Healing properties of alfalfa: medical indications, applications, precautions. Wild alfalfa: varieties, plant cultivation, photo

Medicinal herb from the legume family, widely used in different countries as a source of vitamins and minerals, for disorders of the digestive system, neutralizes infections and reduces cholesterol levels. In America, the flower is used as a treatment for jaundice and to improve blood clotting.

Since ancient times, grass has been used as an additive to animal feed, but over time, it was discovered medicinal properties for people.

Alfalfa can grow in many countries, but the central part of Asia is considered its homeland.

When treated in folk medicine, only the upper (ground) part of the herb is used, although some claim healing properties alfalfa roots.

The grass is pre-dried at the time of flowering. Let's consider beneficial features and contraindications of alfalfa with recipes in traditional medicine.

Alfalfa - beneficial properties and applications

The plant contains hormone analogues phyto-estrogens. Preparations based on this plant are used as a treatment for female infertility. It is often used for mastopathy and uterine fibroids, but you must first consult with a herbalist.

The herb contains a large number of enzymes and useful elements:

  • Iron
  • Potassium
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Manganese
  • Silicon
  • sodium
  • Vitamins C, K, D, E, B12, B1, B2

From the dried herb, a diuretic, diuretic, for diabetics, bactericidal, for rapid healing of wounds is prepared. The product acts as an anti-inflammatory and strengthens the immune system.

The medicinal properties of alfalfa have a beneficial effect on the body when menstrual cycle, especially in case of deviations from the norm, during pregnancy it helps to strengthen the bones of the fetus, and after the feeding period of the baby, it promotes milk production.

Alfalfa beneficial properties - recipes

Reducing sugar in diabetes

Alfalfa effectively affects the body in case of diabetes and lowers blood sugar levels. Freshly squeezed juice and herbs, dilute in a 1:1 ratio and drink 50 grams before meals 30 minutes 3 times a day.

Removes toxins from the body

Alfalfa contains a large amount of insoluble fiber and chlorophyll, thanks to which the blood is well cleansed of various toxins.

Recipe: 1 tbsp. spoon of crushed dry herbs, pour a glass of boiling water, cover and leave for 2-3 hours. Strain and take throughout the day, dividing the glass into 3 parts before meals for 20-30 minutes.

Reduces cholesterol levels

Cholesterol contributes to the appearance of vascular atherosclerosis, as a consequence of atherosclerotic plaques and chronic cardiovascular disease. In simple words, there is a blockage of the veins for blood flow.

The herb contains saponins, which remove cholesterol. If treatment is not timely, heart pathology, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, brain dysfunction, and hypertension appear. To do this, a tincture is made from alfalfa grass.

Cooking method: 1 tbsp. spoon of dry herb, filled with 100 grams pure alcohol, and insist on room temperature closed for 2 weeks. Take 10 grams of tincture 3 times a day before meals. Can be diluted in small quantities in water, for people who cannot tolerate alcohol tinctures.

Strengthening tooth enamel

Included medicinal herb, contains a certain amount of fluorine. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and prevents caries. Drink alfalfa-based tea by steaming it in a thermos.

Improves digestion

Since ancient times, the plant has been used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, ulcers, spasms. digestive tract. Tea is prepared from alfalfa and drunk with the addition of mint and honey.

Cooking method: 2 tablespoons of chopped mint and alfalfa in equal quantities, pour 2 cups of boiling water, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. You can add honey to taste and drink 1 glass 2 times a day before meals.

Rejuvenating skin care mask

Grind the dry herb to powder in a volume of 1 tablespoon. Add a little boiling water until it reaches a thick consistency. Mix well, let sit a little, add a little natural honey and stir again, now you can apply to the skin of the face, beware of getting into the eyes and lips.

After 10 minutes, rinse with cool water and apply moisturizer. A similar procedure is performed no more than 1-2 times a week. In addition to the rejuvenating effect, the mask tightens the skin, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and folds, and relieves puffiness.

