Medicago is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover, in the legume family, Fabaceae.

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa is one of the most popular, nutritious and delicious of all the sprouting seeds. Alfalfa sprouts are very tasty, with a sweet, nut-like flavor. They taste great on sandwiches and in salads. Alfalfa has been used as an herbal medicine for over 1,500 years. Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium, plus other minerals, vitamins in the B group, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. In early Chinese medicines, physicians used young alfalfa leaves to treat disorders related to the digestive tract and the kidneys. In Ayurvedic medicine, physicians used the leaves for treating poor digestion. They made a cooling poultice from the seeds for boils. At the time, alfalfa was also believed to be beneficial to people suffering from arthritis and water retention.