Wheatgrass

VIDEOS:

Wonderful Wheatgrass

Is wheatgrass gluten free?

Wheatgrass Powder Vs Wheatgrass Juice Powder Explained

Overview

Parts used: the leaf

Qualities: sweet, a bit salty and astringent, neutral, nourishing, thickening, restoring, dissolving

Tropism: blood, fluids, intestines, liver, pancreas, pituitary

Ground: all krases, biotypes and constitutions

Constituents

Chlorophyll, choline, enzymes, amino acids, minerals and trace minerals (incl. calcium, iron, chlorine, potassium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, cobalt), vitamins (incl. C, A, E, F, K, niacin, B1, B2, B6, B12, pantothenic acid)

TCM & Western Herbal Uses

1. PROVIDES NOURISHMENT, RESTORES THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND ENHANCES IMMUNITY; TONIFIES THE BLOOD AND QI, REGULATES METABOLISM AND RELIEVES FATIGUE

neuroendocrine deficiency (Blood, Qi and Essence deficiency); fatigue, weakness, pale face, nails and eyelids, weight loss, fatigue, shallow breathing

METABOLIC DISORDERS, ANEMIA, anorexia

PITUITARY DEFICIENCY with hormonal imbalance

PANCREATIC DEFICIENCY, HYPOGLYCEMIA, diabetes (supportive)

CHRONIC FATIGUE, degenerative disease

2. TONIFIES DIGESTIVE QI, PROMOTES ABSORPTION AND RELIEVES UNDERWEIGHT: REGULATES SECRETIONS, CLEARS DYSBIOSIS AND REGULATES BOWEL MOVEMENT

stomach and intestines (Spleen) Qi deficiency; underweight, fatigue, loose stool

liver Yin deficiency; weight and stamina loss, frequent infections, fatigue

MALABSORPTION, malnutrition

intestines mucous damp (Spleen damp); indigestion, apetite loss, abdominal distension, alternating loose and hard stool

INTESTINAL DYSBIOSIS ( esp. with fermentation)

GASTRITIS, HYPERACIDITY; peptic ulcer, heartburn

3. PROMOTES DETOXIFICATION, RESOLVES TOXICOSIS; DRAINS PLETHORA AND PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS; CHELATES HEAVY METALS, BENEFITS THE SKIN AND REDUCES TUMORS

metabolic toxicosis; breath and body odor, rough dry skin, fetid stool, fatigue, hemorrhoids

METABOLIC ACIDOSIS

HEAVY METAL TOXICOSIS (preventive and remedial)

general plethora; obesity, cellulite, hypertension

ECZEMA, dermatitis

TUMORS (benign and cancerous)

4. REDUCES INFECTION AND INFLAMMATION, AND PROMOTES TISSUE REPAIR

MOUTH INFECTIONS, peridontitis, athlete's foot

SINUSITIS, rhinitis, bronchitis

BURNS, gingivitis, stomatitis, pyorrhea

ULCERS in general, incl. peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, skin ulcer, leg ulcer bedsore

WOUNDS, cuts, bleeding gums

INSECT BITES, poison ivy rash

Per Sloan-Kettering:

Uses

AIDS

There is no scientific evidence that wheat grass prevents or treats AIDS.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

No scientific evidence supports this use.

Cancer treatment

There is no scientific evidence that wheat grass prevents or treats cancer.

Strengthen immune system

A small study showed that wheat grass juice reduced fever and infection in patients receiving chemotherapy, but some patients also had nausea from ingesting wheat grass. Larger studies are needed.

Reduce serum iron level

There is a small study showing wheat grass juice can act as a chelator and help reduce iron level in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Ulcerative colitis

One small study has shown that wheat grass can relieve symptoms associated with chronic colon inflammation.

Clinical Summary

Wheat grass is prepared by sprouting wheat seeds in water for 7–10 days before harvesting the leaves. Because the leaves are fibrous and difficult to digest, the juice from the leaves is extracted and consumed raw. Proponents believe the enzymes responsible for detoxifying the body are deactivated by the cooking process. Wheat grass is also marketed as a nutritional supplement in powder form.

Wheat grass juice has been claimed to neutralize toxins and carcinogens in the body, prevent tooth decay, reduce high blood pressure, and aid in the treatment and prevention of cancer and AIDS. It is also used to improve digestion, prevent hair from graying, for common colds, cough, rheumatic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, ulcers, and skin conditions. However, none of these claims are supported by clinical studies.

Wheat grass proponents also equate its major constituent chlorophyll to hemoglobin, and believe that wheat grass consumption can increase oxygenation in the body. However, these concepts are not supported by current scientific understanding.

Animal models suggest that wheat grass may have hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects. Wheat grass supplementation reduced plasma lipid peroxidation levels in healthy volunteers engaged in regular exercise . A small study and systematic review indicate that wheat grass juice may be helpful for ulcerative colitis . Other studies are mixed on whether it can reduce the need for transfusions in patients with thalassemia major . Wheat grass juice may decrease myelotoxicity in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy . There is also a report that wheat grass juice can reduce serum ferritin in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome . Larger studies are needed to evaluate these findings.

Nausea has been reported following consumption of wheat grass juice.

Because it is consumed raw, microbial contamination is also a concern.

Mechanism of Action

Wheat grass is a natural source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E, K and B-complex, and iron, calcium, magnesium, and selenium. It also contains chlorophyll, amino acids, bioflavonoids such as apigenin, and phenolic

compounds . Some components may have antioxidant effects, as increases in glutathione and vitamin C levels have been noted . Reductions in neutropenic fever and infection with wheat grass may relate to anti-inflammatory properties of apigenin, which can inhibit adhesion of leucocytes to endothelial cells . Some constituents may have iron

chelation activity.

In animal models, hypolipidemic effects occur through increased fecal cholesterol excretion , decreased total cholesterol and malondialdehyde levels, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol .

Claims that raw wheat grass can “detoxify” the body and that chlorophyll can augment hemoglobin production are not supported by scientific evidence.