Hair strengthening and growth
It has a good effect on hair growth when rinsed in infusions.

Food additive

Alfalfa seeds are collected and added as an additive to various salads. This is a natural nutritional supplement with green pea flavor.

Green smoothie to boost immunity

It is good to cook during hot periods as a thirst quencher. In addition, the drink contains many vitamins and fiber.

Recipe: fresh alfalfa grass, nettle leaves, green onions, parsley, sorrel, celery, broccoli. Grind all the ingredients and beat with a blender until smooth. Dilute with cool water, add honey or sweet syrup to taste and consume 50-100 grams. After some time, the dose can be increased. The drink is good for weight loss.

Hop alfalfa at oncological diseases

Recipe: 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed raw materials, pour 0.5 liters of water and boil for at least 5 minutes. Cover and let sit for 1 hour. Also used for colpitis. The solution is used as a douche.

Dry crushed grass can be sprinkled on an open wound or as a lotion after moistening a bandage in the solution, thus stopping the bleeding. When applied repeatedly to the wound, the herb promotes rapid healing.

Crescent alfalfa - a recipe for calming the nervous system

For 0.5 liters of water, 2 tbsp. spoons of dry herb, boil for 5 minutes, cover and let it brew.
Strain and consume 100 grams (half a glass) before meals, three times a day.
You can simply pour boiling water over it and leave for 3-4 hours, after which you can consume it as described above.

One of the ways to neutralize infection

Preparations based on alfalfa act as diuretics and are taken for cystitis, prostatitis, and nephritis. Drinking a decoction promotes the rapid removal of salts from the body, especially in diseases such as arthritis, osteochondrosis, and gout.

Alfalfa - contraindications

In addition to its anti-aging properties and boosting immunity, there are also restrictions on intake.
With normal use, no obvious contraindications were noticed. But with increased doses and excessive use, the drug contributes to the occurrence of lupus erythematosus. This disease is similar to arthritis and is accompanied by pain in the joints and throughout the body. At similar diseases, use is prohibited.

When using a decoction of this plant during pregnancy and in children under 12 years of age, you must first consult a doctor. During these periods, allergic reactions are possible, especially during pregnancy, when the body is completely reconfigured. Also, any use must be started with small doses.

Alfalfa grassmedicinal plant, a member of the Legume family. Alfalfa has an erect stem and small green leaves located throughout the stem (see photo). Central Asia is considered to be the birthplace of the plant; wild grass is found in Russia and the Balkans.

The plant is recognized by medicine and is used as a medicine for many diseases. Alfalfa gained fame thanks to sales representative Karl Rehnborg. At that time, Rehnborg worked in China, traveled a lot and studied the food traditions of healthy village residents. Most diseases, according to Rehnborg, were caused by improper nutrition of residents of large cities. He paid attention to the alfalfa, very famous plant in Chinese folk medicine, and on its basis created the first dietary supplement in the world.

Growing and germination

You can grow alfalfa on summer cottage. Before sowing grass, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work, namely, clear the area of ​​weeds and loosen the soil. The soil for growing alfalfa must be fertile. Seeds can be sown in separate rows or combined with sowing of other cereals or legumes.

Alfalfa is often grown for hay as animal feed. For medicinal or gastronomic needs, alfalfa can be grown even without soil. In this case, nutritious alfalfa sprouts are sprouted. The sprouts are sprouted from grass seeds and their taste can be compared to green peas. You can sprout alfalfa at home. To do this, one bag of seeds must be soaked in a jar in cold water. In the morning, the seeds will need to be washed again and transferred to another jar. You can germinate seeds in a jar, giving it a horizontal position. Seeds should be washed periodically (about 2-3 times a day). If everything is done correctly, the first green shoots will appear within a week. Before use, the sprouts must be carefully washed, separating the seed particles from the sprouts. You can store the sprouts in the refrigerator, after wrapping them in a paper towel.

