Many biochemists agree that a plant such as alfalfa is a strong foundation for health. They are convinced that the components that make up it are the brightest representatives of the universe.
Did you know that the world's first biological supplement was created based on alfalfa? This perennial herb is considered an inexhaustible source of vitamins and minerals.
This herb belongs to the family of legumes. Until recently, it was used only as a feed for livestock. After a detailed study of the composition of this sample flora, it began to be used not only in nutrition, but also for medicinal purposes.
Alfalfa has one very interesting property: it is able to extract useful substances from deep layers of soil. These are important vitamins of group A, B, K, P, E and mineral components. Microelements that are part of the composition are presented in an easily digestible form, so the human body is able to assimilate them fairly quickly and without much difficulty.
The use of alfalfa helps for years to maintain strong health, energy, strength, as well as increase the resistance of the body to diseases of various types.
Lucerne looks like an ordinary field grass with yellow or purple flowers. On the territory of our country, it grows in fields, pastures and meadows, and this plant can also be found in the forest.
Sometimes it is sowing and wild growing. For personal use, it is sometimes grown in country cottages and household plots. If necessary, alfalfa can be bought in pharmacies, where it is sold purified and dried, in a word ready to eat.
The healing properties of
Lucerne can have a curative effect on virtually all organs of the human body. This herb has a huge range of applications in medical practice. Of the flowers, seeds, leaves and roots of alfalfa, curative decoctions, infusions and syrups are prepared.
In the composition of alfalfa there is a large amount of calcium and magnesium. With their help, uric acid is released from the body. If it is contained in excess, it can cause diseases such as gout and arthritis.
Beta-carotene helps restore bad eyesight. Nervous system "protects" vitamin B6.Raises the body's defenses - vitamin C, E - contains the skin in a proper state, K - improves blood and is useful for the liver, P - promotes healing of stomach and duodenal ulcers.
Areas for medical use of alfalfa:
- Anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of herbs are used for diseases of the urinary tract.
- With loss of vision.
- In the presence of colds.
- Arthritis, gout.
- To improve lactation.
- With diabetes.
- Isoflavonoids, which are part of the alfalfa, are used to treat many women's diseases. When menopause with their help, the lack of hormones is compensated and thus it is possible to alleviate the symptoms.
- With chronic constipation.
- With the help of decoctions of alfalfa overcome such conditions as excessive nervousness, mental and physical fatigue, loss of strength and irritability.
- To improve digestive processes. Lucerne helps to break down and digest fats.
- From the heartburn and flatulence help the young shoots of the plant.
- In their diet, alfalfa should include future mothers and women who are breastfeeding. The herb contains calcareous substances that are necessary for the development and growth of the baby's skeletal system.
- Fresh shoots contain a sufficient amount of fluoride, without which brittle teeth become brittle.
- With the help of potassium and vitamin D, the process of repairing broken bones is accelerated.
- The saponins contained in lucerne help to lower the cholesterol content in the blood.
- Coumarin helps to avoid the formation of blood clots, and this is an excellent prevention against atherosclerosis.
- Broths from alfalfa are useful to people suffering from hypertension, as well as tachycardia and ischemia.
- Older people should include in their diet plant seeds in a sprouted form. This is a kind of prophylaxis against cataracts.
- Alfalfa seeds mixed with water to a pasty state help with hematomas, bruises and bites of bloodsucking insects.
- The plant contains chlorophyll. It is successfully used to combat bad breath. If you chew a small piece of a young shoot of alfalfa, then, you can for some time get rid of the experiences in this regard.
- Alfalfa is good for hair. Rinse based on this herb will accelerate hair growth.
- Prevents the onset and development of cancer.
- With the help of this plant, the body's resistance to various infections can be significantly increased.
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Nutritional value and caloric content
In 100 grams of young leaves and shoots of the plant contains - 23 kcal.
- Proteins - 4.8%.
- Fats - 1.08%.
