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Barley Grass as an Herb
(Hordeum vulgare)
Barley grass is one of the green grasses considered a super food - the only vegetation on the earth that can supply sole nutritional support from birth to old age!
Agronomists date Barley Grass as being cultivated as early as 7000 BC and barley grass has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 1800 years. Roman gladiators ate barley for strength and stamina.
The use of barley for food and medicinal purposes dates to antiquity. The herb most commonly used in herbal medicine is the Mediterranean or "sweet" basil.
Barley has served as a food staple in most cultures. Green barley leaves contain an astonishing amoung of vitamins and minerals. The leaves absorb nutrients from the soil, which are easily assimilated throughout the digestive tract, giving our bodies instant access to vital nutrients. The nutrients include potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, beta carotene, B1, B2, B6, C, folic acid, and pantothenic acid.
A single tablespoon of barley grass contains a day's supply of:
Green barley juice contains 11 times the calcium in cows' milk, nearly 5 times the iron in spinach, 7 times the vitamin C in oranges, and 80 mg of vitamin B12 per hundred grams.
Add a level tablespoon (3 to 4 grams) of barley grass powder to teas, smoothies, cereals, or other foods daily.
Research published in September of 2005 notes that one of the principal growth factors in the barley shoot is melatonin. This finding may explain the calming effect of the herb.
Common uses for barley:
- widely cultivated grain used as a food and in the brewing process
- an additive for human and animal cereal foods
- makes a flavorful flour for use in baking breads and muffins
DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Some plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals. Some plants used for illness in the past have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.