Alfalfa
Medicago sativa · Medicago sativa, lucerne · Plant · Fabaceae
Alfalfa is usually given in the mother tincture form as a tonic for conditions associated with malnutrition or great weight loss, such as cancer, anorexia, nervous indigestion, insomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. There may be constant hunger or an increased appetite, particularly in the middle of the morning, and a craving for sweet foods. Further symptoms may include a left-sided headache or a heavy, dull sensation in the back of the head.
Key symptoms
- Improves nutrition, appetite, and digestion with weight gain
- Mental exhilaration with buoyancy and general well-being
- Cures neurasthenia, nervousness, and insomnia
- Increases quality and quantity of milk in nursing mothers
- Corrects tissue waste and acts as a fat producer
- Beneficial in diabetes insipidus and phosphaturia
- Allays vesical irritability of prostatic hypertrophy
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Medicago Sativa, California Clover or Lucerne
From its action on the sympathetic, Alfalfa favorably influences nutrition, evidenced in "toning up" the appetite and digestion resulting in greatly improved mental and physical vigor, with gain in weight. Disorders characterized by malnutrition are mainly within its therapeutic range, for example, neurasthenia, splanchnic blues, nervousness, insomnia, nervous indigestion, etc. Acts as a fat producer, corrects tissue waste. Deficient lactation. Increases quality and quantity of milk in nursing mothers. Its pronounced urinary action suggests it clinically in diabetes insipidus and phosphaturia; and it is claimed to allay vesical irritability of prostatic hypertrophy. The rheumatic diathesis seems especially amenable to its action.
Mind
It induces mental exhilaration of buoyancy, i.e, a general feeling of well being; clear and bright, so that all blues are dissipated. Dull, drowsy, stupid (Gels); gloomy and irritable, worse during evening.
Head
Dull, heavy feeling in occiput, in and above the eyes, worse toward evening. Pain in left side of head. Violent headache.
Ears
Stuffed feeling in eustachian tubes (Kali mur) at night; patulous in morning.
Stomach
Increased thirst. Appetite impaired, but chiefly increased even to bulimia. He must eat frequently, so that he cannot wait for regular meals; hungry in forenoon (Sul). Much nibbling of food and craving for sweets.
Abdomen
Flatulence with distention. Shifting, flatulent pain along colon several hours after meals. Frequent, loose, yellow, painful stools, with burning of flatulence. Chronic appendicitis.
Urine
Kidneys inactive; frequent urging to urinate. Polyuria (Phos ac). Increased elimination of urea, indican and phosphates.
Sleep
Slept better than usual, especially in early morning; it induces quiet, reposeful and refreshing sleep.
Relationship
Compare: Avena sat; Dipodium punct; Gels; Hydr; Kali phos; Phos ac; Zinc.
Dose
The best results are elicited with material doses (5-10) drops of tincture, several times daily. Continue its use until tonic effects ensue.
Phatak's chapter on Alfalfa is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
