Millet is known as a staple diet of current era. If it is being included in day- today life, can save many lives of human beings from untimely morbidity and mortality. In Ayurveda it has a great importance in healthy and unhealthy persons simultaneously. It is the most powerful neutraceutical. Ayurveda clearly explains that foods are neutraceuticals. Foods balance Vaata (air), Pitta (fire) & Kapha (water) Dhatus, to keep the body in a healthy state. These three Dhatus are the main cause of disease formation in body and are denoted by name Dosha when being vitiated. One among the best neutraceuticals is millet known as Yav (Barley), is the food or drug of choice in prognostic as well as diagnostic state of disease as per Ayurveda contexts. More importantly, barley crop can survive in case of drought land, containing sand. It also requires less water for irrigation. It grows faster within 7- 10 days. Sunlight is also not a bigger necessity for its growth. So, in indoor places where direct sunlight is not available can be useful for its cultivation.

These days overweight (obese) & underweight (fitness freak) is the biggest problem for everyone. These are well known causes for life style disorders. Because in both cases untimely death can occur if life style cannot be taken into consideration on a long run. If our diet will be added with Yav daily then these health issues can be solved as it contains various healthy chemical compounds. According to Ayurveda, its Rasa (taste properties) has miraculous effects in overall well-being of a person. In Ayurveda it can be used in various forms to keep body in homeostatic state.

Background: No literary research similar to this work has been established still.

Keywords: Ayurveda, barley, life style disorders, millet, staple diet

There is the biggest challenge of malnutrition along with climate unstability globally. To cope up with this problem, scientists have to work upon the nutritious food scarcity. Barley is one of the best crops for this problem.¹ One of the earliest cultivated cereals as per the studies is Barley. It was domesticated around 10,000 BC. Now-a- days its rank in global farming is 4^th. Malting & brewing was most adopted way of its use in past. But after that it was used as a staple diet for human beings before wheat & rice cultivation introduction. Due to its evergreen growth in all climates, it can be highly recommended in food scarcity areas of world for cultivation. To overcome the problem of malnutrition, it is adapted these days due to its high nutritional value. In areas of draught, it can have sufficient growth & yield. So, crop cultivation scarcity challenging factor can be solved in relation to barley cultivation (Figure 1) (Figure 2).

Figure 1 Grains of barley

Figure 2 Cultivated barley crop.

Objectives of this study is:

1. To evaluate its (barley) efficiency to control life- style disorders as per Ayurveda texts
2. To know the uses of barley (Yav) as per Ayurveda literature
3. To know the contents of barley.²

Search strategy

The review of literature was carried out in two phases using internet and hand search. In hand search, Ayurveda textbooks are referred according to its inclusion & exclusion criteria. Total number of references from both internet and books were 15 (n=15). From them, books referred are 6 (n=6) & internet articles were 9 (n=9). 4 articles & 3 books were finalized for review. This study is of review approach & not of a quantitative approach

as used in Meta – analysis. Therefore, no statistical analysis was selected for the study. Figure 3 is a flow chart of the review strategy.

Figure 3 The selection of books & articles for review.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Articles published in English language & books published in Hindi & Sanskrit were included in the review with concerned topic. Authentic books were included in the study. The references which do not fall under this category were excluded for this review.

Data extraction

In the first phase of the study, books and articles were identified on the basis of the study objectives. In second phase all the data is pooled together after identification of objective based texts. Then exclusion of non-concerned data by reading titles and materials was done. By the end of this process, the concerned texts meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study.

Yav (Barley)

Botanical name-Hordeum vulgare Linn.

