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The Health Benefits of Barley Grass

The cultivation of barley is an ancient practice and its medicinal properties have long been lauded. One 11^th century medical work recorded the healing effects of barley and in Islam the Prophet Muhammad prescribed barley for ‘seven diseases’. In more recent times barley grass, along with many other cereal grasses, has become popular as a health food supplement. 20^th and 21^st century findings strongly suggest that the health benefits of barley grass are of great medical significance.

What is Barley Grass?

Barley grass is the early green growth of the cereal crop. It is cultivated before it seeds and is therefore gluten free.

Barley grass is known to contain powerful antioxidant properties as well as being extremely rich in many vitamins and minerals essential to human health; calcium, iron, potassium, folic acid and vitamins A, B1, B2, B12 and C are all present in high levels and other vitamins and minerals in lower levels.

What are the Health Benefits of Barley Grass?

Studies and research has been carried out on the health benefits of barley grass for many decades. The presence of certain chemicals, proteins and the plant’s powerful antioxidant properties have strongly indicated the plant’s ability to cure and prevent several medical conditions.

Although there is still as yet no conclusive evidence, recent findings strongly suggest that barley grass could play a part in cancer treatment and prevention by its ability to inhibit cancer cell multiplication.

Other studies have shown strong links between successful ulcerative colitis treatment and barley grass. Ulcerative colitis is a painful condition which causes bowel inflammation and the resultant chronic diarrhoea symptoms which it causes can lead to disease complications. It is thought that barley grass’s antioxidant properties repair and stimulate cell growth while stimulating friendly intestinal bacteria, all of which work to reduce inflammation.

Barley grass has also been implicated in maintaining good heart health and for reduced risk of stroke and heart disease by keeping good blood flow and preventing blood clots. There is as yet no conclusive evidence but early studies strongly suggest that barley grass helps to lower cholesterol and therefore further reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Some studies suggest that barley grass may also be beneficial in the treatment of certain skin conditions including acne and eczema.

Barley grass is most widely available in powder form which is mixed with water and taken as a drink. Pill form is also available. Some users report that on first taking barley grass supplements the side effects of skin irritation, nausea, diarrhoea and constipation can manifest but normally desist when the dosage is lowered, allowing the body to adjust.

As with all natural remedies and treatments, barley grass should not be used as a substitute for medical advice where symptoms of disease are prolonged or acute.

Article by expert author ‘Deneice Arthurton’.