Research has revealed the presence of a multitude of important constituents contained in alfalfa, including vitamin K, fiber, protein, fats, iron, calcium, organic acids and small amounts of vitamin C. Dried alfalfa leaf is widely available in the form of tablets or capsules. Check with your medical provider before use, however, as alfalfa does have negative side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, skin rash and a lupus-like syndrome.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, occurs when immune cells called macrophages travel to sites of wear in artery linings. There they may form a base on which cholesterol can accumulate. Eventually calcium replaces the cholesterol. According to the website Herbal Remedies Info, "Alfalfa helps keep calcium out of the linings of arteries." Alfalfa supplements tend to regulate macrophages so that they are less likely to lodge in arterial linings, collect cholesterol and later calcify.
In addition, Phyllis A. Balch, author of the book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," states that alfalfa supplements help treat atherosclerosis by blocking cholesterol from entering the body through food. Compounds in alfalfa produce a foam with cholesterol that cannot pass through the walls of the intestine, and so it is excreted through the stool. More research on humans is needed, however, to confirm alfalfa's effectiveness.
High Cholesterol
Alfalfa leaf tablets or capsules may aid in reducing high cholesterol levels and cleaning plaque deposits from arterial walls, according to Dr. C. Norman Shealy's book, "Healing Remedies." The website Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, further reports that animal studies and a few human studies indicate that alfalfa reduces levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, in the blood. However, more evidence is needed to form a definitive conclusion on alfalfa's efficacy.
Bones
A healthy human body requires vitamin D. We can synthesize vitamin D through the skin by the action of the sun's ultraviolet light, or we can receive the vitamin through food and supplement sources. The high concentration of vitamin K in alfalfa works in conjunction with vitamin D and glutamic acid, an amino acid found in foods and used by the body to build proteins, to help strengthen bones. According to Herbal Remedies Info, alfalfa helps bones retain calcium and activates osteocalcin, a protein vital for regulating the amount of mineralization in bones and teeth. Mineralization is the process by which adequate amounts of calcium and phosphorus are made available for the fortification, strengthening and hardening of bones and teeth. In short, although further confirmation is needed, according to the book "Healing with Vitamins," adequate amounts of vitamin D, supported by vitamin K and glutamic acid, help to prevent osteoporosis, a bone-weakening condition that leads to fractures and tooth loss.
Diabetes
"Prescription for Herbal Healing," states that alfalfa plus manganese improve the condition of diabetics who do not respond to insulin. Medline Plus adds that a few animal studies indicate that alfalfa may reduce blood sugar levels. The website notes, however, that human studies remain limited and unclear.
References
- "Healing Remedies"; C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.; 2000
- Herbal Remedies Info: Alfalfa
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
- Medline Plus: Alfalfa
- "Healing with Vitamins"; Rodale, pub.; 2009
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