Introduction

Barley grass (Hordeum vulgare) has been a food staple since ancient times, and grows under more conditions than any other grain. Modern research has shown that young barley grass, i.e. just before production of the seed, is the most nutritious of the green grasses. The leaves are a concentrated source of chlorophyll, antioxidants (bioflavonoids, SOD, etc.), and beta-carotene (Vitamin A).

Barley grass in various forms is becoming more popularly used as a health aid. Particularly, there is a lack of raw “green leafy” food in the modern diet. A variety of beneficial effects have been studied and several active substances have been identified.

Pure Barley Green Tablets

XXX mg powder, 90 capsules/bottle

These “Chi Jia” brand barley green tablets contain 100% young barley leaves, with no fillers or artificial additives. The plants are grown without the use of toxic chemicals, and under optimal conditions to produce grass with the highest potency.

It is dried without delay at body temperature. The dried barley then ground micro-fine without heat and with low friction in order to preserve all nutrients.

Recommended Uses

Barley Green is used for the following purposes:

• Promote faster wound healing
• Treat various infections
• Detoxify the body
• Reduces bad breath
• Reduce kidney stones
• Strong antioxidant: treat inflammatory diseases & aging
• arthritis
• artherosclerosis (e.g. heart disease)
• cancer
• Improve eye health
• Promote stronger immune system
• Lower blood cholesterol
• Treat diabetes (balance blood glucose)
• Reduce constipation

Recommended Dosage

The typical dosage is 450 – 900 mg each day, or 6 tablets. Barley Green is a natural time-release supplement due to the soluble fibre content, etc. It should be taken on an empty stomach, 20 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal for best absorption. Take the tablets with either cold or room temperature (not hot) liquid. Drinking water afterwards will aid in detoxification.

References

1. Conrad R. Lam and Brock E. Brush. Chlorophyll and wound healing : Experimental and clinical study. The American Journal of Surgery, Volume 80, Issue 2, August 1950, Pages 204-210

2. Hasuda, S. and Yasuro, M. Report on experimental administration of Chlorella to cases of incurable wounds. Shinryo and Shinyku. 3(3):17, 1966.

3. Gruskin, G. Chlorophyll--Its therapeutic place in acute and suppurative disease. Am J Surg 49:49-54, 1940.

4. Chernomorsky S, Segelman A, Poretz RD. Effect of dietary chlorophyll derivatives on mutagenesis and tumor cell growth. Teratogen Carcinogen Mutagen. 1999; 19:313-322.

5. Golden, T. and Burke, J.F. Effective management of offensive odors. Gastroenterology 31:260-265, 1956.

6. Berg, W., Bother, C., and Schneider, H.J. Experimental and clinical studies concerning the influence of natural substances on the crystallization of calcium oxalate. Urologe 21:52-58, 1982.

7. Osawa, T., Katsuzaki, H., Hagiwara, Y., and Shibamoto, T. A novel antioxidant isolated from young green barley leaves. 1992, J. of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 40 (7): 1135-1138.

8. Yu YM and Tsai CE. LDL cholesterol and oxidation are significantly reduced in type 2 diabetic patients receiving a barley leaf essence supplemented olive oil diet. Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry [published by The Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology] Vol. 5 (1): 1-6 (2003).

9. Miyake, T. et al. 1998. Possible inhibition of atherosclerosis by a flavonoici isolated from young green barley leaves. In Shibamoto, T. et al. (eds.). Functional foods for disease prevention II. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society.

10. Ben-Arye E, et al. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2002;37(4):444-49.

11. Emerit J, Pelletier S, Likforman J, Pasquier C, Thuillier A. Phase II trial of copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Free Radic Res Commun. 1991;12-13 Pt 2:563-9.

12. Facts and Comparisons. Beta Carotene. Loose leaf edition. St. Louis: Mo; Wolters Kluwer Co; Jan 2000 update:7.

13. Pryor WA, Stahl W, Rock CL. Beta carotene: from biochemistry to clinical trials. [Review] Nutr Rev. 2000;58(2 Pt 1):39-53.

14. The Alpha-tocopherol, Beta-carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group. The effect of vitamin E and Beta Carotene on incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers. N Engl J Med. 1994;330:1029-1035.

