Alfalfa Tea
Use as a Nutritional Supplement
The leaves of the alfalfa plant contain eight essential amino acids, giving them an extremely high protein content. This makes them an excellent nutritional source, when made into alfalfa tea or eaten raw. In addition to these amino acids, alfalfa contains every single known vitamin, including vitamin D and vitamin K, as well as a high level of chlorophyll. Phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are all contained in these leaves as well, packing an extremely powerful nutritional punch. For these reasons, it is one of the most nutritionally balanced plants available.
To make alfalfa tea, you can take the dried leaves and soak them in boiling water to steep for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the quantity and your flavor preferences. It's recommended to have 5,000 to 10,000 mg of alfalfa leaves steeped three times a day, if you are using this herb for medicinal purposes. Another good way of reaping the nutritional benefits of alfalfa is with an herbal supplement, such as tablets or capsules that can be swallowed. Many people find the taste of the tea to be quite refreshing and pleasant to drink, however, and prefer to take it this way.
Some of the original uses for alfalfa tea included promoting appetite and stopping bleeding, but now with further studies it is known that there is a wide array of health benefits that can arise from its use. Lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, treating an upset stomach or diarrhea, and reducing the pain of arthritis have all been attributed to alfalfa. It can also be used as a diuretic, making you urinate more frequently to cleanse the system and clear out any blockages in the bladder or kidneys. The high mineral and vitamin content is useful as a nutritional supplement for weight gaining purposes, or to help ensure that you are getting a full day's worth of vitamins.
These health benefits are just the tip of the iceberg, as alfalfa is used as an ideal feed for cattle and livestock, and also added to baby food to help increase its nutritional power, making it extremely versatile. However, some care should be taken with alfalfa tea, if you have kidney problems or auto-immune diseases. If you have any questions about whether this might be a good supplement for you, it's best to consult with your healthcare practitioner first. Most will find that this is a perfect complement to their regular diet, however, and an enjoyable tea to drink.