Ayurveda Explains about barley in different texts as follows: -

उत्पने तू

शिलाजतुगुगुलुगोमूत्रत्रिफलालोहरजोरसंजनमधुयवमुद्गकोर्दुष्कश्यामकुदा

अलकादीन׀मविरुक्षांचछेदनीयनं द्रव्यनं  विधिवदुपयोगो व्यायामो

लेख्नबस्त्यौपयोगशिति ||

(Utpne tu

shilajatugugulugomutrtriphlalohrjorsanjanmadhuyavmudgkordushkkashyaamkuda

alkaadeenaamvirukshanchchhedniyanaam dravyanaam vidhivadupyogo vyayamo

lekhnbstyaupyogshiti || )

Obesity

Yav can be given in obesity due to its drying (Aamshoshan) and extractive (Chhedniye) nature, when there is blockage of Rasadivaha Strotras (All Channels) by Kapha & Meda Dhatu.³

उत्पन्ने तु पयस्याश्वगन्धविदारिगन्धाष्टवरिब्लतिब्लानाग्ब्लानाम्

मधुरनामन्यसां चौषधिनामुपयोगः,

क्षीरदधिघृतमान्सशालिषष्टिक्यवगोधूमानं च,

दिवास्वपनब्रह्मचर्याव्यामबृह्नबस्त्यउपयोगश्चिति ||

(Utpne tu paysyashwagandhavidarigandhashtavariblatiblanaagblanaam

madhurnaamanyasaam chaushadhinaamupyogah ,

sheerdadhighritmaansshaalishashtikyavgodhumanaam ch,

divaswapanbrahmchryavyayaambrihnbastyaupyogshchiti || )

Thin

In lean persons (due to increased Vaata Dosha, there is blockage of strotras {channels} all over body and because there will be vacuole formation instead of normal cell structures hence body is unable to get nutrition from food), in these cases, Yav has good effects due to its sweet taste (Madhura Rasa). Madhura Rasa has high concentration of earth (Prithvi) & water (Jal) Mahabhuta (cosmic) so it pacifies excess Vaata in body.⁴

Guru Guna (heavy) has more Prithvi Mahabhoot (earth as gross element) and Jal Mahabhoot (water) as well, so it gives feeling of satiety.

अत्यन्तगहि֝तवेताओ सदा स्थूलकृशओ नराओ |

श्रेष्ठो मध्यशरीरस्तु कृश: स्थूलातु पूजितः ||

(Atyantgrhitavetao sda sthoolkrishao nrao |

Shreshtho madhysharirastu krishh sthoolaatu poojitah || )

Barley can be used in both of the above said persons. Obese & thin bodies are emerged life style disorders these days. Levish & sedentary life style causes obesity and to maintain zero figures, lean body is the matter of self- over-cautious behaviour. Both leads to health hazards. In medasvi (obese) patients, which is difficult to treat, if Langhan (fasting, catabolic food) and Brahnghan (anabolic food) is to be adopted, there is possibility that it disturbs Vaata (air) & Agni (digestive fire stimulant HCl) inside body causing raised Vaata & Agni with stable Adipogenesis in case of Langhan (if adopted), but in case of Brahnghan, it suppresses Vaata & Agni, leads to increased Adipogenesis respectively.⁵

So, Barley is the best food due to its property of feeling of fullness of stomach which can help to restrict overeating & under eating or taking non-nutritious foods.

यवः कष׀यो मधुरः शीतलो लेखनो मृदुः | व््रणेषु तिल्वत्पथ्यो रुक्षो मेधाग्निवर्धनकः||

कटुप׀कौभिष्यंदि स्वरयो बलकरो गुरुः | बहुवत्मलो वर्णस्थैर्यकारि च पिच्छिलः ||

कण्ठत्वगमयश्लेशम्पितमेधप्रणाश्नः |

पीनुसश्वासस्कासोरुस्तम्भलोहित्रितपर्णुत ||

अस्मादतिवो न्यूनस्क्योतओ न्यनूतारस्तथ ||

(Yavh kshayo madhurah sheetlo lekhno mriduh | vraneshu tilvatpathyo ruksho medhagnivardhakah ||

Katupakoabhishyandi swaryo balkro guruh | bahuvaatmlo varnsthairykaari ch pichhilh ||

Kanthtwagamayshleshmpittmedhpranashnh |

peenusswaskaasorustambhlohittritparnut ||

asmaadtiyvo nyoonstokyo nynootarastath || )

Barley is astringent, sweet in taste, has cooling effect, has extractive (scraping) properties along with soft in consistency after cooking. It has good effects in case of wound healing by drying it. It is brain tonic & improves digestion.

