MEDICAGO SATIVA - Alfalfa (25g)
Alfalfa is a plant commonly cultivated by farmers around the world for use as an animal feedstock. Known by its Latin name, Medicago sativa, Alfalfa is also a popular herb belonging to the 'legume family', closely related to beans and peas. Called the "great healer" by legions of natural herbalists, the health benefits attributed to Alfalfa are broad, with attributes ranging from the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to the ability to cure stomach disorders; from stimulating the appetite to being an effective curative for diabetes. Alfalfa is also known by the names Lucerne, Purple Medic, Buffalo Grass, and Chilean Clover. The name Alfalfa is derived from the arabic al-fac-facah and means 'father of all foods'. The genus name, Medicago, refers to Medea in North Africa from where this plant is thought to have originated. The species name, sativa, means 'with a long history of cultivation'. Alfalfa was an important crop to the Arabs who fed it to their racehorses.
Past topical uses of this herb include its use as a bath herb, facial steam, and hair rinse. Also, Alfalfa has been used as a poultice on wounds. The root of the plant can be peeled, dried and frayed (by hitting with a hammer) to be used as a toothbrush.
For culinary applications, the young leaves & flowers may be eaten as a salad or pot herb. After the seeds sprout, they are eaten as a salad vegetable.
Sow all year round
Ready in days.
