Alfalfa Leaf Powder
Medicago sativa
Other Names: Medicago sativa, lucerne, holy-hay, and trefoil
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Herb Uses and Medicinal Properties
Alfalfa is one of the oldest cultivated plants. It has been used for centuries for hay, but it has also been used for centuries as a human food. Its name comes from the Arabic, al-fac-facah, "father of all foods." As a food, alfalfa provides beta-carotene and vitamins C, E, and K (although it is not, as frequently claimed, a source of vitamin A).
Alfalfa is one of the best natural sources of vitamin K. This nutrient helps blood to clot by moving calcium into proteins that form a microscopic net to capture red blood cells.
If you're taking anti-rejection drugs for kidney transplant, don't use any form of alfalfa. The herbs and the medications you need to benefit from the transplant simply may not mix.
Similarly, you probably should treat alfalfa the same way you treat any other green, leafy vegetable if you take Coumadin. Alfalfa is rich in vitamin K that can interfere with the drugÍs anti-coagulant effects. If you are on Coumadin, you should have been advised on the safe consumption of not just alfalfa but also of all other green, leafy vegetables.