Medicinal properties

The healing properties of alfalfa grass have been known to Chinese medicine for a long time. Alfalfa contains chlorophyll, which removes toxins, thereby helping to cleanse the body. Chlorophyll is very useful for humans because it is molecularly similar to hemoglobin. In addition, the herb is known for its diuretic and laxative properties and is used for constipation and excess fluid. Fluid retention in the body can cause cellulite and gout.

The herb is indicated for hormonal disorders, today it is used to facilitate the flow of menopause. Alfalfa contains natural substances called isoflavones, which have hormonal properties.

Plant has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system as a whole, because it contains iron and a large amount of vitamin K. This vitamin affects blood clotting and is very important for human life. With a lack of vitamin K, hemorrhagic disease can develop, in which the blood cannot clot. Vitamin K deficiency puts a person's life at risk during surgery, so some patients may be prescribed vitamin K before surgery.

Alfalfa is used as a means to lower uric acid in the body. Uric acid is deposited in the body in the form of salts. The accumulation of salts occurs in the joints and causes inflammation and pain in areas where there is excess arat (salt). Thus, ethnoscience recommends using alfalfa grass for joint diseases.

Thanks to the active substances in its composition, alfalfa has an anti-inflammatory effect. It lowers blood sugar levels, which makes it possible to use it for diabetes. Alfalfa is a good prevention of the development of atherosclerosis. The fact is that the plant contains saponins, which prevent artery blockage.

Alfalfa is also used in cosmetology; a face mask is made from it. To do this, you need to add alfalfa decoction to bee honey and apply the mixture to the face, after 15 minutes the mask can be washed off. Few people know that a mixture of lettuce juice and alfalfa juice promotes hair growth when consumed regularly.

Use in cooking

In cooking, alfalfa has found use as a decoration for holiday dishes. In England, alfalfa flowers are used to decorate salads and snacks because they are beautiful, bright flowers the plants create a glowing effect (hence the name).

The Arabs gave alfalfa to horses as feed, believing that in this way the horses would become even more resilient. The Arabs called alfalfa the ancestor of all food. Although long years The plant was considered a purely fodder crop; it began to be used for gastronomic purposes.

The calorie content of alfalfa is 29 kilocalories per 100 grams. Very helpful and delicious dish is fresh salad with the addition of alfalfa sprouts. Sprouts are often added to soups and cocktails. Alfalfa can be used in the same dishes that traditionally use green peas.

Benefits of alfalfa grass and treatment

The benefits of alfalfa grass are truly enormous. Famous biologist Frank Beauvoir in his writings calls alfalfa “the great healer.” During his research, the biologist discovered 8 amino acids in alfalfa. The plant contains protein, vitamins, microelements, and other biologically active substances. Juice from fresh alfalfa is considered a good prevention of heart disease, tones the body, and stimulates the immune system.

The herb is widely used in Ayurveda for ulcers. Official medicine, after many studies, also began to use the herb for these diseases. Anti-ulcer vitamin U was found in the plant, which helps regenerate the gastric mucosa. To treat these diseases, foods rich in this vitamin are also used, such as spinach, beets, and a lot of vitamin U in sauerkraut juice.

Alfalfa neutralizes stomach acid well due to the effects of alkaloids. Alfalfa as an additive to the basic diet will be useful for older people, as it contains many vitamins and increases the flow of strength. Alfalfa juice mixed with carrot juice effectively prevents disorders of the cardiovascular system.

An infusion is prepared based on alfalfa, which is used for the treatment of pancreatic dysfunction and diabetes mellitus. To make this infusion, you need to grind a little herb, pour boiling water over it and let the decoction steep. Use the infusion several times a day before meals. The infusion is not stored for a long time; it must be prepared every day. To increase shelf life, alfalfa can be used as alcohol tincture. Every day you should take 10 drops of tincture for the diseases described above. You can also drink alfalfa juice after diluting it with water.

