Wednesday 3 June 2009

Barley Green

Barley Green: On the Medicinal Benefits of Barley Grass Powder

from “Barley Grass”, by Betsy Block, NATURAL HEALTH Magazine - Oct 1999 pg. 44
This Nutrient-packed "Green Food" May Fight Several Types Of Cancer, Clear Up Skin Problems, And Heal Ulcers.
WHAT IT IS - Barley grass (Hordeum vulgare) is the seedling of the barley plant. It is usually harvested about 200 days after germination, when the shoots are less than a foot tall.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE - A concentrated source of nearly three dozen vitamins and minerals, barley grass is particularly rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B2, folic acid, and B12; calcium; iron; potassium; and chlorophyll. Unlike most plants, barley
HEALING CLAIMS - Barley grass is a powerful antioxidant that is believed to help the body kill cancer cells and overcome a variety of ailments, including acne and ulcers.
HOW IT WORKS - An antioxidant called alpha-tocopherol succinate - a potent relative of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) may be responsible for much of the plant's anti-tumor action, according to Allan L. Goldstein, Ph.D., head of the biochemistry department at George Washington University's School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., who has studied barley grass. Though its mechanism is unknown, alpha-tocopherol succinate seems to inhibit several types of cancer, including leukemia, brain tumors, and prostate cancer.
According to Yoshihide Hagiwara, M.D., a researcher in Japan and author of the book "Green Barley Essence" (Keats, 1985), barley grass helps cure skin diseases and ulcers by promoting the growth of new cells. It is not known exactly how this happens, although barley grass is high in chlorophyll, an antibacterial green pigment.
THE EVIDENCE - There have been no clinical trials of barley grass. In an experiment at George Washington University, Goldstein and his colleagues exposed leukemic cancer cells to dehydrated barley grass extract. The extract killed virtually all of them. Encouraged, the researchers then subjected brain cancer cells to the extract. It eradicated 30 to 50 percent of these cells. In a third trial, the extract inhibited the growth of three types of prostate cancer cells by 90 to 100 percent. Compare Curing Massive Cancer With Green Barley Pills.
In Japan, where barley grass extract is popular, there is anecdotal evidence that it helps the body heal from many illnesses. In one informal study, a Japanese dermatologist observed a group of 7.5 patients with skin diseases ranging from melanosis (darkening of the skin) to eczema. The patients who took barley grass extract healed faster than did those who did not. They also noticed improvements in appetite and bowel regularity.
HOW TO TAKE - Barley grass is widely available in powder or pill form and is best taken on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before or two hours after a meal.
For disease prevention, Hagiwara advises taking 2 to 6 g of powder - dissolved in water or juice - two or three times a day. To treat skin or stomach ailments, you may need to take up to 12 g of powder two or three times a day. Expect improvements within three months.
CAVEATS - People with eczema or acne may notice some skin aggravation when they first take barley grass. Also, barley grass may initially cause nausea, diarrhea, or constipation. If any of these symptoms occur, you may want to cut
Betsy Block is a freelance writer living in the Boston area.
NUTRIENT PROFILE
BY WEIGHT, dehydrated barley grass has 11 times the calcium of cow's milk, 5 times the iron of spinach, and more protein than sirloin steak. About 2 teaspoons (6 g) of barley grass powder contains the following*;
CALORIES 17
PROTEIN 1.4g
CALCIUM 30mg
IRON 3mg
POTASSIUM 170mg
VITAMIN A 3,120 IU
VITAMIN B1 15 mcg
VITAMIN B2 140 mcg
FOLIC ACID 52 mcg
VITAMIN B12 1.7 mcg
VITAMIN C 19 mg
CHLOROPHYLL 32.6 mg
*NUTRIENT VALUES VARY DEPENDING ON HARVESTING AND PROCESSING TECHNIQUES.
Info are from: http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/barley-green-powder-medicine.htm

Barley Green in the UK Barley Green in the US

MethylSulfonylMethane - MSM

MethylSulfonylMethane(DMSO2) is a naturally occurring, organically-bound and easily absorbable source of dietary sulfur. The trace mineral sulfur is a component of the essential amino acids, cysteine, cystine, taurine and methionine.
During the processing of food (heating, dehydrating and drying) naturally occurring MSM can be lost. Fruits and vegetables begin to lose MSMafter they have been picked, stored and processed. Fresh fruits and vegetables (whole grains, legumes, onions, garlic, cabbage, asparagus, brussel sprouts and broccoli) should contain sufficient amounts of MSM for our dietary needs but considering the state of our modern diet and inconsistent if not deficient nutritional value of non-organic crops, consuming supplemental MSM has beneficial therapeutic effects even at low doses.
It is difficult to overdose on MSM, since excess MSM is flushed out of your body after about 12 hours. Basically, if your body doesn't need it, it gets rid of it. Daily suggested nutritional supplementation varies from 2,000 to 6,000 mg and depends on your height weight and reasons for supplementation. MSMis available in tablets, capsules or in powder form which can be added to food or smoothies. It is tasteless and odorless.
Dr. Earl Mindell suggests taking 1,000 mg three times a day to achieve 3,000 mg of daily nutritional supplementation. It is recommended to take vitamin Cand vitamin B-12to help with MSMabsorbsion.

Spirulina

There are several new peer reviewed scientific studies about spirulina's ability to inhibit viral replication, strengthen both the cellular and humoral arms of the immune system and cause regression and inhibition of cancers. While these studies are preliminary and more research is needed, the results so far are exciting.