15. Gabriele S, Alberto P, Sergio G, Fernanda F, Marco MC. Emerging potentials for an antioxidant therapy as a new approach to the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Toxicology. 2000; 155(1-3):1-15.

16. Herrick AL, Hollis S, Schofield D, Rieley F, Blann A, Griffin K, Moore T, Braganza JM, Jayson MI. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of antioxidant therapy in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2000;18(3):349-356.

17. Mathews-Roth MM. Photoprotection by carotenoids. Federation Proceedings. 1987;46(5):1890-1893.

18. Czop JK. The role of beta-glucan receptors on blood and tissue leukocytes in phagocytosis and metabolic activation. Pathol Immunopathol Res 1986;5:286-96.

19. Czop JK, Kay J. Isolation and characterization of beta-glucan receptors on human mononuclear phagocytes. J Exp Med 1991;173:1511-20.

20. Estrada A, Yun CH, Van Kessel A, et al. Immunomodulatory activities of oat beta-glucan in vitro and in vivo. Microbiol Immunol 1997;41:991-8.

21. Wakshull E, Brunke-Reese D, Lindermuth J, et al. PGG-glucan, a soluble beta-(1,3)-glucan, enhances the oxidative burst response, microbicidal activity, and activates an NF-kappa B-like factor in human PMN: evidence for a glycosphingolipid beta-(1,3)-glucan receptor. Immunopharmacology 1999;41:89-107.

22. Ross GD, Vetvicka V, Yan J, et al. Therapeutic intervention with complement and beta-glucan in cancer. Immunopharmacology 1999;42:61-74.

23. Bourdon I, Yokoyama W, Davis P, et al. Postprandial lipid, glucose, insulin, and cholecystokinin responses in men fed barley pasta enriched with beta-glucan. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69:55-63.

24. Jelilin JM et. al. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 2000 3rd ed. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Facility. 223 – 225.

The Active Ingredients in Barley Green

From modern scientific studies (see Reference section), numerous physiologically active substances have been identified, as listed below:

• Chlorophyll
• Superoxide dismutase (SOD) antioxidant
• Flavonoid (2O-GIV) antioxidant
• Beta-carotene antioxidant
• β – glucans (polysaccharides)
• Hordenine (an amine)
• Vitamins (C, E, K, B-complex)

Barley Green has one of the highest chlorophyll contents of all of the green vegetables, e.g. 66 times more than in spinach. Chlorophyll is known as a wound healing agent, and its anti-disease and anti-mutagenic properties have been demonstrated (Ref. 1 – 4). Chlorophyll is thought to be a natural detoxifier that causes the toxins or poisons stored in the body and intestines to be removed. Thus, it aids in reducing bad breath and kidney stones (Ref. 5 & 6).

Barley Green contains antioxidants that help the body to reduce the levels of "free radicals" which cause cell damage. The results of such damage are diseases such as cancer, arthritis, atherosclerosis (heart disease, etc.), as well as aging. One is a unique bioflavonoid (2O-GIV) which has been shown to prevent hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis (Ref. 7 – 9).

But the antioxidant most talked about is the powerful enzyme, superoxide dismutase or SOD. Green barley powder is the best natural source of SOD. Unfortunately, animal research shows that oral SOD is largely destroyed in the digestive system and so it would not get into the blood, etc. However, SOD has been shown to reduce inflammation and ulcers in the colon, respectively, by consumption (Ref. 10) and injection (Ref. 11). Coated SOD may be useful, based on the effectiveness of coated proteolytic enzymes in current treatments of inflammatory diseases.

Beta-carotene is a non-toxic precursor of Vitamin A. Beta-carotene is well known to help the eyes, but it is also an antioxidant and may reduce the risk of two types of chronic illness—heart disease and cancer (Ref. 12 – 17). Note that the beta-carotene in leafy greens is converted to vitamin A about twice as efficiently as the carotene in carrots and other root vegetables.

The β – glucans are polysaccharides which are known to enhance the immune system based on many studies (Ref. see our Lingzhi and Winter worm products) (Ref. 18 – 22). Also, they are soluble fibres which are considered to be responsible for the lowering of blood cholesterol and glucose levels (Ref. 23 – 24). There is also insoluble fibre which helps to relieve constipation.

Hordenine stimulates expansion of peripheral blood circulation and bronchus (Ref. 24).