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Dietary supplement

Alfalfa 250 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Blend

Tablet Or Pill Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Alfalfa 250 mg is a dietary supplement by Nature's Blend with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for high cholesterol, digestive complaints, menopausal symptoms.Based on those ingredients, 583 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Alfalfa. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: alfalfa leaf at 250 mg per tablet. Alfalfa is a legume that's been used traditionally in herbal medicine.

The tablet also includes several inactive ingredients — calcium phosphate, modified cellulose, stearic acid, croscarmellose sodium, silica, calcium carbonate, and magnesium stearate — which are standard binders and fillers that help hold the tablet together.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Alfalfa product and its label doesn't state a use — see Alfalfa's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence on alfalfa for its common uses isn't established in the data we hold. Studies haven't provided reliable evidence to rate how well it works for diabetes, indigestion (dyspepsia), high cholesterol, or menopausal symptoms.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work — it means the research isn't there yet to say one way or the other.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Alfalfa

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Alfalfa leaf is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth, though a full safety review hasn't been done. The most common side effects are digestive: abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, flatulence, and bulkier or looser stools, especially during the first week.

These side effects were reported in case studies and seem mild. Very rarely, chronic use has been linked to a lupus-like syndrome, and skin irritation (dermatitis) has been reported in isolated cases.

The safety data advises against using alfalfa supplements during pregnancy because of its estrogen-like activity. While breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety data, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor for personalized advice before using it.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Alfalfa

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Alfalfa.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 583 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with us if you're on warfarin (Coumadin) or any blood thinner — this is a Major interaction. Also flag any contraceptive pills, estrogen therapy, antidiabetes medications, immunosuppressants, or photosensitizing drugs (medications that make your skin more sun-sensitive) — all carry Moderate interactions with alfalfa.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Alfalfa might appeal to someone looking for traditional herbal support, but the evidence for what it actually does is thin. More importantly, if you take warfarin, birth control, estrogen therapy, diabetes medications, immunosuppressants, or drugs that make you sun-sensitive, you need to check with us or your doctor first — the interactions are real.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are times to skip it. Come ask us before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 24, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Alfalfa 250 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Blend
Barcode (UPC) 079854600100
Net contents 250 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 24, 2024
DSLD ID 310353
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
3 Tablet(s)
Servings per container
250
UPC/BARCODE
079854600100
IngredientAmount% DV
Alfalfa250 mg--

Other ingredients: Calcium Phosphate, Modified Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Silica, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Storage

Store in a cool dry, place.

Precautions

Keep out of the reach of children.

Double safety seal for your protection. Do not use if either seal is broken or missing.

Formulation

Preservative & gluten free. No sugar, starch, artificial colors, artificial flavors, wheat, yeast, or corn added.

This product is manufactured under strict quality control guidelines; therefore purity and label potency are guaranteed.

Made in USA & American owned

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General Statements

Actual size

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one to three tablets daily, preferably with a meal or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Formula

Alfalfa may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and is a source of vitamins A, D, E and K.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Seals/Symbols

Lab tested potency array Guaranteed release

See for yourself

Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Servings per container250 Amounts shown are per serving.

Alfalfa

Interacts with
583 drugs
250 mg per serving

Alfalfa is a nutrient-rich legume that people use for high cholesterol, menopause symptoms, and general wellness, but solid human evidence for most of...

Alfalfa monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Calcium Phosphate, Modified Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Silica, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Alfalfa 250 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
583Drugs
2 Major 581 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Alfalfa 583

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Alfalfa 250 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Alfalfa6 drug types · 583 drugs

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, alfalfa might reduce the anticoagulant activity of warfarin.
Alfalfa contains a large amount of vitamin K. This could theoretically interfere with the activity of warfarin.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, alfalfa might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that alfalfa decreases blood sugar in diabetic mice. Also, in one case report, a diabetic patient experienced hypoglycemia after consuming alfalfa extract. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Contraceptive Drugs

Theoretically, alfalfa might interfere with the activity of contraceptive drugs.
Alfalfa contains coumestrol, a phytoestrogen, and isoflavonoids, which have estrogenic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Estrogens

Theoretically, alfalfa might interfere with hormone therapy.
Alfalfa contains coumestrol, a phytoestrogen, and isoflavonoids, which have estrogenic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, alfalfa might decrease the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy.
In vitro research and human case reports suggest that alfalfa may have immunostimulant effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Photosensitizing Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of alfalfa with photosensitizing drugs might have additive effects.
Animal research suggests that excessive doses of alfalfa may increase photosensitivity, possibly due to its chlorophyll content. It is unclear if this effect would be clinically relevant in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Alfalfa 250 mg, from the product label.

