Pearl Barley
Scientific Name: Barley
Other Names: Barley Grass, Hordeum vulgare, Mai Ya, Scotch Barley
Should I take it?
Both the leaves and the seeds of the barley plant are used as food and medicine for humans. They are also used widely in animal feeds. For centuries, barley seeds (also called kernels or pearls) have been cooked as a grain similar to oats or rice. Unlike some other grains (such as wheat), however, barley fiber is in every part of the barley seed, not just the outer shell that is often removed for grinding. A source for the B vitamins, vitamin E, and folic acid, barley seeds are also ground into flour for baking, processed for use as a cereal, or pressed to extract oil. A sweetener known as malt sugar may be made from them and another barley derivative--malt extract--has been used as a laxative. In western countries, the main current use of barley is for making beer, but in other parts of the world, it is a primary grain for food. In Asia, barley seeds may be fermented and added to soybeans, salt, and seaweed to make one type of miso, a common flavoring agent for foods.
The light-green leaves of barley plants are usually called barley grass because they are long and narrow like grass. During the first part of the 20th century, the juice of barley grass was discovered to be rich in vitamins and minerals. Barley grass is used as a food source in some parts of Asia and it is available for food supplementation as both a juice and a powder that can be added to foods or taken as tablets or capsules. Frequently, it is combined with other "green" foods, such as alfalfa, in health drinks and foods.
Dosage and Administration
No dosage recommendations are available in scientific literature for barley seeds or products made from them. In clinical studies, the amounts of barley consumed by participants and the length of time for the studies varied widely with no apparent side effects from any of the doses or durations. When used as a food, barley appears to be safe even in very large quantities or for long times.
Dosing for GBF also is not well defined. In some human studies, individuals with and without constipation took doses of GBF up to 18 grams per day for up to 20 days at a time. About 9 grams per day seemed to be effective for most participants and higher doses generally did not provide additional benefits. For patients with ulcerative colitis, 20 grams to 30 grams per day, taken in three doses provided relief and prolonged symptom-free periods for some participants.
Barley seed is easy to sprout and it produces usable barley grass shoots in as little as a week. Therefore, some sources suggest growing small plots of barley in containers or home gardens, so juice can be made fresh from the young shoots. Since making fresh barley grass juice is messy and time-consuming, however, most individuals who use barley grass products chose a dried form that has been made into tablets, capsules, or a powder that is mixed with cool water or juice. Because heat may destroy some of the active components, barley grass teas are not thought to be as effective as barley grass products made without heat. Suggested doses range from one or two "servings" (one tablet, one capsule, or one teaspoon of powder) a day to several servings up to four times a day.
Summary
Barley seeds are used for human and animal food. The fiber contained in barley may also have a lowering effect on blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels. While the leaves of the barley plant may also lower cholesterol, they are more often used as a nutritional supplement because their content of vitamins is relatively high.
Risks
Due to their gluten content, barley seeds should be avoided by individuals with celiac disease.
Side Effects
No side effects have been attributed to the use of barley seeds or barley grass.
Interactions
Due to a possible lowering of blood sugar, taking barley may increase the effects with drugs or herbs that also reduce blood sugar levels. It may increase the chance of anxiety and other nervous system side effects when it is taken with certain drugs for asthma and heart conditions. Because barley fiber may stay in the stomach, it may block the absorption of drugs and nutrients.
Last Revised April 4, 2008
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Should I take it? 
