Medicago sativa
(Alfalfa)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Nourishing
• Hormonal balance due to amphoteric (ability to either lower or raise estrogen activity) action of phytoestrogens
• Accumulates in the tissues and increases concentration of available phytoestrogens
• Decrease cholesterol levels
• Shrinkage effect on atherosclerotic plaque

Clinical Indications:

• Atherosclerosis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Eczema
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Menopause
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Anemia
• Hormonal imbalances
• Malnutrition, wasting, chronic disease, weakness
• Slow blood coagulation

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy - excessive use
• Systemic lupus erythematosus due to the L-canavanine

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Decreases the activity of warfarin due to high vitamin K content
• Increases xenobiotic metabolism in the liver due to hepatic microsomal oxidase reaction

Chemical Constituents:

• 'Anti-estrogen' - a chloroform soluble compound that reduces estrogenic activity of phytoestrogens, estradiol, and diethylstillbestrol
• L-canavanine
• Nutrients:
  
  Beta-Carotene
  Bioflavonoids
  Calcium
  Folic acid
  Iron
  Magnesium
  Niacin
  Phosphorous
  Potassium
  Riboflavin
  Thiamine
  Vitamin C
  Vitamin D
  Vitamin E
  Vitamin K
  Zinc
  
• Phytoestrogens:
  
  Bichanin A
  Coumestrol
  Diadzein
  Formonetin
  Genistein
• TRH-like substance
• Tricin
• Triacontanol

Toxicity:

• None known

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).