Barley Grass

We evaluated 10 human studies on Barley grass, including 2 randomised controlled trials and one meta-analysis or systematic review; the controlled studies include 51 participants in total. As of 3 October 2026.

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1. What Is Barley Grass? Occurrence, Origin and Forms

Barley grass is the young leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare), harvested before the ears form. The leaves contain chlorophyll, fibre, minerals and plant compounds such as flavonoids, among other things.

Barley is grown worldwide. For barley grass, the young shoots are cut a few weeks after sowing, then dried and ground or juiced.

Products include powder from dried leaves, powder from dried juice, tablets and capsules.

Forms and Preparations Studied

• Powder from the young leaves
• Dried barley grass juice
• Tablets and capsules
• Combination products with barley grass – the other ingredients are named in each case

Not covered on this page:

• Barley grain, barley bran and barley beta-glucans → Beta-Glucans
• Cultivation, variety and plant research on barley

2. What Does Barley Grass Do? Results by Area

How to read the table: counted are human studies whose results concern the area. “High” means at least one meta-analysis and two controlled studies showing improvement, or at least three controlled studies of which three quarters show improvement, with at least 300 participants in total. “Moderate” means at least two controlled studies showing improvement, as a majority, or one meta-analysis alongside controlled studies. “Low” means one controlled study showing improvement. Where an area has no controlled study, the strength of evidence is at most “low” (result “reviews only” or “observational data only”). Everything else is “unclear”. A study counts as showing improvement when at least half of its outcomes in this area improved. Reviews of combination products do not count as meta-analyses; results that only describe side effects or shares of users do not count as an effect. The same study is counted only once.

3. What the Studies Show in Detail

Barley Grass, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Human Studies

A systematic review attributes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to barley grass powder from the young leaves 1. In a randomized study in type 2 diabetes, extract from young barley leaves prolonged the time to LDL oxidation compared with placebo and lowered radical markers in the blood 3. Combined with an olive oil-rich diet, the protection of the small, dense LDL particles was stronger 3. A controlled study without a placebo group saw this also with barley leaf extract alone, most strongly together with vitamin C and E 4. A study without a placebo group found in smokers and non-smokers with elevated blood lipids a longer time to LDL oxidation after barley leaf extract 7.

Barley Grass, Blood Sugar and Blood Lipids: Human Studies

A systematic review reports for barley grass powder a favorable effect on blood sugar regulation, blood pressure and blood lipids in people with chronic diseases 1. A randomized study in healthy people found no greater reduction in total and LDL cholesterol with capsules of barley leaf extract than with placebo 2. In type 2 diabetes, barley leaf essence alone did not change the fatty acid composition of LDL particles, only the additional olive oil-rich diet did 3. A study without a placebo group found in people with elevated blood lipids after four weeks of barley leaf extract lower total and LDL cholesterol levels than at the start 7. The evidence is moderate, because the controlled studies are small and short. It remains open whether barley grass affects blood sugar and blood lipids more than placebo; a larger and longer study could clarify this.

Barley Grass, Digestion and Gut: Human Studies

A systematic review attributes better gastrointestinal function and protection against constipation to barley grass powder from the young leaves 1. This assessment is based on a single review. It remains open how the effects appear in controlled studies and in people without chronic diseases.

Barley Grass, Sleep and Mood: Human Studies

A systematic review attributes a sleep-promoting effect to barley grass powder from the young leaves 1. Another review considers barley grass powder, because of GABA, calcium and potassium, to be a particularly suitable sleep-promoting food; the mechanisms still need to be clarified 10. Controlled studies on sleep duration and sleep quality are still lacking.

Barley Grass: Further Outcomes in Studies

A systematic review also attributes to barley grass powder from the young leaves strengthened immunity, liver protection, antidepressant and cancer-inhibiting effects as well as better cognition 1. In an observational study on fibromyalgia, symptoms and quality of life improved under a predominantly raw vegetarian diet that included a dried barley grass juice product 5. A case report on a combination preparation of barley grass, royal jelly and Taraxaf® plus cupping describes an improvement in TSH value and urticaria in a woman with hyperthyroidism 6. Controlled studies on these effects are still lacking.

4. How Is Barley Grass Dosed? Preparation, Dose and Duration in Studies

Extracts from young barley leaves were studied, in one study as a capsule 2, as well as a dried barley grass juice product as part of a diet 5. The extract was partly combined with an olive oil-rich diet 3 or with vitamin C and vitamin E 4. A combination product of barley grass, royal jelly and Taraxaf® plus cupping was described in a case report.

5. Is Barley Grass Safe? Side Effects in Studies

In a randomized study with capsules of barley leaf extract, clinical and laboratory findings over twelve weeks did not differ from placebo 2. A case report on a combination product with barley grass describes the treatment as free of side effects 6. A review article sees fertilization and soil composition as an underestimated source of fluctuating ingredients and possible safety concerns 8.

6. What Remains Open: Limits of the Evidence

• The controlled studies are small and short, which limits their evidential value.
• Controlled studies on digestion, sleep and mood are still lacking.
• A review names inconsistent preparations and high doses in animal studies as an obstacle to translation to humans 8.
• It remains open whether and in what form barley grass reliably affects blood sugar and blood lipids.

7. Bottom Line: What Is Established About Barley Grass

Barley grass, the young leaves of barley, has been studied as an extract, as dried juice, in capsules and in combination products. A systematic review attributes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and digestion-promoting effects as well as sleep promotion to barley grass powder 1. In a randomized study in type 2 diabetes, extract from young barley leaves prolonged the time to LDL oxidation compared with placebo and lowered radical markers in the blood 3. A controlled study without a placebo group saw this also with barley leaf extract alone, most strongly together with vitamin C and E 4.

In a randomized study in healthy people, cholesterol did not decrease more with barley leaf extract than with placebo 2. The evidence is limited overall, because the controlled studies are small and short and are still lacking for several areas.