It is an annual plant that is widely cultivated as a food grain. It is stout, simple stem is hollow and jointed and grows from 11/2 to 3 feet high. The narrow, tapering leaves ascend the stem In two ranks, the third leaf over the first; and their bases form loose sheaths around the stem. The flowers grow in bristly-bearded terminal spikes, producing eventually the elliptic, furrowed barley grains.

The shoots are diuretic. The seed sprouts are demulcent, expectorant, galactofuge, lenitive and stomachic. They are sometimes abortifacient; antiviral and antiprotozoal (50% EtOH plant extract). The seed is digestive, emollient, nutritive, febrifuge and stomachic.

Hordeum vulgare L.
Ecoport
Plants for a Future
Herb Information

Flavones (leaf and stem); proanthocyanidins and biflavonoids (seed extract); from 50% EtOH plant extract, ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, choline, ferulic acid, folacin, (seed); beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, coumarin, esculetin, esculin, herniarin, scopoletin, tryptophan, (plant); catechin (leaf),

Cholera (plant); as an emollient for inflammations of the skin, a demulcent and in fever (seed decoction). They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by cereals, infantile lacto-dyspepsia, regurgitation of milk and breast distension. It is taken internally as a nutritious food or as barley water and is of special use for babies and invalids, to reduce excessive lactation. Barley is also used as a poultice for burns and wounds.

This herb is contraindicated during lactation.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.