alfalfa medicinal herbs properties diseases

ALFALFA
(Medicago Sativa L.)

This medicinal plant has many proteins, vitamins and minerals that can be very useful as general reconstituent tonic. The use of this herb can help to resolve or improve problems of blood coagulation such as, vaginal bleeding, hematomas, nasal hemorrhages, etc.

COMMON NAME:
Alfalfa
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Medicago Sativa L. The scientific name “Medicago” comes from the name Medea, an Italian region, while the common name derives from the Arab “Alfasasat”. We believe that it comes from the regions of the South West of Asia, where still it’s in natural state. We think that the Alfalfa is one of the first plants cropped by the Man.
FAMILY:
Labiateae.
HABITAT:
The alfalfa is a medicinal herb widely cropped as forage plant and many times naturalized. You can find it next to the paths, in sowns, at the edge of the roads and dry lands of cold or warm weathers.
CHARACTERISTICS:
The alfalfa is a perennial medicinal herb of the family of the Labiateae of until 80 centimeters. Erect stems, covered of a whitish hair. Compound leaves, trifoliate with obovate leaflets, serrated in the apex. The alfalfa is a medicinal herb that has flowers of blue or purple color with petals of until 1 cm, grouped in clusters of some 4 cm of length on petioles of inferior length to the calyx tube. Main root very long of some 2 to 4 meters. Fruit in legume of 4 to 7 mm of diameter, without thorns, in form of spiral with a lap and a half until three laps and a half.

COMPONENTS

Acids: Ascorbic, citric, fumaric, malic, oxalic, and succinic. (Plant)

Alkaloids: Betaine, estaquidrina (Plant)

Vitamins: Vitamin C, Biotin (vitamin H), Vitamin B: Choline, Folacin, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin, Thiamine, Pyridoxine; Vitamin A in form of beta carotenes, Vitamin D, Vitamin K (Plant).

Fiber: Insoluble and soluble Pectin (Plant).

Proteins: (Leaves and seeds)

Saponins: (Plant)

Tannins: (Plant).

Pigments: Chlorophyl, Xanthophyl (Plant).

Phytosterols: Campesterol, Stigmasterol (Plant)

Isoflavones: Genistein (Plant)

Inositol

Amino acids: Tryptophan, arginine, asparagine (Plant)

Minerals: Aluminum, boro, calcium, chrome, cobalt, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, zinc (Plant)

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: (alfalfa medicinal properties)

INTERNAL USE:

Metabolism: The wealth of this plant in amino acids and or minerals and vitamins turns it in a very interesting remedy for metabolic anomalies. Between all the medicinal properties related with metabolism we will be able to mention the following:

Diuretic properties: It’s well proved the capacity of this plant of increasing the elimination of liquids favoring the healing or the improvement of many metabolic disorders in those which the retention of liquids plays a very interesting part: Rheumatism, degenerative arthritis, gout, kidney stones, diabetes, cellulitis, or edemas. The amino acids arginine and asparagine, together with the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium and the acids ascorbic and caffeic are the main components that carry out this function. Drink daily 40 grams of juice of fresh leaves of alfalfa.

Hormonal properties: The presence of components with hormonal properties, especially the Isoflavones (Genistein, Daidzein, Diosgenin, Biochanin, Coumestrol, etc.) give it some properties very appropriate for some disorders related with hormonal problems. Like this, for example, it’s used traditionally in problems of breast-feeding to increase the milk in the breast-feeding women. The women who wanted to increase the milk production add buds of alfalfa to the salads. The alkaloid estaquidrina also contributes to the stimulation of the dairy production.

Nowadays these phytoestrogens are used basically for the treatment of the inflammation in the menstruations too abundant originated by endometriosis. Eat buds of alfalfa some days before the menstruation. There are in the market preparations in form of powder or tablets that you can take with the same purpose in accordance to the prospect conditions.

Equally it’s advisable the use of this plant during the menopause. By treating about an herb with estrogenic properties, it can be useful to alleviate the deficit of hormones that is produced during this period. At the same time it can help to diminish many of the symptoms that are produced during the menstruation. Eat buds of alfalfa some days before the menstruation. There are in the market preparations in form of powder or tablets that you can take with the same purpose in accordance to the prospect conditions. It’s really valuable for the excellent medicinal properties it has.

The presence of numerous enzymes favors the digestive process and allows a major assimilation of the foods. The fats are metabolized more easily. It has been checked that the habitual inclusion of buds of alfalfa in salads improves the health of the stomach wall, being helpful in case of stomach ulcers, heartburn or flatulence.

The presence of saponins, joint to its wealth in fiber reduces the absorption of the cholesterol in the intestine. Its wealth in cumarins, with antiplatelet properties, it helps to avoid the formation of clots in the arteries, for which they favor the prevention and the treatment of the arteriosclerosis. Take on infusion a little spoon of dry plant of alfalfa by cup of water during 10 minutes. Take 2 cups daily. Add buds of alfalfa to your salads.

Its great wealth in vitamin C has been used traditionally to fight against the problems related with the lack of this vitamin. The use of its fresh juice or its tender leaves in salads has been an efficient weapon to avoid the scurvy. This property could be well-spent to improve the symptoms of some diseases like flu or cold.

