{"product_id":"alfalfa-leaf-powder-organic-medicago-sativa","title":"Alfalfa Leaf Powder, Organic (Medicago sativa)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAppetite stimulant, diuretic, tonic, nutritive, laxative, estrogenic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"description product-description\" data-model=\"XLite\\Model\\Product\" data-identifier=\"38074\" data-property=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eParts Used\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDried leaves and sprouted seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlfalfa is well known as a feed plant for livestock yet has had a rich tradition of use as a healing herb as well. Utilized since ancient times for its high nutrient value, Arabs fed it to their horses to increase strength and stamina. In traditional folk medicine, it has been administered as a nutritive tonic and was found to be particularly useful in cases of malnutrition or during convalescence. The dried alfalfa leaf is widely available in herbal shops and health food stores as an herbal tea, tablet, powder or made into a liquid chlorophyll supplement. The seed is often sprouted and eaten in salads and sandwiches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBotany\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlfalfa is a long-lived perennial in the \u003cem\u003eFabaceae\u003c\/em\u003e (or is sometimes put in the \u003cem\u003ePapilionaceae\u003c\/em\u003e) family\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e with leguminous flowers which vary in color from purple to yellow, trifoliate clover-like leaves, and a deep penetrating tap root\u003csup\u003e2\u003c\/sup\u003e (some sources say that taproots have been found reaching down 68 feet into the soil!).\u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa is native to southwest Asia with wild species occurring in the Caucasus, and in mountainous regions of Afghanistan and Iran, and is very widely cultivated throughout the world.\u003csup\u003e4\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCultivation And Harvesting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US is the leading producer of alfalfa, and within the country, California, Montana, and Idaho are the major producing states.\u003csup\u003e5\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa is the fourth largest crop by acreage, grown on 23 million acres,\u003csup\u003e6\u003c\/sup\u003e and is third in value, after corn and soybeans. Its national value is more than $8 billion each year.\u003csup\u003e6\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlfalfa is best harvested for medicinal purposes when in bloom.\u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory And Folklore\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlfalfa remains more than 6000 years old were found in Iran\u003csup\u003e6\u003c\/sup\u003e and it is believed that the domestication of alfalfa first began in the Bronze Age most likely somewhere between 1000 and 2000 BCE (probably near the countries of Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, and the Caucasus mountains).\u003csup\u003e6,7\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa was important to the early Babylonian cultures, the Arabs, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans as it was used for feeding the warrior's horses (which were domesticated in Central Asia at about 2500 BCE).\u003csup\u003e7\u003c\/sup\u003e Accordingly, the name 'alfalfa' is derived from the Arabic \u003cem\u003eal-fisfisa\u003c\/em\u003e and means 'a green (or fresh) fodder'.\u003csup\u003e8\u003c\/sup\u003e By 400 BCE, Lucerne was being grown in Europe.\u003csup\u003e7\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the U.S, the early colonists, with such esteemed members including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, grew alfalfa.\u003csup\u003e6\u003c\/sup\u003e However, it was not widely cultivated across the country until the California Gold Rush of 1849 because, at this time, much of the equipment used to directly or indirectly support the mining efforts was animal-powered thus requiring large amounts of livestock feed.\u003csup\u003e6\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa is considered the foremost forage plant for dairy cows as it increases their milk production.\u003csup\u003e6,9\u003c\/sup\u003e Not only does it provide nutrient dense hay, it is also a source of leaf meal used to fortify baby foods and a variety of other foods that are prepared to support weight gain and supply vitamins and minerals.\u003csup\u003e2,10\u003c\/sup\u003e It is fed to chickens and rabbits and utilized in gardening and large scale agriculture. It is a \"nitrogen fixer\" like many legumes.\u003csup\u003e3,11\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa not only provides healing nutrients for humans, but it helps to \"heal\" soil as well and makes an effective \"green manure\" for providing nutrients to poor soil.