Alfalfa

What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: Medicago sativa, alfalfa, buffalo herb, father-of-all-foods, medicago sativa, lucerne, medicago, phytoestrogen, purple medick

What is alfalfa?

Alfalfa is a perennial plant of the pea family. It has small cloverlike leaves and purple flowers. Alfalfa supplements are usually made from the dried leaves of the plant. The heat-treated seeds of the plant may also be used.

What is it used for?

Alfalfa has been used to treat:

• arthritis
• asthma
• diabetes
• fluid retention
• high cholesterol
• indigestion
• kidney, bladder, and prostate problems

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

Alfalfa can be taken by mouth as capsules, pills, extracts, or tea. Check the label on the package for the specific dose. It may also be eaten in the form of alfalfa sprouts or seeds.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

Talk with your healthcare provider before taking this remedy if you have ever had:

• an allergy to grasses
• lupus
• multiple sclerosis
• rheumatoid arthritis

Alfalfa may make lupus and other autoimmune disorders worse, especially if you take it for a long time.

Alfalfa may have effects similar to estrogen. Before taking alfalfa, talk with your healthcare provider if you have:

• breast cancer
• endometriosis
• ovarian cancer
• uterine cancer
• uterine fibroids

Diabetics: This remedy may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

This remedy may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this remedy, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take alfalfa supplements if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. You may eat alfalfa as a food in normal amounts.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may be contaminated. They may have different strengths and effects.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Joint and muscle pains, severe tiredness, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe or frequent infections, swollen joints, rash.

Other: Diarrhea, gas, stomach pain.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• birth control pills and hormone therapy such as estrogen (Premarin, Prempro, Cenestin) or estradiol (Alora, Estrace)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), fluvastatin (Lescol), cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), niacin (Slo-Niacin, Niaspan), and ezetimibe (Zetia)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• immunosuppressant medicine such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf)
• other natural remedies such as plantain, nettle, parsley, ginseng, garlic, ginger, gingko, and horse chestnut
• vitamin E
• warfarin (Coumadin)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

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