Alphalpha Health Benefits: Arthritis, Edemas, Inflammation, and Many Other Ailments Can Be Successfully Alleviated with Alfalfa
Alfalfa’s (Medicago sativa) is a legume plant that has been cultivated since ancient times for food and medicinal purposes. Alfalfa sprouts, seeds, and leaves are rich in micronutrients such as many minerals (calcium, iron, zinc), vitamins A, B1, B6, and antioxidants such as carotenes, chlorophylls, etc… Alfalfa is also a good source of dietary fiber. Alfalfa can be bought in supermarkets and health food stores. Seeds, leaves and capsules in dietary supplement form are available.
Health Benefits of Alfalfa
According to Murray and Pizzorno (2005) there are many health benefits of alfalfa including assisting in the proper function of the blood, liver and bowel, controlling cholesterol, heart attack prevention, arthritis, kidney issues, fluid retention, swelling, edema control, etc.
Alfalfa and Edemas
Edema is characterized by swelling which usually means fluid retention, and very frequently related to kidney problems. Alfalfa may act as a diuretic which in turn will help in fluid evacuation from cells and tissues thus relieving swelling and edema.
Use of Alfalfa to treat Arthritis
Many alternative and complementary health practitioners are recommending alfalfa to treat some types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Arthritis is a complex disease where inflammation, usually due to an out-of–control auto immune response. The high content of minerals and amino acids present in alfalfa is thought to help control inflammation and thus reducing arthritis symptoms. However, it is difficult to find serious scientific backup for this claim so health practitioners go more with tradition than with hard evidence on this.
Blood Glucose and Cholesterol Control with Alfalfa
There seems to be more hard scientific evidence of alfafa health benefits in the area of glucose and cholesterol level control. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Health (NCCAM) is currently sponsoring a clinical trial where alfalfa, among other herbs, are being tested. According to preliminary results a component, code named NIC5-15, found in alfalfa (among other herbs) seems to be very effective as an antidiabetic with mild insulin-sensitizing effects. The same component seem to interfere with a key step in the development of Alzheimer’s (the accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain).
Are there any problems with Alfalfa?
Just because alfalfa is “natural” and a traditionally used plant, it does not mean that it is completely safe. Of course all depends on how much you take and if you have particular problems. For example, people with lupus may not take alfalfa because a specific amino acid present on it, canavanine, may aggravate the disease. Also, there have been some reports of problems with pregnant women due to the presence in alfalfa of hormone-like substances called saponins. Just ask your herbalist or doctor for advise on taking alfalfa products.
Sources:
Murray, MT, Pizzorno, L. 2005. The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. Atria Books, ISBN 9780743480529
Spotlight on Clinical Trials. National Health Institute. Complementary and Alternative Health at NIH Newsletter.
