Barley

Yava (Barley) is considered one of the most important therapeutic grains in Ayurveda. It grows in winter (Rabi) season across India. The plant is 2-3 feet tall with characteristic awns (Shuka). Barley is the grain of choice for Kapha and Medas (fat) disorders. It is light, dry, and has a scraping (Lekhana) action, making it ideal for obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and Kapha-dominant conditions. It is Pathya (wholesome) in almost all diseases. Barley can be consumed as Saktu (roasted flour), Yava-anna (cooked barley), Mantha (barley drink), and Yavagu (barley gruel). The Lemma-Palea (husk) must be removed. Yava is also called Indian Oat (Avena byzantina). Barley grains are ground to make Sattu — a traditional cooling drink especially in summer. Barley water is diuretic and used in urinary disorders. Barley flour paste applied externally reduces inflammation. Chemical analysis shows protein 12.5%, carbohydrates, and important B-vitamins. Verses: 24-29.

• Medohara (fat-reducing)
• Kaphahara (pacifies Kapha)
• Mutral (diuretic)
• Lekhana (scraping/reducing)
• Sthairyakara (gives firmness)

Have one year old barley, wheat and honey, meat of animals of desert-like land, and meat roasted in fire as food;

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Yava Sura :व टि भनी यवसुरा गुव ा दोषला । Sura prepared from Yava – Barley – Hordeum vulgare (barley) causes constipation, is difficult to digest, non-unctous and aggravates all the three Doshas.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

These are prepared from dehusked barley and and barley-with-husk.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

(Yava) Barley benefits ः शीतो ग ु ः व ृ यः वाद ुः सरो व वातकृत ् यवः १३ थैयकरो मू मेदः प तकफान ् जयेत ् पीनस वासकासो त भक ठ वगामयान ् १४ Yava (Barley) is Rooksha (dry) Sheeta – cold Guru (Heavy to digest) Svadu – Madhura (sweet) Sara – promotes bowel movements Vit-vata krut – it increases the bulk of faeces and causes flatus Vrushya – natural aphrodisiac Stairyakrut – increases body stability Useful in Mutrameda – urinary disorder Pitta – Kapha imbalance disorders Peenasa – running nose,

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

24 माषो अ सव ववरो, यवकः शूकजेषु च Masa (black gram) in the group of simbija (legumes) and yavaka (small barley) in the group of sukaja (cereals) are inferior.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

Regular exercise, eating only after digestion, and consuming barley and wheat manage obesity and santarpaniya disorders.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 23: Over-nutrition & Under-nutrition Disorders (Santarpaniya Adhyaya / सन्तर्पणीय अध्याय)

A woman desirous of having a male child with large limbs, fair complexion, with eyes like those of a lion (full of vigor), pure, and with good mental disposition should, after her menstrual period, first take a purificatory bath, then be given a light porridge of well cleaned white barley grains duly sweetened by adding honey and ghee, diluted in the milk of a white cow having a white calf, in a utensil made of silver or bronze, regularly in the morning and evening for a week.

— Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthana — Human Body & Embryology, Chapter 8: Guidelines for Lineage (Jatisutriya Sharira / जातिसूत्रीय शरीर)

During mornings and evenings, she should eat a diet prepared with sali rice and/or barley mixed with curd, honey, ghee or with milk.

— Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthana — Human Body & Embryology, Chapter 8: Guidelines for Lineage (Jatisutriya Sharira / जातिसूत्रीय शरीर)

When evacuated properly, give barley preparation with ghee for 3, 5 or 7 days until feces are cleared.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 1: Rejuvenation Therapy (Rasayana Chikitsa / रसायन चिकित्सा)

Patient should drink goat-meat juice with long pepper, barley, horse gram, ginger, pomegranate, emblic myrobalan, and unctuous articles.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 8: Consumption and Wasting Disease Treatment (Rajayakshma Chikitsa / राजयक्ष्मचिकित्सितं)

One Yava (barley grain) equals eight Sarshapas.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 1: Paribhashakathana (Definitions)

One Yava (barley grain) equals twelve white mustard seeds (Gaura-sarshapa), as stated by the wise.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 1: Paribhashakathana (Definitions)

That which dries up and scrapes away the Dhatus or waste materials of the body — that is Lekhana (scraping), like honey-water, hot water, Vacha (Acorus calamus), and Yava (barley).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 4: Dipana-Pachana Adikathanam (Digestive Actions etc.)

— Yavakshara (alkali of barley) half a Karsha, and Dadima (pomegranate — Punica granatum) two Karsha.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)

36 liters) of water along with the steamed barley, and reduce to a concentrated decoction.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)

from consuming barley-chaff, alkalies, sour substances, kulattha (horse gram), and black gram (masha);

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 1: Aupadravika Adhyaya (Chapter on Complications / Secondary Eye Diseases)

Sweating or paste application should be done with barley grass, shunthi (ginger), devadaru (cedar), kushtha (costus).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)

Blue barley soaked in cow's milk, applied with a probe on thin dry wicks.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)

With powder of yavanala (barley), trikatu, and salt — after sweating, the skilled physician should then proceed.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 15: Chhedya Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases Requiring Excision)

Below the eyebrows, freeing both portions, the padma-affected tissue should be excised in a single piece, evenly from inner to outer corner, barley-grain shaped, in a well-oleated patient.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 16: Padmakopa Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Padma-kopa / Eyelid Inflammation)