It has Katu (pungent) potency. Due to the fact that it is Guru (not fastly digestible) in quality so there is no desire of food intake again and again, that helps to reduce excessive Med Dhatu (adipocytes) to be deposited in fat cells. It increases the quantity of Mala (waste materials) also in the body for excretion.⁶

Med Dhatu deposition in body is due to excess Kapha & Vaata in body and it is due to Agnimaandya. Agnimaandya (suppressed digestive fire) is due to Dooshit Pitta (vitiated digestive juices due to disturbed HCl secretion) accumulation owing to bad eating habits, producing Aam Rasa (vitiated fluids). It leads to slow Jatharagni (digestive fire) and Dhatvagni (cellular fire) respectively which causes deposition of Med Dhatu. Excessive Kapha Dhatu with time also enhances Kled (mucus) of body along with Med Dhatu & Mams (muscle) Dhatu. It causes obesity on the long run along with deposition of fibrous tissues when cold inflammations will be more, inside body, due to action of clotting factors, after repeated recovery from internal injuries caused by displacements of tissues.

Properties of Kashaya rasa

कष׀यो रसः संशमनः समग्राही संधारणः पीड़नो रोपनः शोषणः

स्तम्भनः – श्लेषम पित्त-रक्त-प्रशमनः शारीरक्लेदस्याउपयोक्ता, रुक्षः

 शीतोगुरुश्च |

(Kshayo Rasah samshamnah samgrahi sandhaaranah peedno ropanah shoshanah

stambhanah slesham- pitt- rakt- parshamanah shareerkledasyaupyokta, rukshah

sheetogurusch | )

Kshaya Rasa is Kled Shaamak (decreases mucus), Deepan (Appetizer), Paachan (carminatives) collaborately called as Grahi in nature. It assimilates Aam Rasa (undigested juices) and improves digestion. It is Ruksh (dry, act against Aam Rasa & dries it up), Sheeta (cold, act against vitiated Pitta Dosha and pacifies it), Guru (slow to digest), so it gives feeling of fullness & pacifies Laghu (light weight) Guna (properties) of Vayu.⁷

Properties of Madhur rasa

तत्र मधुरो रसः ………… स्निग्धः शीतो गुरुश्च |

(Tatr Madhuro rasah ………… Snigdhah sheeto gurushch | )

Madhur Rasa is Sheeta, Snigdha (oily) & Guru.⁸

Due to these properties, increased Pitta Dosha, Guna (Ushana & Teekshana) can be pacified, which makes Vaata Dhatu, Rukhsha and Ushana (warm) more prominently. Due to Rukshanta and Ushanta of Vaat Dhatu, it dries up Kapha Dhatu hence Med, Kled & Mams Dhatuget pacified. So, it is clear from it that Yav has tendency to control both obesity and thinness in human beings. Regular use of Yav can help to retain body in normal healthy state. Mechanism of action of Yav is due to its Rasa (Taste) only which is Kshaya & Madhura.

