(2500 to 1600 B.C.). Ayurveda is the Indian indigenous system of medicine
dating back to the Vedic period. The term Ayurveda means Science of Life
(Ayur = life, veda = knowledge).Healing Properties of Some Grain
Barley
- Cooling thermal nature, sweet and salty flavor, strengthens the spleen-
pancreas, regulates the stomach, and fortifies the intestines. Builds the blood
and yin fluids and moistens dryness, promotes diuresis, benefits the gallbladder
and nerves, very easily digested. A decoction of 2 oz. pearl barley or roasted
whole barley toa quart of water is traditionally used for convalescents and
invalids, treats diarrhea, soothes inflamed membranes, alleviates painful and
difficult urination, quells fever, helps reduce tumors, swellings, and watery
accumulations such as edema.. Barley is particularly rich in mineral matters. In
this respect it is richer than wheat but its protein content I lower than that of
wheat.
It is a nutritive food. It is highly beneficial for the anemic and the nervous on
account of its richness in iron and phosphorus. It is a Sattvic food. Spiritual
aspirants take bread made out of barley. Barley has about the same nutritive
value as whole wheat but it contains less gluten and so it not so easily made into
bread.
Barley water is useful in dysentery, typhoid, fevers, diarrhea, urinary diseases
and diseases of kidneys. It has very little nutritive value. It is soothing and