\u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlfalfa was used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), making its first appearance around 200 CE during the Han Dynasty, for digestive system support and to stimulate the appetite.\u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa was revered for its soothing and strengthening properties. It became available around the 1850's to the Native Americans who adopted it into their healing system and referred to it as 'Buffalo grass'. They would grind up the seed into flour and put in gruels and bread and also ate the young leaves and shoots.\u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e In India, alfalfa seeds have been applied topically as a cooling poultice.\u003csup\u003e4\u003c\/sup\u003e The leaves are a source for the dietary supplement chlorophyll,\u003csup\u003e10\u003c\/sup\u003e and the seeds are used to make a yellow dye.\u003csup\u003e4,11\u003c\/sup\u003e In parts of China and Russia young alfalfa leaves have been served as a vegetable.\u003csup\u003e4\u003c\/sup\u003e In traditional medicine of Europe and the U.S., alfalfa has been used to stimulate appetite\u003csup\u003e10,11,12\u003c\/sup\u003e support urinary and bowel function,\u003csup\u003e10,12\u003c\/sup\u003e and as a diuretic.\u003csup\u003e12\u003c\/sup\u003e Further, due to alfalfa's nutrient density\u003csup\u003e10,13\u003c\/sup\u003e it has been utilized for providing easy to assimilate nutrients during convalescence.\u003csup\u003e11\u003c\/sup\u003e Additionally, it has been administered for not only increasing milk production in dairy cows but in lactating woman as well.\u003csup\u003e10\u003c\/sup\u003e It is recommended for use as a tonic after blood loss or in cases of insufficient levels of iron in the blood.\u003csup\u003e14\u003c\/sup\u003e In Mathew Wood's book, the \u003cem\u003eEarthwise Herbal\u003c\/em\u003e, alfalfa is portrayed as a soothing herb for calming the nervous system that is particularly useful for the type of person that is really busy, always on the go, and is very time conscious.\u003csup\u003e15\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa is an alkalizing plant that has complex and seemingly opposite flavors of bitter and sweet and therefore both stimulates and regulates stomach secretion.\u003csup\u003e15\u003c\/sup\u003e Alfalfa aids in healthy digestion due to its fiber content which gives this herb a slightly laxative effect and also supports the structure of the intestinal walls.\u003csup\u003e15\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has been used in money spells, as it is believed to combat poverty and attract financial abundance. Further, placing it in the home in a jar or sprinkling its ashes around the house was thought to protect the inhabitants from hunger.\u003csup\u003e16\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor Notes And Energetics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tastes are sweet, bitter, and earthy. It is energetically cooling.\u003csup\u003e15\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHerbal Actions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAppetite stimulant, diuretic, tonic,\u003csup\u003e4,14\u003c\/sup\u003e nutritive,\u003csup\u003e14\u003c\/sup\u003e laxative\u003csup\u003e14,15\u003c\/sup\u003e estrogenic.\u003csup\u003e15\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUses And Preparations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDried leaves as tablets, teas, tinctures or encapsulated.\u003cbr\u003e\nSprouted seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eConstituents\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2-3% saponins, sterols, alcohols, flavones and isoflavones (including phytoestrogens such as genistein and daidzein) coumarin derivatives, alkaloids, plant acids (including malic and oxalic acid) vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, C, E, K1, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, amino acids (including valine, lysine, arginine, tryptophan, sugars, plant pigments such as chlorophyll, 17-25% crude fibers, 15-25% protein, minerals, and trace elements such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper.\u003csup\u003e10,13\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eScientific Research\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlfalfa is one of the most studied plants due to its usefulness as livestock feed, however human clinical studies are sparse.\u003csup\u003e10\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnit Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1lb\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mountain Rose","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47453009248412,"sku":"MR1006A","price":32.51,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/2407\/0044\/files\/alfalfa_20powder_0fd8c222-bdd4-4690-8739-fcae602c3c00.jpg?v=1787375579","url":"https:\/\/primenaturalfoods.com\/fr\/products\/alfalfa-leaf-powder-organic-medicago-sativa","provider":"Prime Natural Foods","version":"1.0","type":"link"}