Role of barley in faeces production

यवः कष׀यो मधुरः शीतलो लेखनो मृदुः | व््रणेषु तिल्वत्पथ्यो रुक्षो मेधाग्निवर्धनकः||

कटुप׀कौभिष्यंदि स्वरयो बलकरो गुरुः | बहुवत्मलो वर्णस्थैर्यकारि च पिच्छिलः ||

कण्ठत्वगमयश्लेशम्पितमेधप्रणाश्नः |

पीनुसश्वासस्कासोरुस्तम्भलोहित्रितपर्णुत ||

अस्मादतिवो न्यूनस्क्योतओ न्यनूतारस्तथ ||

 (Yavh kshayo madhurah sheetlo lekhno mriduh | vraneshu tilvatpathyo ruksho

medhagnivardhakah ||

Katupakoabhishyandi swaryo balkro guruh | bahuvaatmlo varnsthairykaari ch pichhilh ||

Kanthtwagamayshleshmpittmedhpranashnh |

peenusswaskaasorustambhlohittritparnut ||

asmaadtiyvo nyoonstokyo nynootarastath || )

If our faeces are not produced properly and there is constipation, then it denotes exaggeration of Doshas in body. Apaan Vayu is not working properly and shows Pratilom Gati (movement in opposite direction). Because without proper functioning of Apaan Vayu (Large intestine’s air), body can not differentiate Ahaar Rasa (nutritional juice) from Mala i.e. faeces (in case of). In this case, Yav plays a very important role in digestion owing to its Kshaya (astringent) & Madhur (sweet) Rasa.⁹

यव׀ : पुरीशजन्नानाम् |

(Yavah pureeshjannanaam |)

Yav helps in production of Faeces.¹⁰

Homeostasis property of foods

अन्नं वृत्तिकरानाम् श्रेष्ठम् |

(Annam vritikaarnanaam shreshtham |)

Food is the best method to be in healthy state of body (in required quantity).¹¹

Nutritional evaluation of Yava as per modern parameters denoted in Table 1 & Table 2:

Raw barley

Nutritional value per 100 gm

• Energy -335kcal
• Carbohydrates -69.4cal.
• Sugars -0.8gm.
• Dietary fiber -3.9gm.
• Fat -1.3gm.
• Protein -11.5gm.
• Thiamine (vitamin B1) -0.20mg.
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2) -0.20mg.
• Niacin (vitamin B3) -4.7mg,
• Vitamin B6 -0.3 mg (23%).
• Calcium -0.03mg.
• Iron -3.7mg.
• Phosphorus -0.23mg.
• Carotene -10mg.
• Moisture -12.5

Chemical composition of seeds

• Cyanogenic glycoside characterized as 2-β-D-glucopyranasyloxy-methyl -(2R) -butyronitrile,
• Ubiquinones,
• Proanthocyanidins,
• Glycosides of hordatines A & B,
• procyanidin B3,
• Trimer of procyanidinC2,
• Prodelphinidin,
• Chrysoeriol,
• Hordeumin,
• Pangamic acid,
• Protein,
• Carbohydrates,
• Calcium,
• Phosphorus,
• Iron.¹²

Barley contains

Another contents are in Table 2

As per the above shown tables, Yav contains a lot of nutrients in itself.¹³

WHO data for nutritional deficiency¹⁴

As per the above data given by WHO, nutritional deficiency is seen in later stage in persons i.e. above 75 years of age. Here, as per Ayurveda Vaat Parkop (accumulation of air in body) is highest in this phase of life. Vaat itself causes vacuole formation in body by increasing size of the affected cells of tissues. So, with time, pores of cells close and nutrition deficit cells are formed in the affected areas which ultimately leads to cell apoptosis. It is known as Avarn of Vaat by Kapha in Ayurveda. Here role of calcium is well established in Ayurveda & modern sciences simultaneously in Ritu (seasons) Charya (Hemant Riru) (winters). It will be discussed in details in the next article (Table 3) (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Nutritional deficiency bar chart.

It is evident that Yav (barley) has a lot of nutritional qualities. If, used as a staple meal all over the world, can give better results, in case of life style disorders along with the benefit, in agriculture sector, in case to achieve a better yield with minimum consumption of natural going to be exhausted resources. This study can fill the gap in research for the future generations along with the current ones.

Thanks to the Almighty for making me able to write this article. Also thank you to my family who gave moral support. Regards are paid to college managements who provided the positive and productive environment to flourish my opinions about Ayurveda.

None.

None.

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