times the magnesium and 40 times the iron!! Further, the vitamin C content is 4 times that of citrus juice (when consumed fresh), and a valuable source of vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting and essential to a healthy digestive system. Alfalfa also has an incredibly high protein content, which is the primary reason that it's fed to dairy cows. Alfalfa is a resilient plant and an excellent tonic, meaning that it tones and strengthens all the systems of the body. Alfalfa is a wonderful strengthening herb for those that are weak, underweight or recovering from an illness. Alfalfa is wonderful for the digestive system, especially considering the fact that it contains a wide range of digestive enzymes and is known to create bacterial balance in the lower digestive tract. Alfalfa is excellent for the cardiovascular system in that it dissolves cholesterol. It also inhibits fungus, reduces blood sugar levels, balances hormones and alkalizes the blood, making for a more alkaline internal environment that is so conducive to optimal health. Alfalfa also improves the flow and quality of breast milk, boosts the immune system, decreases the incidence of female cancers and binds to carcinogens in the bowel, speeding their elimination from the body. I'm pretty sure those are enough reasons to justify everyone ingesting alfalfa daily!It is always my recommendation that when possible, herbs be taken in tincture format as there is more fresh herb readily available for the body's use and tinctures are also easier for the body to assimilate. However, alfalfa is pretty tough to find in tincture format here in Edmonton - I've tried! The second best way to ingest herbs is by drinking them as tea. I recommend Chickadee Farm, a local company that produces dried alfalfa leaves. Chickadee Farm brand is available at Planet Organic markets. Put 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb in a tea ball, allow to steep for about 10 minutes and drink! I like the taste, but some people find alfalfa to be quite grassy, so feel free to mix it with any other herbal tea such as ginger or peppermint to mask the grassy taste. Enjoy!
Alfalfa seeds, in particular, ought to be avoided by those suffering from any autoimmune condition while alfalfa supplementation in general ought to be avoided by those with lupus, specifically.
For more thorough recommendations on what herbs would be best for YOU, YOUR body and YOUR unique set of circumstances, please book an herbology consult with myself. I would be happy to recommend the perfect herb or herbs particular to you.
Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic
