The efficacy and function of wild alfalfa

The medicinal value of wild alfalfa is beyond our imagination. It is very effective in treating some diseases. Wild alfalfa contains many substances that are beneficial to the human body. Let’s take a look.

[Other names] Sickle-pod Medicago, Bean Sprouts (Inner Mongolia Chinese Herbal Medicine), Peanut (Illustrated Guide to Major Plants in China: Leguminosae).

[Source] It is the whole herb of Medicago truncatula, a plant of the Leguminosae family. Harvest in summer and autumn and sun-dried.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 30 to 70 cm tall. Stems erect or creeping, slightly hairy, much branched. The leaves are trifoliate, with leaflets oblong-obovate or oblanceolate, 1-2 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, obtuse at the apex, cuneate at the base, and serrated on the upper edge; the stipules are large, pointed and long. Inflorescence is axillary, with 10 to 20 flowers; pedicels are longer than petioles; corolla is butterfly-shaped, yellow, and twice as long as calyx. The pods are flat, rectangular, curved into a half-moon shape, smooth, 1.5 to 2 cm long, and brown when ripe. 5 to 10 seeds. Flowering period is mid-August.

[Habitat distribution] Growing in grasslands or lowlands between hills and ditches. Distributed in Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei and other places.

【Chemical composition】 Contains neutral and acidic saponins. The flowers mainly contain lutein esters.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral.

【Functions and indications】It can relieve middle and lower qi, strengthen the spleen and replenish deficiency, and act as a diuretic. Treat chest and abdominal distension, indigestion, and edema.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3 to 5 qian; grind into powder, 1 to 1.5 qian.

[Additional prescription] For treating indigestion, chest and abdominal distension: one qian of yellow alfalfa. Grind into powder and take with water, twice a day. (The properties and flavors are from "Inner Mongolia Chinese Herbal Medicine")

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Inner Mongolia Chinese Herbal Medicine"

It can be seen that the medicinal value of wild alfalfa is still very obvious. However, wild alfalfa is not suitable for everyone. We can judge based on our own physical condition.