Nature's Blend

See all Nature's Blend products
Name
National Vitamin Company
City
Casa Grande
State
AZ
ZipCode
85122
Phone Number
1-800-682-9862
Web Address
www.nationalvitamin.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend: Common Questions

Does Alfalfa 250 mg by Nature's Blend interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Alfalfa 250 mg has a known interaction with 583 medications, including 2 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Alfalfa 250 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take alfalfa if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No, the safety data advises against alfalfa supplements during pregnancy because it has estrogen-like activity. While breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety data to know either way — talk with your pharmacist or doctor for personalized advice before using it.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common ones are digestive: belly discomfort, diarrhea, gas, and looser or bulkier stools, especially during the first week. These are usually mild. Skin irritation and a lupus-like syndrome from chronic use are very rare.
Does alfalfa actually work for diabetes, high cholesterol, or indigestion?
The evidence in our data is insufficient to rate it for any of those uses. That means research hasn't established how well it works — not that it doesn't, just that we don't have reliable evidence to say.
What is alfalfa, exactly?
It's a legume — a plant in the bean family — that's been used in herbal medicine for a long time. This product gives you 250 mg of alfalfa leaf per tablet.
Why does alfalfa interact with birth control and estrogen therapy?
Alfalfa contains compounds called coumestrol and isoflavonoids that act like estrogen in your body. This can interfere with how birth control pills and estrogen therapy work.
Why is alfalfa dangerous with warfarin?
Alfalfa is very high in vitamin K, which tells your body to make more clotting factors. That works against warfarin, which is trying to thin your blood and prevent clots. It's a Major interaction — don't mix them without your doctor watching closely.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Alfalfa 250 mg is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Alfalfa 250 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Alfalfa 250 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 32 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Alfalfa 32 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  4. Kurzer MS, Xu X. Dietary phytoestrogens. Annu Rev Nutr 1997;17:353-81. PubMed
  5. Farber JM, Carter AO, Varughese PV, et al. Listeriosis traced to the consumption of alfalfa tablets and soft cheese [Letter to the Editor]. N Engl J Med 1990;322:338. PubMed
  6. Molgaard J, von Schenck H, Olsson AG. Alfalfa seeds lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia. Atherosclerosis 1987;65:173-9. PubMed
  7. Light TD, Light JA. Acute renal transplant rejection possibly related to herbal medications. Am J Transplant 2003;3:1608-9. PubMed
  8. Prete PE. The mechanism of action of L-canavanine in inducing autoimmune phenomena. Arthritis Rheum 1985;28:1198-200. PubMed
  9. Alcocer-Varela J, Iglesias A, Llorente L, Alarcon-Segovia D. Effects of L-canavanine on T cells may explain the induction of systemic lupus erythematosus by alfalfa. Arthritis Rheum 1985;28:52-7. PubMed
  10. Roberts JL, Hayashi JA. Exacerbation of SLE associated with alfalfa ingestion. N Engl J Med 1983;308:1361. DOI
  11. Feingold, R. M. Should we fear "health foods"? Arch Intern Med 7-12-1999;159(13):1502. PubMed
  12. Taormina, P. J., Beuchat, L. R., and Slutsker, L. Infections associated with eating seed sprouts: an international concern. Emerg.Infect.Dis 1999;5(5):626-634. PubMed
