Kote Mandro, कोतेमान्द्रो (Am), Medicago falcata

यो पहेँलो फुल्ने, २-३ फिटसम्म लामो लत्तारिने उच्चपहाडी क्षेत्रमा पाइन्छ । यो तरकारीका रूपमा प्रयोग हुन्छ । मसिना गेडा लाग्छ । बीज तेलीय हुन्छ । स्वाद : मिठो र स्वभाव : गरम । उपयोग : यो पौष्टिक, पाचक, रुचिकर, आँखाको तेज बढाउने, कब्जहर हुन्छ । हरियो साग ५०-१०० ग्राम, बीज ५-१० ग्राम, काँढापानी १/१ माना, अर्क र रस २० - ३० ग्राम, टुक्रा चुस्ने ३-५ पटक

परिचय

कोतेमान्द्रो (Medicago falcata) नेपाली भाषामा चिनिने यो एक प्रकारको औषधीय तथा पौष्टिक बुटी हो। यसको फूल पहेँलो रंगको हुन्छ भने यो २-३ फिटसम्म लामो लहरा फैलने गर्छ। यो उच्च पहाडी क्षेत्रमा प्राकृतिक रूपमा पाइने गर्छ। नेपालमा यसलाई स्थानीय रूपमा तरकारी र औषधिको रूपमा प्रयोग गरिन्छ। यसको मसिना गेडा लाग्छ भने बीज तेलीय हुन्छ। यसको स्वाद मिठो र स्वभाव गरम मानिन्छ।

नेपाल र अन्य देशमा उपलब्धता

कोतेमान्द्रो मुख्यतया नेपालको उच्च हिमाली र पहाडी क्षेत्रमा पाइन्छ। यो जमिनमा फैलिने बुटी हो भने युरोप, एसिया र उत्तरी अमेरिकाका केही भागहरूमा पनि पाइन्छ। नेपालमा यो गोरखा, मनाङ, मुस्ताङ, डोल्पा, जुम्ला जस्ता ठाउँहरूमा प्राकृतिक रूपमा उम्रने गर्छ।

शारीरिक गुणहरू

रंग: पहेँलो फूल, हरियो पात
उचाई: २-३ फिटसम्म
बोट: लत्तारिने, मसिना गेडा लाग्ने
बीज: साना र तेलीय
स्वाद: मिठो
स्वभाव: गरम

औषधीय गुणहरू

कोतेमान्द्रोमा निम्न औषधीय गुणहरू पाइन्छन्:

पौष्टिक: यसमा प्रोटीन, भिटामिन र खनिज पदार्थहरू प्रचुर मात्रामा हुन्छन्।
पाचक: पेटको पाचनशक्ति बढाउँछ।
रुचिकर: खाने रुचि बढाउँछ।
आँखाको तेज: आँखाको स्वास्थ्यका लागि फाइदामन्द।
कब्जनाशक: पखाला लाग्न सजिलो बनाउँछ।

फाइदा

शरीरमा शक्ति बढाउँछ।
पेटका रोगहरू (कब्ज, एसिडिटी) नियन्त्रण गर्छ।
आँखाको रोशनी बढाउँछ।
रोग प्रतिरोधक क्षमता बढाउँछ।
तनाव घटाउन मद्दत गर्छ।

प्रयोग विधि

कोतेमान्द्रोलाई निम्न प्रकारले प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ:

हरियो साग: ५०-१०० ग्राम साग तरकारीको रूपमा खाने।
बीज: ५-१० ग्राम बीज पानीमा फिटेर वा च्यापी बनाएर खाने।
काढा: १/१ माना पानीमा उमालेर काढा बनाएर पिउने।
अर्क र रस: २०-३० ग्राम अर्क वा रस औषधिको रूपमा सेवन गर्ने।
टुक्रा चुस्ने: ३-५ पटक टुक्रा चुसेर स्वास्थ्य लाभ लिने।

खेती, उत्पादन र संरक्षण

कोतेमान्द्रो प्राकृतिक रूपमा उम्रने बुटी हो। यसलाई बीजबाट सजिलै उमार्न सकिन्छ। यसको खेतीका लागि उच्च पहाडी भुभाग उपयुक्त हुन्छ। यसको बीज पाकेपछि सुकाएर भण्डारण गर्न सकिन्छ। हरियो साग ताजै प्रयोग गर्नु उत्तम हुन्छ।

निष्कर्ष

कोतेमान्द्रो (Medicago falcata) एक उपयोगी र पौष्टिक बुटी हो जसले शरीरलाई धेरै प्रकारका स्वास्थ्य लाभहरू दिन्छ। यसको प्रयोग तरकारी, औषधि र स्वास्थ्यवर्धक खाद्यको रूपमा गर्न सकिन्छ। नेपालको पहाडी क्षेत्रमा यसको प्राकृतिक उपलब्धताले स्थानीय जनताका लागि यो महत्त्वपूर्ण स्रोत हो। यसको उचित प्रयोग र संरक्षणले दीर्घकालीन स्वास्थ्य लाभ प्रदान गर्न सक्छ।

Introduction

Kote Mandro, known in English as Medicago falcata, yellow lucerne, or sickle alfalfa, is a climbing, leguminous herb prized in Nepal's high‐altitude regions. The plant generally reaches about 2–3 ft in height, sporting delicate, yellow pea‑flowers from May to August It thrives in alpine meadows and rocky slopes between 2,700–4,000 m elevation, especially in the Himalayas—including Nepal Its culinary and traditional medical uses make it a beloved multipurpose plant in local and foreign herbal lore.

