Barley Grass

History:

Barley Grass is an annual cereal plant that was cultivated in the Middle East about ten thousand years ago and is now widely cultivated throughout the world in temperate climates as a nutritional food grain for humans and animals. Remains of Barley grains found at archaeological sites in the Fertile Crescent (Israel-Jordan-Syria-Iraq-Lebanon area) indicate that the crop was domesticated from its Wild Barley relative and ancestor, Hordeum spontaneum, which still grows in the Middle East. Barley Grass is a stout, hollow stem (or culm) that produces narrow, ascending, tapering leaves and bears flowers in bearded terminal spikes that eventually generate the barley grains. The small bristles on the top of the Barley Grass are called awn, and the plant reaches about three feet in height. Barley will grow as a crop in acid, neutral or basic (alkaline) soil, but it must be well-drained and does not like shade. The plant can bear strong winds, but not maritime exposure, and is more tolerant of soil salinity than wheat, and may even thrive in conditions that are too cold for rye. However, Barley Grass can be tricky (and expensive) to grow; it is a tender grain and easily hurt in any stages of growth, and heavy rain can almost ruin a crop on the best-prepared land. After harvesting, Barley is processed to remove two outer hulls, which are inedible, and when the husk is decorticated (removed) from the grain, it is called Pearl Barley; Scotch- or Pot-milled Barley is the grain with husks only partly removed. Barley Grass was well known as a food and medicine to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It was mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian compendium of medicinal herbs (c. 1600 B.C.) as a laxative, a remedy for parasites and in poultices for burns and fractures. In Greece, Barley was included in ancient religious rituals relating to the cult of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and the green earth, who was often called the "Barley Mother" and said to unite the worshipper with the gods, bestowing divine power and life after death. In Rome, Barley was said to impart great strength and stamina to gladiators who ate it before entering the arena for combat, and Pliny the Elder (first century A.D.) wrote of its therapeutic benefits, noting the important fact that it also produced a malt that became alcoholic when fermented. Barley was first mentioned in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by the sixteenth century, when at that same time, it was still the chief bread material in Europe. Barley can be ground into flour, but because it has a very low gluten content, it is usually combined with wheat flours when used for baking. It has been a primary food source in the Middle East for centuries, and prior to wheat, it was a principle grain in many parts of Europe. Aside from its nutritional value and indispensable commercial use in foods (cereals, coffee substitutes, Barley water, soups, grits, salads, etc.), Barley Grass is a valuable stock feed and groundcover crop. Barley was initially introduced (as Barley malt) to the United States as a component for brewing beer and making whiskey, and is still widely used for that purpose when the grain is of high quality. It is also made into a natural sweetener called malt sugar or Barley jelly sugar. Barley is considered one of the "green grasses" (reflecting its remarkably rich chlorophyll content) and has been a staple in the human diet for thousands of years. It is a whole food (and perhaps the only food) that can actually be a sole source of nutrition for a person's entire lifespan. Barley Grass is an amazing storehouse of nutrients that include beta-carotene, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid and the antioxidant vitamins E and C (seven times more than orange), potassium, calcium (eleven times more than milk), potassium, magnesium, iron, sulfur, copper, phosphorus, manganese, selenium and zinc. It also includes starch, high chlorophyll, protein, cellulose, enzymes (including the antioxidant superoxide dismutase/SOD) , beta-glucan (a soluble fiber and bioactive ingredient believed to give Barley many of its health benefits), hordenine (an alkaloid) and a wide spectrum of amino acids (approximately twenty, including all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce).

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Barley Grass Herbal Supplement is not recommended for pregnant women, and nursing mothers may wish to avoid the herb, as it is said to reduce excessive lactation and can reduce milk flow.

Capsule Information:
Our Barley Grass supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 500 mgs.

Special Note:
If any medical terms on our website are confusing or unknown, we have compiled a small dictionary of terms for you. Click here for our Definitions, and go directly to the word in question for further information.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.