Alfalfa Benefits & Uses for Improved Health

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Alfalfa Herb benefits and uses
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » Alfalfa Benefits & Uses for Improved Health

I use herbal remedies for many things on a daily basis. From homemade lotions, to infused oils and salves, to herbal teas and veggie smoothies, we use a lot of different herbs each day for the nutritional benefits and one of my favorites is alfalfa.

Alfalfa, you ask? Isn’t that what they feed cows, horses, and other livestock?

Yes, it does have a long history of use in feed for livestock, in large part due to its high protein and complete nutritional profile. There are more tender parts of young alfalfa plants that are edible and beneficial for people, too, and it is more commonly used for human consumption in Europe than in the US.

Alfalfa is particularly helpful for some pregnancy-related symptoms, so it’s one all moms should get to know.

Alfalfa: One of My Favorite Healing Herbs

To some of you, alfalfa may bring thoughts of a type of hay or a character from the Little Rascals, but I’d like to introduce you to the real deal. A powerhouse among herbs, alfalfa means “Father of All Foods” and deserves its name!

Sometimes also called lucerne, buffalo herb, or Medicago sativa, alfalfa is a member of the pea family. It has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicines for digestive complaints, jaundice, and blood clotting disorders. There is also evidence that some 19th-century physicians used alfalfa for the same purposes and also to encourage lactation in nursing mothers.

It’s special claim to fame is not only high level of nutrients but also how easily the body can absorb and assimilate them. Alfalfa is generally considered safe for children, adults, and pregnant and nursing mothers for nutritional support.

I’ve personally seen the benefit of many different herbs, even in situations where medicine or conventional remedies didn’t work at all. Here’s how alfalfa can help support the body in specific ways:

Nutritional Benefits of Alfalfa

Alfalfa contains a wide variety of minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, potassium, silicon, and trace elements. It is also a good source of vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting.

It also contains essential amino acids that are not made by the body but must be obtained from food sources. Because it is so easy to assimilate, many greens powders and vitamins use it as a base. Also, it contains the highest chlorophyll content of any plant and is often used to make liquid chlorophyll, which is highly nutritious.

As mentioned, alfalfa does an especially good job of:

  • cleansing the blood
  • alleviating allergies
  • promoting healthy blood clotting
  • supporting healthy digestion
  • easing morning sickness
  • reversing tooth decay and remineralizing teeth
  • increasing milk supply during nursing
  • supplementing vitamin K (drinking it in tea during pregnancy helps improve baby’s vitamin K levels at birth)
  • supporting the pituitary gland
  • relieving all forms of arthritis
  • easing menopause symptoms (when combined with sage)

Medicinally, alfalfa is even used in alternative medicine to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. Its high concentration of alkaloids make it useful in reducing blood sugar levels and it is also commonly used as a blood detoxifier and for any types of arthritis or joint problems.

Alfalfa Cautions & Dosage

Healthy Uses for Alfalfa Herb

While not all of these benefits are supported by medical studies (yet), they are worth mentioning because of alfalfa’s long history of successful, safe use. The University of Michigan asserts that there are no known contraindications to date, with the exception of consuming very large amounts. The dosage generally considered safe is 500-1,000 mg of the dried leaf per day or 1-2 ml of tincture three times daily.

One caution about alfalfa is not to use in combination with blood thinning agents or medications as it is so effective it can interfere or amplify the effects of these.

How to Use Alfalfa

In our family, we primarily use dried alfalfa in herbal teas and tinctures. I buy it in bulk here, or check your local health food store. Just make sure to buy from an organic source as otherwise it’s likely to be treated with pesticides in conventional crops.

Alfalfa Sprouts

Consuming fresh alfalfa sprouts either lightly steamed or in a salad is another option. Since consuming sprouts comes with many benefits but also a few cautions, I vary these with other types of sprouts and don’t consume them all of the time.

Herbal Tea

I make an herbal tea for the kids by using equal parts alfalfa, red raspberry leaf, and peppermint as a source of vitamins and minerals that they love to drink. To brew, I just pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of the tea mixture and let steep for at least 5 minutes before drinking.

Nursing Tea

As I mentioned, alfalfa is especially supportive during breastfeeding. Here’s how to use it in a homemade herbal nursing tea blend.