2. Availability: Nepal & Beyond

Native to Europe and temperate Asia, M. falcata has found new homes worldwide—North America, East Asia, even parts of South America

In Nepal: Commonly spotted in high mountain pastures across regions like Mustang, Solukhumbu, Sagarmatha, and Syangboche It’s used both as fodder and a nutritious green vegetable.
Globally: Introduced into North America, Africa, East Asia, and beyond

Thanks to its nitrogen-fixing abilities via Sinorhizobium meliloti, it’s also planted intentionally to improve soil health

3. Physical Properties

Growth form: A perennial legume with branching, climbing stems up to ~1 m tall
Leaves: Trifoliate, tooth-edged leaflets about 8–22 mm long
Flowers: Bright yellow, pea-like blooms grouped in short clusters
Pods & seeds: Curved “sickle” shaped pods ~1.3–2 cm long, containing oily seeds
Roots: Deep taproot capable of carbon accumulation; nodulated with Sinorhizobium meliloti for nitrogen fixation

Microscopically, its pollen is medium-sized monads (~31–35 µm)

4. Medicinal & Nutritional Properties

Because M. falcata and M. sativa (common alfalfa) are closely related and often hybridize, much of the data on alfalfa applies here too:

Nutrition: Rich in vitamins A, C, E, K; minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron; protein and chlorophyll
Digestive aid: High fiber and enzymes support digestion and relieve constipation
Cholesterol and blood health: Saponins may lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol without affecting HDL; potential blood‑clotting support from vitamin K
Hormonal support: Phytoestrogens may help menstrual or menopausal symptoms, fibrocystic breast, and osteoporosis
Detoxifying & anti‑inflammatory: Chlorophyll and antioxidants like flavonoids help cleanse the body and reduce inflammation
Immune function & diabetes: Contains phytonutrients that boost immunity and may lower blood sugar .
Other uses: Traditional use in jaundice, anemia, diuretic/oxytocic aid, and wound healing

In Nepal, it’s valued as “nutritious, digestive, appetite‑stimulating, brisk for eyes and laxative.” Green greens are consumed 50–100 g, seeds 5–10 g. Decoctions, extracts, and chewing brings benefits .

5. Advantages

Soil-friendly: Fixes atmospheric nitrogen, improving pasture fertility
Hardy: Thrives at high altitudes (up to 4,000 m), resists cold/drought .
Multipurpose: Food, medicine, and animal fodder. Provides hay and green feed—valuable resource in remote regions .
Health benefits: Nutrient-dense, antioxidant, digestive/heart/hormonal support.

6. Uses

Commonly used in Nepal and other regions in these forms:

Vegetable/greens (साग) – fresh shoots or cooked greens.
Tea/decoction – from leaves or pods, consumed 20–30 ml or 1:1 ration.
Chewing raw pods – popular practice, 3–5 times/day.
Seeds – 5–10 g doses.
Fodder – green, hay, or silage for livestock.
Soil improvement – cover crop or rotation plant.

7. How to Use/Take

Fresh greens: 50–100 g daily, either raw (salad-style) or lightly cooked.
Seeds: 5–10 g, soaked or blended into meals.
Decoction/tea: Boil 1 part pods/leaves in water → drink 20–30 ml per dose.
Chewing pods: Fresh, 3–5 times/day is popular among locals.
For animals: Bundle greens or dry into hay/silage; feeding rates depend on body weight.

Dosages from research: 5–10 g dried leaf 3×/day for cholesterol support

8. Harvesting and Preservation

Harvest timing: Mid‑flowering (May–August) when nutrition peaks; pods for seeds follow.
For fresh use: Pick young tops and leaves.
Drying: Hang in cool, shaded, ventilated areas or use solar dryers; dry leaves, seeds, pods completely.
Seeds: Wait until pods are brown and dry; collect and store in airtight, cool, dry containers (shelf-life ~1–2 years).
Hay/silage: Cut before seed set, dry partially (hay) or ensile immediately (silage), store properly.
Storage: Use paper bags for dried leaves; mason jars for seeds/powder to keep moisture out.

9. Precautions & Side Effects

While generally safe, consider:

Allergies: Those with legume allergies may develop reactions.
Autoimmune concerns: May worsen lupus or rheumatoid arthritis due to immune-stimulating and L-canavanine.
Medication interactions: Vitamin K content may interfere with blood thinners like warfarin.
Overconsumption warnings: Large doses of seeds may affect red blood cells or provoke splenic enlargement
Contaminated sprouts: Avoid if lyme bacteria suspected, due to potential microbial risks.

As always, consult a healthcare provider, especially during pregnancy, lactation, autoimmune issues, or medication use.

10. Conclusion

Kote Mandro (Medicago falcata) stands tall not just on rocky Himalayan slopes, but as an emblem of sustainability and wellness. It combines ecology and health beautifully—it enriches soil, nourishes body and livestock alike, and supports traditional healing. From delicate yellow blooms to nutrient-rich seeds and leaves, its uses span edible greens, folk remedies, livestock feed, and environmental restoration.

In Nepal, local traditions have long harnessed its power—use it fresh, brewed, chewed, or dried—and science is now catching up, confirming its nutritional, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and hormone-balancing potential. Still, mindful usage is key—watch for allergies, medicated interactions, or immune-system sensitiviti.

Reference

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