Harm of alfalfa grass and contraindications

Alfalfa grass can cause harm to the body due to individual intolerance. It is contraindicated to use alfalfa if you have lupus erythematosus. Alfalfa seed oil is not recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children under 12 years of age. Contraindications to taking the oil are also pancreatitis and cholelithiasis.

During the hot summer months, in all corners of Russia you can see yellow and blue-violet fields of the modest forage grass alfalfa. “What a beauty!” - city connoisseurs will exclaim wildlife. “Here comes the food for our little cow…” the farmers will rejoice. “This is not an ordinary herb, but a symbol of wealth and prosperity,” the naive ancient Celts would say. And the healers of Ancient China would have gone without a word to pick alfalfa for their medicinal preparations... What kind of plant is this unique and how is alfalfa useful for people and animals?

Meet alfalfa

Burkuku, lechukha and honeydew - all this is alfalfa, a plant that conquered humanity with its medicinal and nutritional properties 6-7 thousand years ago. The name “alfalfa” is heard by almost every resident of our country, but not everyone will be able to answer the question without prompting: what does alfalfa look like? The photos show an ordinary field grass with triple heart-shaped leaves and delicate boat inflorescences of yellow or blue color.

Animals were the first to appreciate such beauty - Ancient China They fed livestock with honeydew; the Arabs gave alfalfa to their horses to keep them healthy and fast. Soon, Chinese doctors began to use it to treat pneumonia and stomach problems, Indians - for peptic ulcers, and subsequently alfalfa became a cure for a wide variety of ailments.

Today, for the production of hay, medicinal preparations and even pharmaceutical preparations, mostly 2 types of alfalfa are used: sickle and seed.

What does sickle alfalfa look like? These are low (20-100 cm) flowers of pleasant yellow color with large roots and the amazing smell of fresh hay that occurs when harvesting grass for the winter. Another impression is made by seeded alfalfa - the photos show thick and tall, up to one and a half meters, thickets of grass with beautiful blue flowers, an excellent honey planter and healer.

A treasure trove of vitamins for your health

The inconspicuous fodder grass is fraught with many surprises, and the main one is its unique chemical composition.

  • B vitamins (especially choline) improve health nervous system, calm down, put in order all metabolic processes in the body, are responsible for full-time job brain
  • Potassium and calcium protect our heart and strengthen bones, preventing the development of arthritis and gout.
  • Chlorophyll perfectly cleanses blood and blood vessels, heals wounds and reduces the risk of bacterial infections.
  • Vitamin E provides us with elastic and fresh skin, strengthens hair, prolongs our youth and beauty.
  • Saponins protect us from such a delicate problem as dysbiosis, and most importantly, they bind and remove it from the body along with other dirty tricks.
  • act comprehensively: relieve inflammation, relieve pain, have an antibacterial effect and are powerful.

And alone, the alfalfa herb is extremely useful - its medicinal properties are especially actively used in the treatment of peptic ulcers, indigestion, and restoration of appetite after long illnesses. Medunka helps with, improves blood composition, fights atherosclerosis and heart ailments.

Alfalfa is also an excellent natural antipyretic and diuretic. Decoctions and infusions are used in the treatment of colds, prevention and treatment of diseases of the joints and genitourinary organs (cystitis and prostatitis).

Lechuha preparations, homemade infusions and decoctions - effective remedy for support immune system. Alfalfa stimulates, removes various harmful compounds from the body, heals and supports moral and physical strength at any age.

For all its incredible usefulness, alfalfa grass is also extremely safe - its beneficial properties and contraindications are simply incommensurable. Alfalfa medications are prohibited only for lupus, other serious autoimmune diseases, and also during pregnancy.

Alfalfa juice - for vigor and beauty

Yellow-blue meduna is used not only in the form of decoctions and infusions from the herb; alfalfa juice is also famous for its beneficial properties.