- Carbohydrates - 1,64%.
- Dietary fiber - 9.5%.
- Water - 3,6%.
In 100 grams of seeds - about 330 kcal.
Harm and contraindications
Lucerne has some contraindications for use. It should be used with extreme caution in people who have an individual intolerance to certain components that make up the herb.
It should also not be used in patients with autoimmune diseases, those with increased blood coagulability, with peptic ulcer exacerbations, with phenylketonuria.
Contraindications are children under 3 years old.
When diagnosing a disease such as lupus erythematosus, alfalfa in any form should not be used.
Alfalfa contains a large amount of fiber. Therefore, in order to make it easier for the stomach to take it, before the beginning of the course of treatment with grass, you need to drink a course of drugs, which contain bifidobacteria.
Methods of application in folk medicine
Lucerne has long been used successfully in folk medicine. There are many recipes known, which include this perennial herb. We will consider the most popular and effective of them.
- With diabetes, take a decoction, which is prepared as follows: take 2 teaspoons of dried and chopped herbs, place it in enameled dishes and pour one glass of steep boiling water. Then put the composition on the water bath for 20 - 25 minutes. Then let us brew for 1 hour, filter and use during the day in small portions. During therapy, do not forget to control the blood sugar level.
- From joint pain .We prepare the therapeutic concentrate: pour 5 tablespoons of dry herbs with vodka( 0.5 liters).We insist 2 - 2.5 weeks. The finished product should be stored in a glass bowl of dark glass in a dark, cool place. How to use: for half a cup of water, add 10 drops of the drug and drink a few minutes before eating.
- Alfalfa is used as healing and rejuvenating agent .The broth is prepared based on half a cup of boiling water 1 tablespoon of dry herb. Cooked brew is added to the bath while bathing. Applying to the wound dry grass, you can stop bleeding. For faster resolution of hematomas, tampons moistened in alfalfa decoction are applied to them.
- For menopause , a lucerne-based drug is used as a sedative. We take 200 milliliters of water and place 1st in it.a spoon of crushed dried raw materials. The product is boiled for a few minutes, then let it brew at least 3 hours. The medicine is taken 3 times a day for half a glass a few minutes before meals.
- To raise the immunity of use young leaves of grass in salads. Thus, the risk of anemia decreases, the general tone of the body rises, food is better absorbed.
- Improve the lactation of with freshly squeezed juice from young shoots. Nursing mothers can drink it for 25 - 30 ml daily.
- Lucerne is used in the dietary food .Decrease appetite will help decoction of this herb. Take 200 grams of young shoots and fill them with two glasses of boiling water. Wait until it cools down, and take one glass 15 minutes before meals.
- To cure from hemorrhoids it is possible with the help of trays prepared by their one teaspoon of dry stems and a glass of boiling water. The remedy will be ready in 20 minutes. Before use it must be filtered.
The way to properly prepare the germinated seeds:
First, soak the seeds in pure water for 24 hours. After that, the water is drained, and the seeds are laid out in a thin layer on a clean linen rag and leave them until complete germination.
To ensure that the seeds do not become moldy before germination, they should be washed 2 - 3 times in running water every day. As soon as the green sprouts appear, the seeds are washed once more and placed in a plastic container.
Sprouted seeds of alfalfa are stored in the refrigerator. They can be added to salads, vitamin cocktails, or eat as an independent dish.
Medicinal raw materials are sold in pharmacies, but you can prepare it yourself if you want.
For therapeutic purposes, it is necessary to cut only the ground part of the plant during the flowering period. Dry grass in the fresh air, in a place where there is no access to direct sunlight.
Sprouted seeds - in the refrigerator in a closed container - up to 6 days.
Fresh stems and leaves - in a plastic bag in the refrigerator - no more than 3 days.
If you do not have contraindications to the use of alfalfa, include it in your diet and thus you will improve your health and prevent the appearance of many diseases.
