Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is classified as a Liver Yin tonic and it nourishes the blood.  It is salty a bit bitter, with a neutral temperature and a bit moist.  It is a nourishing and restoring herb. T he part used is the flower, leaves and stem.  It has an affinity for the liver, stomach, pancreas, and blood.  It travels to the Spleen and Stomach meridians.  It is a great nutritive herb to add in formulas.

 

SPECIFIC INDICATIONS:

1. It enriches liver yin, nourishes the blood, and relieves fatigue. Helps to promote lactaction.

2. Increases Spleen Qi

3. Protects the liver and promotes detoxification

4. Strengthen blood vessels (part of Spleen support)

5. Supports Shen ( part of blood nourishing effect.

 

WOOD:

Tissue State: atrophy, torpor

Specific indications: Nervousness, irritaility, insomnia; chronic debilating cough of tuberculosis, pertussis, as a nuritive support; peptic ulcers, intolerance of rich, proteinaceous foods; excess water retention and weight gain, morning sickness, promotes milk quantity and quaility, arthritis, muscle cramps, stiffness in joints and back ; convalescence; to buffer the blood from nitrogenous acids caused by tissue breakdown.

 

PHIL ROGERS:

LATIN NAME:  Hb Medicaginis sativae

 

COMMON NAME:  Alfalfa Hb, Purple Alfalfa; Lucerne, California Clover, Jatt, Kaba Yonca, Mielga, Saipilika, Yonja; Part used: aerial parts;

 

PINYIN NAME: Muxu; Aka: Nanmuxu; Muli (NOT Oyster-shell); Fengguangcai; Zihuamuxu; Zimuxu; Guangfengcao; Lianzhicao; Jinhuacai; Caotou; Muqitou

 

has phytoestrogen, high Ca, Vit A, C, E, K + protein; saponin, phenols; daidzein + citrulline are Diuretic; CAUTION: in contrast to above-ground parts, Rx saponins can cause haemolysis + Block Vit E metabolism

 

NATURE:  Cold / Cool / Even; Bitter / Bitter~ slightly; Sweet; Astringe~ slightly

 

CHANNELS:  ST; SI;

 

DOSE:  As Dec, extracted juice, powder / cooked; Fresh: 60-150g (some Chinese sources say up to 200g), pulped + crushed to extract juice; As dried Hb: 5-12g (some sources say up to 30g) TID; For Hypercholesterolaemia, 40g of Heated seeds, prepared TID + taken by w food

 

ACTIONS:

(1) Health-food / Nutritive / nutritional Support; Tonic; Antifatigue; Tone HT + Calm Shen; Tone KI; Appetiser + Digestive~ Aid ST; Strengthen ST; Lactagogue; Tone Reproductive system; Tone Uterus; Laxative / Purge~ mild; Relax SI-LI; Astringe SI-LI; Release 5 Viscera; Spasmolytic~ smooth muscles; LV Protector; Calm LV; Hypoglycaemic; Antidiabetic; Hypocholesterolaemic; Hypolipaemic;

(2) Diuretic~ Drain Damp; Ease Lin-Strangury (UTI) + Litholytic in urolithiasis~ KI / ureter / BL; Ease Icterus; Clear Heat; Clear Toxin esp from SI-LI-LV; Clear Damp Heat; Clear SJM Heat / EPFs; Cool Xue; Febrifuge;

(3) VULNERARY; Move Xue; Antibacterial; Antifungal; Antiinflammatory; Antioedema / Ease Swelling; Anodyne; Strengthen Sinew + Bone + Muscle; Relax Sinew; High Vit E helps Px Abortion / Miscarriage~ habitual, infertility, inflammation; Antiallergy; Antiarthritis; Antioxidant; Antistress Antiatherogenic; Aid Memory; Aid Prostate; Aid Skin; Aid Sleep; Aid Slimming; increase Growth hormone + Thyroxine in Xue; Anticancer

 

USES:

Damp Heat Interior ACCUMULATION w Lin-Strangury (Urine Block) / Stone Lin / Urine Block, urolithiasis, UTI, cystitis, nephritis; KI disorders; oliguria; oedema / Water retention; Damp Heat Icterus; Wind Damp Bi pain; Damp Heat arthritis, RA, gout, rheumatism; rickets, myalgia; Xu / Xu Debility / convalescence; ST-SI-LI tract disorders; appetite~ poor; indigestion; bloating; ST ulcers; enteritis, intestinal cramps, dysentery, haematochezia dt haemorrhoid; icterus; nyctalopia; for Fever w Vexation + fullness, eyes~ yellow, eyes~ red, urine yellow (dark) + Gravel Lin w urodynia, use Rx, pulped to extract juice as drink; insomnia + restlessness; anaemia, oestrogen replacement in menopausal Sx; ulcers, Fevers + rheumatism; anaemia, thrombocytopenic purpurea, bleeding / Xue clotting; boils; inflammation, insect-bite, scurvy, skin damage dt radiation; scleroderma; wounds~ slow to heal; diabetes mellitus; hypolactia; reproductive organ disorders, prostate disorders; hypercholesterolaemia w atherosclerosis esp HT arteries; gum healing slow after dentistry; Allergies; bronchial diseases, asthma, cough, hay Fever; cancer (breast, cervical);

 

COMBOS:

for Damp Heat Urine Block / Stone Lin / urine red + interrupted w ache + pain (urodynia): Muxu 苜蓿 15g, Yinchen 茵陈 15g; as Dec;

for Damp Heat icterus: Muxu 苜蓿 30g, as Dec daily for 1 week;

for Wind + Damp w Sinew + Bone Pain: Muxuye 苜蓿叶 60g (minced), Doufu 豆腐 120g, Zhuyou (lard) 猪油 2spoons; stew + take continuously;

 

CAUTIONS:

CAUTION in grass allergies; CAUTION w Xue thinners; AVOID in SJM Xu Cold, faeces~ loose / emaciation w inappetance; L-canavanine in S + sprouts (not Fm) may cause rare lupus-like Pattern / lupus flares; may cause rare cases of pancytopenia, dermatitis + ST-SI-LI upset;