  13. Backer, H. D., Mohle-Boetani, J. C., Werner, S. B., Abbott, S. L., Farrar, J., and Vugia, D. J. High incidence of extra-intestinal infections in a Salmonella Havana outbreak associated with alfalfa sprouts. Public Health Rep. 2000;115(4):339-345. PubMed
  14. Mohle-Boetani J, Werner B, Polumbo M, and et al. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alfalfa sprouts-- Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico, February-April, 2001. JAMA 2-6-2002;287(5):581-582.
  15. Howard, M. B. and Hutcheson, S. W. Growth dynamics of Salmonella enterica strains on alfalfa sprouts and in waste seed irrigation water. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 2003;69(1):548-553.
  16. Winthrop, K. L., Palumbo, M. S., Farrar, J. A., Mohle-Boetani, J. C., Abbott, S., Beatty, M. E., Inami, G., and Werner, S. B. Alfalfa sprouts and Salmonella Kottbus infection: a multistate outbreak following inadequate seed disinfection with heat and chl
  17. Strapp, C. M., Shearer, A. E., and Joerger, R. D. Survey of retail alfalfa sprouts and mushrooms for the presence of Escherichia coil O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria with BAX, and evaluation of this polymerase chain reaction-based system with experimen
  18. Akaogi, J., Barker, T., Kuroda, Y., Nacionales, D. C., Yamasaki, Y., Stevens, B. R., Reeves, W. H., and Satoh, M. Role of non-protein amino acid L-canavanine in autoimmunity. Autoimmun.Rev 2006;5(6):429-435. PubMed
  19. Burden and causes of foodborne disease in Australia: Annual report of the OzFoodNet network, 2005. Commun.Dis Intell. 2006;30(3):278-300.
  20. Shemesh, M., Lindner, H. R., and Ayalon, N. Affinity of rabbit uterine oestradiol receptor for phyto-oestrogens and its use in a competitive protein-binding radioassay for plasma coumestrol. J Reprod.Fertil. 1972;29(1):1-9. PubMed
  21. Elakovich, S. D. and Hampton, J. M. Analysis of coumestrol, a phytoestrogen, in alfalfa tablets sold for human consumption. J Agric.Food Chem. 1984;32(1):173-175. PubMed
  22. Malinow, M. R., Bardana, E. J., Jr., Pirofsky, B., Craig, S., and McLaughlin, P. Systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome in monkeys fed alfalfa sprouts: role of a nonprotein amino acid. Science 4-23-1982;216(4544):415-417. PubMed
  23. Malinow, M. R., McLaughlin, P., and Stafford, C. Alfalfa seeds: effects on cholesterol metabolism. Experientia 5-15-1980;36(5):562-564. PubMed
  24. Farnsworth, N. R. Alfalfa pills and autoimmune diseases. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;62(5):1026-1028. DOI
  25. Herbert, V. and Kasdan, T. S. Alfalfa, vitamin E, and autoimmune disorders. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;60(4):639-640.
  26. Mahon, B. E., Ponka, A., Hall, W. N., Komatsu, K., Dietrich, S. E., Siitonen, A., Cage, G., Hayes, P. S., Lambert-Fair, M. A., Bean, N. H., Griffin, P. M., and Slutsker, L. An international outbreak of Salmonella infections caused by alfalfa sprouts grow
  27. Gray, A. M. and Flatt, P. R. Pancreatic and extra-pancreatic effects of the traditional anti- diabetic plant, Medicago sativa (lucerne). Br J Nutr. 1997;78(2):325-334.
  28. Van Beneden, C. A., Keene, W. E., Strang, R. A., Werker, D. H., King, A. S., Mahon, B., Hedberg, K., Bell, A., Kelly, M. T., Balan, V. K., Mac Kenzie, W. R., and Fleming, D. Multinational outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport infections due to
  29. Rubenstein AH, Levin NW, and Elliott GA. Manganese-induced hypoglycemia. Lancet 1962;1348-1351.
  30. Kaufman W. Alfalfa seed dermatitis. JAMA 1954;155(12):1058-1059. PubMed
  31. Ponka A, Andersson Y, Siitonen A, and et al. Salmonella in alfalfa sprouts. Lancet 1995;345:462-463. PubMed
  32. Puschner B, Chen X, Read D, Affolter VK. Alfalfa hay induced primary photosensitization in horses. Vet J. 2016 May;211:32-8. PubMed

See these in context on the Alfalfa monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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