Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Coffee  Drink  Salt  Sweetener

Seed - cooked as a whole grain or ground up and used as a flour for making bread, porridges etc[2, 7, 46, 183]. It has a low gluten content and so is unsuitable for making wheat-type breads[238, K]. The seed can be fermented into sourdough and many other fermented foods such as 'tempeh' and 'miso'[183]. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads or the sprouted seed juiced and the juice drunk as a health-food drink[183]. The decorticated seed is called pearl barley. This is no longer viable since the decortication process damages the embryo. It is used in soups, stews etc[238]. Malt is obtained by sprouting the whole seed and then roasting it. The seed is then ground into a flour and boiled in water. The resulting liquid is very sweet and can be used in making beer or other drinks, and as a nutritious sweetener in various foods.[7, 46]. The roasted (unsprouted) seed is used as a coffee[46, 183] and a salt substitute.

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Abortifacient  Cancer  Carminative  Demulcent  Digestive  Diuretic  Emollient  Expectorant  
Febrifuge  Galactofuge  Hypoglycaemic  Lenitive  Nutritive  Poultice  Stomachic


The shoots are diuretic[218]. The seed sprouts are demulcent, expectorant, galactofuge, lenitive and stomachic[176, 218]. They are sometimes abortifacient[218]. They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by cereals, infantile lacto-dyspepsia, regurgitation of milk and breast distension[176]. They are best not given to a nursing mother since this can reduce milk flow[176]. The seed is digestive, emollient, nutritive, febrifuge and stomachic[218]. It is taken internally as a nutritious food or as barley water (an infusion of the germinated seed in water) and is of special use for babies and invalids[238]. Its use is said to reduce excessive lactation[238]. Barley is also used as a poultice for burns and wounds[4, 46, 176, 218]. The plant has a folk history of antitumour activity[218]. The germinating seed has a hypoglycaemic effect preceded by a hyperglycaemic action[218]. Modern research has shown that barley may be of aid in the treatment of hepatitis, whilst other trials have shown that it may help to control diabetes[254]. Barley bran may have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing bowel cancer[254]. Other uses for bronchitis and diarrhoea, and as a source of folic acid and vitamin B12 and B6. Weight loss[301].

Biomass  Mulch  Paper

The stems, after the seed has been harvested, have many uses. They are a source of fibres for making paper, a biomass for fuel etc, they can be shredded and used as a mulch[141, 171].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming