Alfalfa is the world's most valuable forage legume. It is also known as "lucerne".

Alfalfa has been used by the Chinese since the sixth century to treat kidney stones, and to relieve fluid retention and swelling. Alfalfa is a herbaceous perennial legume that grows throughout the world in a variety of climates.

Alfalfa grows to about 3 feet and has blue-violet flowers that bloom from July to September. The flower color is predominantly purple, or bluish-purple, but white, cream, yellow, green, lavender, and reddish-purple occur. The fruit is a legume, or pod. It is grown for hay, pasture, and silage. Alfalfa hay cut at a late bud or early bloom stage contains 17–24% protein and is a good source of certain vitamins and minerals.

This versatile herb is also a folk remedy for arthritis, diabetes, asthma, hay fever, and is reputed to be an excellent appetite stimulant and overall tonic. The leaves of legume contain eight essential amino acids. Alfalfa is a good laxative and a natural diuretic. It is useful in the treatment of urinary tract infections, and kidney, bladder and prostrate disorders. It alkalizes and detoxifies the body, especially the liver. It promotes pituitary gland function and contains an anti-fungus agent.

The leaves of the alfalfa plant are rich in minerals and nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and carotene. Alfalfa is also high in manganese, potassium, calcium, iron lutein, Vitamins A, C and E, isoflavonoids, genistein, and medicagol.

Alfalfa contains a group of plant compounds known as phytoestrogens. Pytoestrogens are hormone balancing.

Phytoestrogens are not true estrogens, yet they possess molecular structures similar enough to estrogen to bind to estradiol receptors. The three main phytoestrogens found in alfalfa are coumestrol, genistein and formonetin. These compounds have an 'alterative' or balancing effect on body estrogen levels.

Alfalfa also exerts thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) activity and has the additional effect of inhibiting prolactin release. It has been shown to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins (LDL), and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). This effect appears to be due to reduced intestinal absorption and increased excretion due to phytosterols and saponins present in alfalfa. Due to high nutrient and chlorophyll levels, alfalfa has been found to be beneficial in arthritic conditions, most likely due to its detoxifying and diuretic nature.

Alfalfa is rich in enzymes and chlorophyll known to be protective and beneficial in a variety of gastric conditions. Chlorophyll is particularly beneficial as an anti-bacterial; helps reduce odors and aids with tissue healing time. A flavone compound, tricin, has been found present in alfalfa and exerts smooth muscle relaxing properties, this would appear beneficial in gastro-intestinal cramping.