Lucerne is a fodder plant and herb that is older than the oldest historical sources. It comes from South-West Asia, but is now grown widely all over the world. Lucerne is one of the plants richest in bioactive ingredients, because it contains over 300 of them. It is of great importance in Ayurvedic medicine and folk medicine in many communities. Can alfalfa be supplemented? What is alfalfa good for and is it safe to use?

Lucerne(Medicago sativa) is a very common forage plant in Poland from the bean family. It is best known in the world as "alfalfa", which comes from Arabic and means "best forage" (al'ealaf al'afdal). Lucerne is the oldest plant grown worldwide as a forage plant, sometimes called the father of all food.

Cultivation of alfalfa

Lucerne dates back to pre-recorded history in ancient Persia, southwest Asia. Currently, the primary areas of alfalfa occurrence are: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Lucerne has gone an interesting way. From ancient Persia, it spread all over the world. Approx. 500 BC it came to Greece, around 400 BC. to North Africa, then to Rome. Traces of it from the beginning of the 8th century AD were found in Spain. Alfalfa was brought to England in 1650, to Russia in 1800, and to the Americas with the colonizers.

Alfalfa is grown primarily as feed, to improve soil quality and to be used as a medical raw material. It never became human food because of its very unpleasant taste - s alty and bitter - and low humidity.

Today, more than 400 million tonnes of alfalfa are produced annually in the world. It is a perennial. Depending on the variety and climate, it lives from 3 to 12 years. Reaches up to 1 meter in height, flowers most often in purple.

Alfalfa among fodder plants is characterized by a high content of protein and fiber as well as an extremely high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other bioactive compounds. The medicinal uses of alfalfa come from Ayurvedic medicine.

Currently, the interest of scientists in alfalfa and its therapeutic potential is increasing, but the amount of research carried out onthe medical use of the plant is negligible.

Lucerne - vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds

For humans, alfalfa is important as a herb and a source of bioactive compounds. It contains over 300 nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals, including the highest amount of chlorophyll among all plants, as well as 8 essential amino acids. The biologically active substances present in alfalfa are:

  • alkaloids (stachydrin, homostachydrin),
  • coumarins (medicagol, sativol, trifoliol, lucernol, 4-methylcumesterol, 3-methoxycumesterol, 11,12-dimethoxy-7-hydroxycumesterol),
  • flavonoids (quercetin, myricetin, luteolin, apigenin, chrysoeriol, tricin, coumestrol, biochanin A, genistein),
  • saponins,
  • steroids (stigtrol, campesterol, cycloartenol, β-sitosterol),
  • volatile components (nonadienal, benzaldehyde, terpenes, limonene, linalool, furanoids, ethylbenzaldehyde, butanol, hexanol, octanol and other alcohols, numerous ketones and esters),
  • organic acids (lauric, maleic, malic, malonic, myristic, oxalic, palmitic, chino),
  • purines (adenine, guanine, xanthine, hypoxanthine),
  • vitamins (A, B1, B6, B12, folic acid, C, D, E, K),
  • minerals (iron, potassium, calcium, copper, manganese),
  • pectin,
  • chlorophyll.

Lucerne is valued as a source of numerous and varied bioactive compounds. It is characterized by a high antioxidant potential, therefore it can be used as a preventive and therapeutic agent in inflammatory and free radical-induced diseases. It is also a very good source of vitamin K and iron.

Fresh herbs easy to grow

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Traditional use of alfalfa in folk medicine

The medicinal raw material of alfalfa is powdered:

  • leaves,
  • roots,
  • seeds
  • or seed sprouts.

Lucerne has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Indian medicine, as well as Persian and Arabic medicine. It is used to treat both humans and animals.

The oldest Persian medical book "Al-Abniah" describes alfalfa as a remedy for:

  • scorpion bites,
  • back pain
  • and rectal pains (possibly hemorrhoids).

In folk medicine, alfalfa is used as a medicine:

  • for diabetes,
  • thyroid dysfunction,
  • memory enhancement,
  • reducing kidney pain,
  • soothing cough,
  • muscle pain,
  • antibacterial,
  • antifungal,
  • aalso supporting the functioning of the nervous system.

Traditionally, alfalfa is also used as a diuretic and healing agent for bladder and prostate problems.

In Chinese medicine, alfalfa has been used since at least the 6th century AD. to:

  • treatment of kidney stones,
  • fever,
  • scurvy,
  • with fluid retention
  • and puffiness.

In local Moroccan communities, to this day, women who have problems with breastfeeding and milk production after childbirth are given a type of rare, cooked alfalfa porridge to stimulate lactation.

References to the use of alfalfa appear in sources from very different parts of the globe, not only China, India and Arab countries, but even Mexico.

Much attention is paid by folk medicine to alfalfa as a means supporting the digestive system. Strong infusions of alfalfa leaves are considered to add energy, stimulate the appetite and support weight gain in anorexia.