Mutivitamin Tincture

Another more concentrated option that’s quick to administer is this homemade multivitamin tincture that’s safe for kids or adults. This process is similar to making tea but much stronger since it steeps for 3 weeks or more. A tincture like this keeps for months and a small dropperful is all that’s needed to get the benefits.

Liquid Chlorophyll

We also drink a lot of liquid chlorophyll, which is a concentrated liquid of the chlorophyllins from the fresh alfalfa plant. We love this brand because it has a minty taste. (Even the kids love to drink it.) When the kids are sick, this is often all I can get them to take, and its purifying and detoxifying properties help them recover more quickly. Since it is so high in nutrients, I also don’t worry if they don’t eat as much while they are sick.

Smoothies

Due to its mild flavor, I also add scoops of dried alfalfa to green smoothies and drinks.

The Bottom Line on Using Alfalfa

There’s a reason cultures have been using alfalfa for centuries. It’s one of the foundations of our food chain and a vital source of vitamins and chlorophyll. Adding it into the diet in the ways described above can improve health and energy with few side effects or risks. Give it a try!

This article was medically reviewed by Jessica Meyers, MPAP, PA-C, RH(AHG), who specializes in herbal protocols and functional medicine. You can also find Jessica on Instagram. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Ever used alfalfa? Taken liquid chlorophyll? What herbs do you use?

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

89 responses to “Alfalfa Benefits & Uses for Improved Health”

  1. McKenzie Avatar
    McKenzie

    I’m wanting to take alfalfa in capsules (size 0) during the last month of my pregnancy. How many should I take a day?

  2. Mirka Avatar

    Hi wellness mama – love all your articles and great information
    Wondering how I can grow the alfalfa plant in a pot – don’t have very much room at home have a small area of backyard but want to see if it’s possible to grow in a pot?
    And is there a different in seeds from alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa plant? Please let me know what you think – I would appreciate your input 🙂 – taking the international nutritional leadership class and your one of my fav models

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      Alfalfa seeds are very easy to grow and should grow just fine in your backyard. The seeds used for sprouts are the same as those used for plants and should grow for you.

      If you are referring to the class from Josh Axe, please know that I am in no way affiliated with him or his class and that much of the information he states is factually incorrect. He is both misrepresenting me and teaching others to copy (plagiarize) the hard work of other bloggers (in both design, content, and material) under the guise of “modeling” which is both unethical and immoral.

      1. Anna Avatar

        Alfalfa is now grown with GMO seeds. Be sure to source non-GMO alfalfa for both the plant and seed materials. I grow it in my backyard. It isn’t hard to grow but you should have a dedicated area for it since it will shade out other plants. Plus you will need to cut it before it blooms which can be at least 3 times in the season; otherwise you will have baby alfalfa everywhere.

        1. MIRKA Avatar

          Hi anna thank you for your input will keep an eye on that 🙂

      2. MIRKA Avatar

        I understand, thank you for your response. I do need to grow some alfalfa 🙂 seems to have a lot of good benefits. As for the the blogging…. I know that a lot of the students in that class will be doing their own work and have that understanding that copying and plagerizing others people bloggs is unacceptable … But we are able to link back to your blog to express to people examples of well trusted bloggers and their very useful and trusted suggested information. From what I see many of the students are very professional and appreciate the information you provide to the public to help them be more healthy and safe with home remedies :). We are on the same global gooal in sharing suggestions on safe home remedies from our own experiences and research we have found helped us and many others. Thank you for your input, I do appreciate your input. Have a great weekend

          1. Carol Avatar

            I will be turning 80 in January. Have studied herbs and taken them for years. Do not do traditionalmedicine
            Recently came in contact with Medical Medium. He has a whole new theory about healing autoimmune and thyroid illnessrd and written 2 books. Reading one now and it is in credible information. I contribute my good health to eating well and life support Ing herbs
            Love to all life. Carol

  3. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    so should you not take aspirin or a nsaid with it? isn’t aspirin a bloodthinning product.

  4. Cerese Avatar

    I just started taking liquid chlorophyll (World Organic brand) and upon researching further I found that most Alfalfa is GMO. This bottle that I have states that the Alfalfa is Organic but does not bear any USDA Organic or NON GMO seals.
    I also read that the copper accumulates in your body and can lead to Alzheimer’s.

