The healing powers of barley water.

Barley is an annual cereal plant (Hordeum vulgare and sometimes other species) of the family Gramineae (grass). Any plant of the family Gramineae, is an important and widely distributed plant. Barley was known to the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Egyptians and was the chief bread material in Europe as late as the 16th century.

Historic Background... 

Today barley is typically a special-purpose grain with many varieties rather than a general market crop. It is a valuable stock feed (often used as a corn substitute) and is used for making malt (when the grain is of high quality). It is a minor source of flour and breakfast foods. Pearl barley is often used in soups. In the Middle East a limited amount of barley is eaten like rice. In the United States most spring barley comes from the western states and most winter barley is grown in the southeastern states for autumn and spring pasture and as a cover crop.

Health Benefits 

• Barley Water is an ancient home remedy that was supposed to clear up the complexion and stop the formation of wrinkles.
  
• This water mixture is for someone who has low agni (digestion). It is very easy to assimilate and nutritious for fat tissue which in turn makes good quality bone tissue. 
  
• According to the scholars of hadith, barley is very nutritious and provides energy for the body, besides this is also beneficial in pharyngitis and cough. 
  
• It resolves inflammation of the stomach (Gastritis), expels toxins from the body and is a good diuretic. 
  
• It quenches thirst. Barley water is a good remedy for kidney problems. Barley water is given to sick people and to those who have lost their appetite. Barley water is a traditionally acclaimed drink which will support and nourish the kidneys in times of stress. It is an integral part of a kidney cleansing program, which will produce tremendous overall benefits.
  
• According to Firdous Al-Hikmat, if a suspension prepared from one part of barley and Fifteen part of water is boiled, this volume becomes 2/3rd of its basic solution and it is a good antidote for at least a hundred diseases of the body 
  
• Barley water is a traditionally acclaimed drink which will support and nourish the kidneys in times of stress. It is an integral part of a kidney cleansing program, which will produce tremendous overall benefits.
  
• It is also used to treat cystitis. 
• Barley water is a wonderful way to control Urinary Tract Infection during pregnancy. Upon regular usage, the foul smell of urine as well as the burning sensation totally disappears.
  
• Barley water has been used as a first baby food, before feeding with barley mush. 
  

Considering the health benefits, barley is yet another cereal added to the diet of health conscious people. Our ancestors, used barley as a remedy for a number of disorders. They were also aware of its preventive properties. As they say 'Prevention is better than cure', it would be a wise decision to use this tasty diet option in our day-to-day eating patterns.