It is also believed to reduce constipation, heal ulcers and anemia. By analyzing the composition of alfalfa bioactive compounds, the plant actually has healing potential in these diseases.

Lucerne has traditionally been used as a support for bones and joints. It is used to improve the mineralization of bones and teeth.

High chlorophyll content in alfalfa is considered beneficial in the reconstruction of connective tissue. That is why the herb is recommended to people suffering from osteoarthritis. The use of alfalfa in folk medicine involves accelerating the healing of wounds and abscesses.

Medicinal properties of alfalfa - research conclusions

Lucerne is not a well-researched herb. Folk medicine applications show great promise for the use of alfalfa in the treatment of many diseases. However, extensive research is needed for this, and there is still too little research involving humans to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of alfalfa.

Scientific studies conducted on animals (mainly rats, mice and monkeys) have shown that extracts of alfalfa seeds, sprouts and leaves have the following effects:

  • lowering the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines,
  • reducing plaque build-up and reducing the risk of atherosclerosis,
  • lowering blood pressure, protecting against hypertension,
  • to prevent and treat diabetes,
  • antibacterial and antifungal.

Lucerne for cholesterol

The best proven effect of alfalfarelates to lowering cholesterol and improving the lipid profile. They have been confirmed in numerous animal studies conducted since the 1960s.

Alfalfa leaf saponins have been found to reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption and plaque formation. Alfalfa causes a decrease in total cholesterol levels without changes in the level of "good" HDL cholesterol, increased secretion of bile acids and regression of atherosclerotic changes.

There is very little research involving humans. One study in 15 people found that eating 40 g of alfalfa seeds 3 times a day for 8 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 17% and "bad" LDL cholesterol by 18%.

Lucerne for menopause

Lucerne contains chemicals with estrogenic activity. In a small study involving 30 women, taking alfalfa leaf extract completely eliminated the hot flashes and night sweats typical of menopause in 20 women, and significantly reduced symptoms in the remaining women.

Alfalfa supplementation - is it safe?

Lucerne as a supplement is available as:

  • tablets,
  • capsules,
  • teas,
  • powdered leaves
  • and ready-made drinks.

Its use is mainly recommended by holistic medics and phytotherapists (herbalists), because according to the standards of Western medicine, there is still too little evidence of the effectiveness and safety of alfalfa use among people.

Taking alfalfa leaves as a supplement is possibly safe and causes no side effects in most adults. However, be careful with the supplementation of alfalfa seeds and the products made from them.

Long-term alfalfa seed supplementation may cause:

  • skin inflammation,
  • stomach discomfort
  • and a reaction similar to an autoimmune disease called lupus erythematosus.

Its most characteristic symptom is butterfly-shaped erythema on her cheeks and nose. However, this is a late symptom. Earlier, there are, among others mouth and nose ulcers, hair loss and arthritis.

Alfalfa can be very sensitive to the sun in some people. When taking its supplements, it is recommended to use creams with a high UV filter.

The ingredients of alfalfa may show estrogenic activity. For this reason, alfalfa supplements should not be consumed by pregnant and lactating women. Food doses (e.g. alfalfa sprouts added to a salad) are considered harmless.

Lucerne should be avoidedall people whose he alth deteriorates as a result of exposure to estrogen. These diseases include:

  • uterine cancer,
  • breast cancer
  • and ovarian cancer,

Alfalfa potentially increases the activity of the immune system and enhances immune processes. For this reason, it is contraindicated for people with autoimmune diseases:

  • multiple sclerosis,
  • lupus,
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • and others,

as well as people after organ transplants.

Lucerne - supplementation and medications taken

Taking alfalfa supplements isn't always safe. Specialists first of all warn against combining alfalfa with warfarin - a drug that reduces blood clotting. Alfalfa, due to the high concentration of vitamin K, increases blood clotting, therefore it interferes with the action of warfarin.

You have to be careful when combining alfalfa supplements with birth control pills. The phytoestrogens in alfalfa can interfere with the effects of the pills and make them less effective.

Supplementation with alfalfa preparations is also not recommended when taking immunosuppressants (drugs that reduce the activity of the immune system), as the bioactive ingredients of alfalfa stimulate the immune system to function. Lucerne is therefore an antagonist of immunosuppressants.

About the authorAleksandra Żyłowska-Mharrab, dietician Food technologist, dietitian, educator. A graduate of Biotechnology at the Gdańsk University of Technology and Nutritional Services at the Maritime University. A supporter of simple, he althy cuisine and conscious choices in everyday nutrition. My main interests include building permanent changes in eating habits and individually composing a diet according to the body's needs. Because the same thing is not he althy for everyone! I believe that nutritional education is very important, both for children and adults. I focus my activities on spreading knowledge about nutrition, analyze new research results, and make my own conclusions. I adhere to the principle that a diet is a lifestyle, not strict adherence to meals on a sheet of paper. There is always room for delicious pleasures in he althy and conscious eating.

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