    Any thoughts or ideas on this?

    I did not realize that Alfalfa is a main GMO crop. I am very concerned.

  5. seana Avatar

    My husband has RA can he use alfalfa for his RA releaf and possibly stop taking naproxen? .
    He wants to use natural things for his RA he is only 46yrs old can any one help us

  6. Sal Avatar

    Great info as always! Can you please share which brand of Vitamin K oral drops you used for your baby or which you would recommend for newborns now?

  7. Heather Avatar

    Hi Katie, about how much do you give your kiddos? The brand you recommended says 1 tsp. I’m assuming that is for adult dosing. THANKS SO MUCH!!

  8. maria Avatar

    Dear Katie,

    Please let me know what kind of vitamin K you recommend for a baby.
    I just had a baby (17th april) and I did gave the vitamin K shot, now I dont know what to give the baby.
    What would or do you use (used) on your Newborns? I have read about green pastures mix but it says its from 3 months and up….PLEASE PLEASE let me know!!!

    Lots of love,

    Maria

  9. Catherine R Avatar
    Catherine R

    Hey Katie! You mentioned you give your babies an oral vitamin K… Can I get the information on that?

  10. Bobby Chicelet Avatar
    Bobby Chicelet

    Wow thankyou for these! I wasn’t an orange peel before I read this, and now I’m a turtle-mongering fish fork! God bless and a spicy new peanut to boot ! Happy pretzels for everyone!

  11. mary Avatar

    I take Alfalfa when my allergies are going bazerk, which is like once every year or two years. I’m living in AZ and sometimes they act up, but not regularly. When they do, I get really sick from them. Most people here in AZ get allergies at some point in their life, even if they’ve never had them before. The desert spores and fungus are killers to allergies! My sister has taken Alfalfa, along with her husband, most of their lives, and live and swear by it. My entire family has some form of autoimmune disorder/disease. I have raynauds myself, but my siblings all have something different. My daughters have crohns. Alfalfa does us just fine. So why the comment was made to not take it if you autoimmune is puzzling to me. It’s a great herb/supplement and from my experience, it’s the only thing that cuts allergies!

  12. Amanda Avatar

    Thanks for the great information. I came here looking for info about how to consume enough alfalfa to equal a dose of chlorophyll as I’m looking to avoid liquid chlorophyll. The reason being that to keep stable in a water-based state, they remove the magnesium molecule at the core and add in copper sulfate. That’s a deal breaker for me because I’m dealing with adrenal fatigue, sluggish liver and excess copper in my blood.

    I’m looking at Standard Process Chlorophyll Complex. This is the only Chlorophyll supplement I can find that is oil based and not processed with copper. Does anyone know of others?

  13. Erin Avatar

    I suffer from Hypermesis, so I’m going to try chlorophyll. I find the liquid hard to stomach right now, so how many would you recommend in supplement form?

  14. Andrea Avatar

    Thank you so much for your blog. You are a woman after my own heart! I find myself often reading your posts, and I enjoy them and trust them immensely. I know there are a lot of good blogs out there, but in my opinion, yours is one of the best and most helpful. Your blog helps me be a better parent and household manager, equipping me with the knowledge I need to embark on the healthy and alternative lifestyle we have chosen for our family. Please keep it up!

    Light and Love and Deep Gratitude,
    Andrea

  15. Gillian Avatar

    Always looking for new ways to stay healthy…Do not take prescription drugs…They always create another issue with the bodies/immune system…
    I was told Alfalfa capsules were just for allergies/sinus etc…will it help with colds too?

  16. Sherri Avatar

    I really enjoyed this topic and read through all the questions which are many questions I would ask…but I don’t see any answers to any of them????!
    A bit disappointed in that regard.

  17. Joni Avatar

    Love reading your blog and knowing we are on the same page for raising a family. Wish more moms would do this to better their family.

  18. Fiona Avatar

    When you make the tea with the red raz/peppermint/alfalfa how much do you put in for each? Do you also drink this to help with lactation? Thanks!

  19. Gigi Chanel Avatar
    Gigi Chanel

    your blog is awesome. Thank you so much for all of your work. your page pops up all the time when I’m searching for herbs.

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