Abstract

THERAPEUTIC USES AND BENEFITS OF BARLEY WATER (MA-ULSHA’EER) IN UNANI AND MODERN PERSPECTIVE

Gazala Fatma*, M. Junaid Siddiqui, Paras Wani, Anwar Habib and Sadia Nikhat

Abstract

Barley water (Ma-ul-Shaeer) is a drink made from barley grains with water after cooking. Two types of barley grains are available in the market i.e. hulled barley and pearled barley. Both of them are obtained from Hordium vulgare Linn, which belongs to Poaceae family. Barley water is a very significant herbal preparation in Unani system of medicine. Most of the unani physicians agreed that Ma-ul-Shaeer (Barley water) is the best Ghizae Dawaee. Following ten specified pharmacological actions are recommended by great Hippocrates: i.e it is Barid in Mizaj, produces Nuzj in Akhlat, eliminates Akhlate Muharriqa, and also eliminates morbid material, highly permeable and digestive, Lazeez (delicious), provides nutrition in moderate way, quenches thirst, doesn‟t produce agitation in Akhlat-e-Fasida, doesn‟t produce flatulence. Therapeutic uses of Ma-ul-Shaeer (Barley water) mentioned in Unani system of medicine are: Ziabetus, Sudaa‟e har, Sil wa Diq, Zo‟f-e-Meda, Nafkh-e-Shikam, Qulanj, Humma, Hiddate Dam. Barley water is also used in asthma, fever, Pleurisy, Pulmonary ulcer, Dry cough, Chronic cough, anaemia, urocystitis, urethritis, DM type 2. This article keen view on its all detail, specially chemical constituents, pharmacological actions, benefits and therapeutic uses of Barley water (Ma-ul-Shaeer) based on the available literature.

Keywords: Barley water, Ma-ul-Shaeer, Hordium vulgare Linn.