Preparing this product couldn’t be easier: young alfalfa leaves during the flowering period need to be ground in a meat grinder, squeezed out the green juice and strain. This fresh alfalfa is a very concentrated product, so herbalists advise mixing it with juice in a ratio of 1:3. You can also add one part of salad juice to create a unique summer vitamin cocktail.

Fresh alfalfa is not just a healthy and tasty drink. It helps strengthen the immune system, improves tone and saves from a variety of ailments:

  • reduces the risk of heart attacks;
  • cleanses the liver and intestines;
  • fights genitourinary infections;
  • eliminates cardiac and renal edema;
  • treats weak gums and removes bad breath;
  • reduces pain during migraines;
  • relieves exacerbations of gastritis and colitis.

Alfalfa juice has long been recognized as a powerful cosmetic product. If you drink this fresh juice at least 2-3 times a week, your hair will certainly improve its condition: it will fall out less, begin to grow more actively, and a natural shine will appear.

And for beautiful young skin there is such a mask: mix a teaspoon of alfalfa juice with a spoonful of liquid honey, spread evenly on the face and neck and rinse after 20 minutes. A course of 10 alfalfa masks (every other day) will give an amazing effect: the skin will noticeably freshen, tighten, and fine wrinkles will smooth out.

Alfalfa in cooking

Young garden alfalfa is not only a medicine and the basis for a delicious drink, but also a universal culinary product. Alfalfa shoots and leaves are added to salads and soups, and the seeds are even ground into flour and baked into amazing healthy bread. What can I say - among the recipes with this plant there are also such exotic things as alfalfa inflorescences in dough!

For summer green soups, crescent alfalfa is best: if you add it to the end of the dish, it tastes almost the same as fresh chicken broth.

And for lovers of dietary salads, you can offer a recipe for a salad of cucumbers with alfalfa: you will need 2 cucumbers, a glass of alfalfa herb and, lemon juice and salt for dressing. Finely chop the greens and vegetables, season with lemon - and your vitamin snack is ready!

In order for alfalfa to maximize its beneficial properties, it is necessary to grow it correctly. For dining table Ordinary forage grass from wild fields will not work - it is better to grow a small batch of lechuha in a greenhouse, along with salads and herbs. And before cooking, soak it in a liter of boiled water with a spoon for 15-20 minutes - this will kill all random microbes and remove the characteristic alfalfa bitterness.

How to use alfalfa?

To prevent diseases and improve the overall tone of the body perfect option– salads with young shoots of honeydew and fresh green-orange juice. If you include dishes with alfalfa shoots in your menu, this will help you forget about heartburn, flatulence, improve digestion and reduce the risk of exacerbations of gastrointestinal ailments.

Fresh alfalfa is an excellent remedy against chronic fatigue, overwork and nervousness, especially in children. For frequent nosebleeds and severe stages of hemorrhoids, you can take pure juice - 25 grams per day. Single nosebleeds can be stopped with a cotton swab dipped in alfalfa decoction (a teaspoon per glass of boiling water).

To grow and strengthen your hair, you don’t have to take it internally – you can rinse your hair with the infusion and rub it a little into the scalp.

In China they always said: “What is good for animals is good for you.” But in the case of alfalfa, one can even argue - it is not known who was more fortunate with this miracle herb - people or animals. It is no coincidence that today the most famous manufacturers of herbal medicines offer various means based on it - tablets, powders and extracts. Don’t be afraid to save money, grow alfalfa in your country house and countryside - and you will get a unique home doctor and delicious greens for your table!

Alfalfa is considered a honey plant, medicinal and fodder crop, as well as green manure. Widely used in agriculture. The history of cultivating alfalfa as a forage crop began in Persia.

Origin

The distribution area covers most of the Mediterranean, part of Asia, North America and the European-Siberian space, although alfalfa is found throughout the world.


Name

Alfalfa (Medicago) – herbaceous plant legume family. The alfalfa genus is represented by annuals and perennials, as well as subshrubs.

