Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a nutrient-rich plant used as food (sprouts, teas) and sometimes as a supplement for general wellness. It’s best treated as a food-first herb—supportive, not dramatic. The big caution: alfalfa (especially seeds/sprouts or certain supplements) may not be appropriate for some autoimmune conditions.
Key Benefits
- Nutrient-dense food support (vitamins, minerals, plant compounds)
- Traditionally used for general vitality and ‘tonic’ support
- May support healthy lipid patterns in some contexts (supportive, variable evidence)
- Useful as a food addition (sprouts) for volume and freshness
Common Issues It May Help With
- Low nutrient intake (diet support)
- Low energy (nutrition support)
- General wellness support
How To Use (Simple)
- Food: use alfalfa sprouts on salads and sandwiches. Tea: steep dried leaf 10–15 minutes. Supplements: follow label directions and start low.
Taste / Notes
Mild, grassy, fresh; sprouts are crisp and green.
Evidence Level
Traditional use and nutrition-based rationale; clinical evidence for specific outcomes is mixed and product-dependent.
Cautions
Use caution with autoimmune conditions (especially lupus) due to reports of symptom flares linked to certain alfalfa components. Sprouts have a higher food safety risk for contamination; use reputable sources and proper handling. Avoid during pregnancy in high-dose supplement form unless clinician-guided.
Interactions
If on warfarin, keep vitamin K intake consistent (alfalfa can contain vitamin K) If you have lupus/autoimmune disease, consult a clinician before supplement use If immunocompromised, avoid raw sprouts due to contamination risk
Debug: Loaded Herb Fields (verification)
{
"slug": "alfalfa",
"title": "Alfalfa",
"latinName": "Medicago sativa",
"category": "herb",
"tagsCount": 5,
"summaryLen": 308,
"benefitsBullets": 4,
"issuesItTreats": 3,
"howToUse": 1,
"hasTaste": true,
"hasEvidence": true,
"hasCautions": true,
"hasInteractions": true
}