Of all the grasses, Barley grass has probably been researched more, due to the efforts of Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, President of the Hagiwara Institute of Health in Japan. Hagiwara reports that he researched over 150 different plants over a period of 13 years.  He found that in barley was the most excellent source of nutrients that the body needs for growth, repair and well-being.
     
A biologist named Yasuo Hotta from the University of California, La Jolla, found in barley grass a substance called P4D1. This substance not only has strong anti-inflammatory action but was shown to actually repair the DNA in the cells of the body.  This aided in the prevention of carcinogenesis, aging, and cell death.  He reported in a Japan Pharmacy Science Association meeting that P4D1 suppresses or cures pancreatitis, stomatitis, inflammation of the oral cavity, and dermatitis, and also lacerations of the stomach and duodenum.  He found that barley juice is much stronger than steroid drugs but has fewer if any side effects.

Dr. Howard Lutz, who is director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Washington, D.C., has said this about barley grass: "[Barley grass is) one of the most incredible products of this decade.  It improves stamina, sexual energy, clarity of thought, and reduces addiction to things that are bad for you.  It also improves the texture of the skin, and heals the dryness associated with aging."

Some people who try grass juice find that they just cannot tolerate wheat grass juice. It is extremely detoxifying and makes some people nauseous every time they drink it.  These people may find that they can tolerate barley grass juice.  It is milder, although quite bitter, compared to the sweetness of wheat grass juice.  Barley grass is very high in organic sodium. People who have a tendency towards dehydration need more organic sodium.  People with arthritis have used celery juice for years because of the organic sodium it contains.  According to Hagiwara, in his book, Green Barley Essence, barley grass has 775 mg. organic sodium per 100 grams.  This contrasts with 28 mg. sodium per 100 grams in celery.  Organic sodium keeps calcium in solution in the bloodstream and also dissolves calcium deposited on the joints.  (For this reason alone, it should be very calming to the nerves.)  It also replenishes organic sodium in the lining of the stomach.  This aids digestion by improving the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Besides chlorophyll and a myriad of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, barley grass is said to have 30 times as much vitamin B1 as in milk, 3.3 times as much vitamin C, and 6.5 times as much carotene as in spinach, 11 times the amount of calcium in