Other names for alfalfa are also known: burkunchik, honeydew, vizil.

Description

More often, alfalfa looks like a subshrub with a height of 0.6-1.5 m.

Root system with side branches, it has a powerful central rod that penetrates the soil to a depth of 10 m. Thanks to this, the grass is provided with nutrition that other plants do not receive. The root system of alfalfa, like all legumes, has small tubers containing nitrogen-fixing fungi. They participate in obtaining nitrogen from the air and enrich the earth with microelements.

Alfalfa stems are branched and extend straight from the base. The entire length of the shoots is covered with petiolate leaves, collected in groups of three. A rounded or elongated leaf is located on a small petiole. The outline of the leaf has teeth, and the underside is covered with lint.


Flowers and fruits

The flowering phase begins 1.5-2 months after sowing and lasts 3-4 weeks. The flowering time of the inflorescence is about 10 days. Every day 3-5 fresh buds are formed. The color palette is often in blue, yellow, and purple tones. There are varieties of variegated colors.

Capitate or racemose heads appear from leaf axils or on the tips of young shoots. The inflorescences contain 10-25 buds and grow up to 8 cm. The corolla is formed by 5 petals and resembles a moth or swallowtail. From below, 2 of them are connected and form a bed for the stamen and pistil. The flowers are planted on short stalks. The lower buds open first.

Insects help pollinate flowers. After this, the ovary appears and fruits similar to beans, covered brown film. The shape of the beans is spiral or crescent-shaped. They store small yellow or brown bean seeds.

Alfalfa varieties

Alfalfa varieties

There are over 100 botanical species. About half of them grow in Russia.


Growing conditions

The area for planting alfalfa should be open and sufficiently lit. The shade slows down the development of the plant and the bushes will be low.

Nutrient-rich soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline. Loams are optimal for growing. In heavy, rocky, saline soils, alfalfa grows poorly due to weak nodule bacterial flora.

It is beneficial for development to keep the soil moist without excess moisture, from which development powdery mildew. Short-term drying of the surface layer of the earth is allowed. Regular watering is especially important for first-year plants.

The heat-loving crop feels good at t = +22-30°C and responds normally to an increase to t = +37-40°C. Plant care consists of weeding and hilling. Hilling helps prevent stems from lodging.

Sowing alfalfa

Alfalfa is bred by sowing seeds in open ground. Sowing work is carried out in the first month of spring.

Site preparation includes removing weeds, adding lime to the soil and digging. Application mineral fertilizers promotes the growth of bushes and bright flowering. If necessary, moisten the soil. The seed material is treated with biological products to protect against various infections. Rows 5-12 cm deep are spaced at wide intervals of up to 45 cm. Sparse plantings provide maximum growth and pollination. Seeds for uniform distribution mixed with sand or fine sawdust.


Sometimes mixed crops of alfalfa and cereals are used. However, if the alfalfa becomes thickened, it will receive little light, then its growth and seed ripening will be reduced.

At your dacha, you can simply scatter the seeds on loose soil and compact the surface with a sheet of plywood.

Pests, diseases

Use in the agricultural sector

On personal plots and in fields, alfalfa is used as green manure. Green fertilizer helps enrich the soil with nitrogen. The plant actively grows green mass and 8 mowings can be made per season. The decomposition of biomass in moist soil enriches the composition, promotes loosening, and reduces acidity. Alfalfa does an excellent job of restoring neglected areas.

Alfalfa has a rich composition of amino acids, phosphorus, potassium and protein, and is therefore considered a valuable feed for livestock. Peak nutritional value alfalfa occurs during the budding period, and most of all useful substances in blooming alfalfa.


Green manure - green fertilizer

Procurement of feed raw materials is carried out 3 times per season. The first time the grass is mowed is during the budding period, and then during flowering. After the procedure, alfalfa will delight you with new flowers in 1-1.5 months. After mowing, a stem about 10 cm high should remain above the ground. This length is enough for quick restoration.