In general, it has many minerals, proteins and vitamins that can be very useful like general reconstituent tonic. It can be used in case of general weakness, convalescences, thinness, anorexia, lack of energy, intellectual tiredness, etc. Like this for example, it contains a lot of calcium and vitamin D that result necessary to prevent or treat the bones anomalies in case of osteoporosis, fractures, etc. Its wealth in iron can take advantage for the treatment of the anemia. The inclusion of buds of alfalfa or the tender leaves of this plant cooked as vegetable inside your habitual diet will be able to help to fight against many of these anomalies. If you don’t have this tender plant, the infusions of a little spoon of dry plant of alfalfa by cup of water during 10 minutes will produce positive effects.

Circulatory apparatus: The alfalfa is rich in vitamin K, in form of phylloquinones. This vitamin, also called antihemorrhagic factor, results necessary for which the liver can produce the hormone prothrombin that takes part in the blood coagulation. The lack of this vitamin produces problems of coagulation that are declared in form of bleeding, hematomas, etc. As well as its wealth in ascorbic acid contributes to the same purpose. The use of this herb can help to resolve or improve problems of blood coagulation such as:

Nasal hemorrhages: In case of abundant and frequent bleeding by the nose (epistaxis). The consumption of some 50 grams of fresh juice of alfalfa leaves, divided in two doses, will help to stop the blood flow.

Hematomas: Produced by the blood accumulation as consequence of any blow or corporal disorder. Carry out the same previous treatment.

Vaginal bleeding: See the previous section about the metabolism.

Hemorrhoids: Its use can help to stop the hemorrhoids bleeding. Take 50 grams daily of fresh juice of alfalfa leaves, divided in two doses.

Urinary Apparatus: The anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of this herb are used for the treatment of the infections of urinary apparatus in anomalies like cystitis (inflammations of urinary bladder), nephritis (inflammations of the kidneys), kidney stones, prostatitis, etc.

EXTERNAL USE:

Hemostatic: It can be used externally to stop the blood flow of the nose. Apply wet cotton with the liquid resulting of the infusion of a spoonful of dry plant by cup of water; or for the treatment of bleeding piles. Carry out baths of seat with the liquid of the infusion of dry plant.

The best vaginal antiseptic and healing is the achiote. Leave 12 leaves of this wonderful medicinal plant in 1 liter of water during all the night and apply it later this liquid in your vaginal washings. Also it’s good to deflate the prostate.

The achiote, known also as Achote Atase, Potsote, Rucu, Urcu, Uxta, Mashe (Shipibo) is a small tree or big bush that reaches a height of 3 – 5 meters being able to reach until 10 meters of height. The leaves of achiote, wonderful medicinal herb, are alternated heart-shaped, generally sharp of 10 – 20 cm of length and 5 – 10 cm of width. Their color is green in both sides, showing sometimes discreet rose purple coloration in the back of the ribbings. The achiote is a very useful medicinal herb for the treatment of many illnesses.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: (achiote medicinal properties)

Anti-inflammatory: Cooking of 20 grams of achiote leaves in a liter of water. Leave to boil for 10 minutes. Take without sugar before the foods.

Burns: Use the achiote of hairless shell, pulverized and heated spread without salt.

Bronchitis: Leave to rest a gram of seed of achiote in a cup of boiling water and drink.

Diabetes: Cooking of 10 leaves of achiote in 1 liter of water. Leave to boil for 10 minutes. Take 3 times a day. Also make a cooking of 5 grams of seeds of achiote in 1 liter of water. Leave to boil for 10 minutes. Take 3 times a day.

Infusion of 25 grams of achiote leaves in a liter of hot boiling water or marinades the 10 grams of fresh seeds of achiote in a liter of water during a night and then strains it. Take a cup of the infusion or three spoonfuls of the marinade with the foods.

Eyes swelling: Infusion of 2 or 3 leaves of bud of achiote. Take 2 times a day.

Fever: Infusion of 5 hearts of achiote in a liter of hot boiling water. Take a cup every 6 hours until achieving the desire effect.

Hemorrhoids: The excellent medicinal properties of the achiote will help you in this treatment. Only prepare an infusion of 20 grams of seeds of achiote in a liter of water for 10 minutes. Leave to cool and take little cups three times a day.

Hepatitis: Take the cooking of the floral yolks.

Injuries: Apply the marinade leaves in water during a night on the affected zone.

Mouth inflammation: Infusion of bunch of achiote leaves in a liter of water, boil for 10 minutes. Gargle with this cooking.

Prostate inflammations: Cooking of 20 grams of achiote leaves in a liter of water. Leave to boil for 10 minutes. Take without sugar before the foods. The medicinal properties of this plant will help you to relieve this annoying inflammation.

Rheumatism: Cooking of 20 grams of achiote leaves in a liter of water. Leave to boil for 10 minutes. Take without sugar before the foods.

Skin infections: Leave 9 to 12 leaves of achiote in a liter of water during a night and apply after on the injury.

Throat inflammation: Infusion of bunch of achiote leaves in a liter of water, boil for 10 minutes. Gargle with this cooking.

Vaginal antiseptic and healing: Put 9 to 12 rubbed leaves of achiote during a night in a liter of water. The liquid is applied in vaginal washings. The medicinal properties of the achiote for vaginal washings are excellent.

Vomiting: Infusion of 10 achiote leaves in a liter of hot boiling water. Take a cup of 15 minutes before main meals.

PRECAUTIONS:
Pregnant women.
Women who are in the breast-feeding phase.
It could produce hepatic and pancreatic toxicity.