Medical School and Earthrise Farms announced on-going research, saying "Water extract of Spirulina platensis inhibits HIV-1 replication in human derived T-cell lines and in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A concentration of 5-10 µg/ml was found to reduce viral production."1

HIV-1 is the AIDS virus. Small amounts of spirulina extract reduced viral replication while higher concentrations totally stopped its reproduction. Importantly, with a therapeutic index of >100, spirulina extract was non-toxic to the human cells at concentrations stopping viral replication.

Another group of medical scientists in Japan has published new studies regarding a purified water extract unique to spirulina named Calcium-Spirulan. It inhibits replication of HIV-1, Herpes Simplex, Human Cytomegalovirus, Influenza A virus, Mumps virus and Measles virus in-vitro yet is very safe for human cells. It protects human and monkey cells from viral infection in cell culture. According to peer reviewed scientific journal reports this extract, "holds great promise for treatment of HIV-1, HSV-1, and HCM infections, which is particularly advantageous for AIDS patients who are prone to these life-threatening infections."2

Calcium-Spirulan is a polymerized sugar molecule unique to spirulina containing both Sulfur and Calcium. Hamsters treated with this water soluble extract had better recovery rates when infected with an otherwise lethal Herpes virus.3 How does it work? When attacking a cell, a virus first attaches itself to the cell membrane. However, because of spirulina extract, the virus cannot penetrate the cell membrane to infect the cell. The virus is stuck, unable to replicate. It is eventually eliminated by the bodyÕs natural defenses. Spirulina extracts may become useful therapeutics that could help AIDS patients lead longer more normal lives.

Anti-Cancer Effects
Several studies show spirulina or its extracts can prevent or inhibit cancers in humans and animals. Some common forms of cancer are thought to be a result of damaged cell DNA running amok, causing uncontrolled cell growth. Cellular biologists have defined a system of special enzymes called Endonuclease which repair damaged DNA to keep cells alive and healthy. When these enzymes are deactivated by radiation or toxins, errors in DNA go unrepaired and, cancer may develop. In vitro studies suggest the unique polysaccharides of spirulina enhance cell nucleus enzyme activity and DNA repair synthesis. This may be why several scientific studies, observing human tobacco users and experimental cancers in animals, report high levels of suppression of several important types of cancer. The subjects were fed either whole spirulina or treated with its water extracts.20,27,28

Strengthens Immune System
Spirulina is a powerful tonic for the immune system. In scientific studies of mice, hamsters, chickens, turkeys, cats and fish, it consistently improves immune system function. Medical scientists find it not only stimulates the immune system, it actually enhances the body's ability to generate new blood cells. Important parts of the immune system, Bone Marrow Stem Cells, Macrophages, T-cells and Natural Killer cells, exhibit enhanced activity. Spleen and Thymus glands show enhanced function. Scientists also observe spirulina causing macrophages to increase in number, become "activated" and, more effective at killing germs.

Feeding studies show even small amounts build up both humoral and cellular arms of the immune system.30 Spirulina accelerates production of the humoral system (antibodies and cytokines), allowing it to better protect against invading germs. The cellular immune system includes T-cells, Macrophages, B-cells and the anti-cancer Natural Killer cells. These cells circulate in the blood and are especially rich in body organs like the liver, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, adenoids, tonsils and bone marrow. Spirulina up-regulates these key cells and organs, improving their ability to function in spite of stresses from environmental toxins and infectious agents.4,25,28,29,30,31

Phycocyanin Builds Blood
Spirulina has a dark blue-green color, because it is rich in a brilliant blue polypeptide called Phycocyanin. Studies show it affects the stem cells found in bone marrow. Stem cells are "Grandmother" to both the white blood cells that make up the cellular immune system and red blood cells that oxygenate the body. Chinese scientists document Phycocyanin stimulating hematopoiesis, (the creation of blood), emulating the affect of the hormone erythropoetin, (EPO). EPO is produced by healthy kidneys and regulates bone marrow stem cell production of red blood cells. Chinese scientists claim Phycocyanin also regulates production of white blood cells, even when bone marrow stem cells are damaged by toxic chemicals or radiation.23 Based on this effect, spirulina is approved in Russia as a "medicine food" for treating radiation sickness. The Children of Chernobyl suffer radiation poisoning from eating food grown on radioactive soil. Their bone marrow is damaged, rendering them immunodeficient. Radiation damaged bone marrow cannot produce normal red or white blood cells. The children are anemic and suffer from terrible allergic reactions. Children fed just five grams in tablets each day made dramatic recoveries within six weeks.75

Other Potential Health Benefits
Spirulina is one of the most concentrated natural sources of nutrition known. It contains all the essential amino acids, rich in chlorophyll, beta-carotene and its co-factors, and other natural phytonutrients. This is the only green food rich in GLA essential fatty acid. GLA stimulates growth in some animals and makes skin and hair shiny and soft yet more durable. GLA also acts as an anti-inflammatory, sometimes alleviating symptoms of arthritic conditions. Spirulina acts as a functional food, feeding beneficial intestinal flora, especially Lactobacillus and Bifidus. Maintaining a healthy population of these bacteria in the intestine reduces potential problems from opportunistic pathogens like E. coli and Candida albicans. Studies show when spirulina is added to the diet, beneficial intestinal flora increase.

Conclusion
Based on this preliminary research, scientists hope the use of spirulina and its extracts may reduce or prevent cancers and viral diseases. Bacterial or parasitic infections may be prevented or respond better to treatment and wound healing may improve. Symptoms of anemia, poisoning and immunodeficiency may be alleviated. Scientists in the USA, Japan, China, Russia, India and other countries are studying this remarkable food to unlock its potential. More research is needed to determine its usefulness against AIDS and other killer diseases. However, it is already clear this safe and natural food provides concentrated nutritional support for optimum health and wellness. Info from: http://www.spirulinasource.com/earthfoodch4a.html Spirulina in the UK Spirulina in the US