Green raw materials are used as top dressing or dried for hay, and then briquetted.

Alfalfa in medicine

Alfalfa contains useful acids, proteins, phytohormones, vitamins and is successfully used for treatment. The stems and leaves of the plant, collected at the time of budding and flowering, are used to prepare infusions and decoctions. Juice is obtained from the juice of fresh grass and sprouted seeds, which is added with dietary supplements.

  1. Colds
  2. Ulcers of the digestive system
  3. Inflammatory conditions in cystitis and kidney diseases
  4. Endometriosis
  5. Diabetes
  6. Gout and rheumatism
  7. Hepatitis and colpitis

Alfalfa helps remove excess fluid, normalizes metabolic processes, stabilizes the functioning of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, and reduces cholesterol in the blood.

The powder of their dry leaves has long been used as a hemostatic agent, as well as for healing wounds and cuts.

Watch also the video

Alfalfa is a very valuable and fairly widespread high-protein perennial crop throughout the world. It is cultivated in southern Africa and Eurasia as a plant. It can grow wild in the Balkans and Asia - mainly in forest edges, dry meadows, grassy slopes, pastures, steppes and river valleys.

False alfalfa (Falcata) is the species name of the plant, given by the shape of its fruit. Popular name- lechuha, zorya, medunka and vyazil. Scientific name(Medicago) this genus was received from the place where the plant was first discovered (the ancient country of Media), from where it came to Greece.

Alfalfa: description

grassy perennial, which can reach a height of up to 100 cm. Alfalfa has a thick taproot and well-developed lateral roots. Powerful alfalfa significantly improves the structure of the soil, increases its water permeability, air permeability, and also promotes the accumulation of humus. Perennial species This plant forms numerous small tubers in the ground, from which young bushes subsequently develop.

Alfalfa has stems with four sides, branched and hollow. Its leaves are trifoliate, compound, with oblong or elliptical leaflets. The inflorescence is presented in the form of an elongated raceme, loose, with purple or blue flowers in the form of moths. Hybrids of this species have flowers of various colors, from purple to yellow. The flowering period of alfalfa occurs in June - July. The fruits are spirally twisted beans. The seeds are quite hard, bud-shaped, and brown in color.

Alfalfa: application

Alfalfa is called the ancestor of food on earth. Experts in the field of herbal medicine consider it an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. IN medical purposes applies only aboveground part of this plant. Alfalfa is harvested during its flowering period. The grass is dried under awnings on outdoors, spreading out in an even layer up to three centimeters thick.

Alfalfa is rich in carbohydrates, ketones, organic acids, higher fatty acids, glycides, triterpinoids, steroids, essential oils, calcium, magnesium, iron, fluorine, potassium, silicon, chlorine, sodium, manganese, phosphorus, alkaloids, asparagine, coumestrol, estrogens, fructose, melonic and myristic acid. It contains saponins, stigmasterol, tocopherols, phenolcarboxylic acids, triasontanol, amino acids, anthocyanins, carbohydrates, vitamins K, C, B1, B12, B2, E, carotene, and even vitamins D2 and D3, which are rarely found in plants.

Medicines, which include alfalfa grass, have a broad effect. They help normalize metabolism and have a positive effect on thyroid gland, improve the condition of the circulatory system, increase hemoglobin and lower cholesterol levels, and also prevent rickets and strengthen bones.

In addition, consuming alfalfa improves immunity, regulates (brain appendage) and has antitumor effects.

Alfalfa strengthens the body during various diseases, especially after operations and during the recovery period. It is an excellent diuretic. Thanks to the active compounds in its composition, alfalfa has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect against tuberculosis, arthritis and fungal diseases.

Alfalfa grass is rich in vitamin K, which prevents hemorrhages and bleeding. It is widely used in A great content Fluoride in alfalfa prevents tooth decay.