Wheat-grass.
"Wheat grass" is a variety of grass like barley, oats and rye, grown in fields across India.
Here in this write-out, "Wheatgrass" refers to grass grown indoors in trays for approximately 10 days and is the kind that is squeezed into a fresh juice. The tray-grown grass is used primarily for therapeutic purposes. The 60+day old field grown grass, available in dehydrated powder or tablets, is used primarily as nutritional supplement.
Wheat-grass juice, squeezed from sprouted wheat berries, is said to be high in chlorophyll. Claims are that the juice "cleanses" the body, neutralizes toxins, slows the aging process, and prevents cancer.
The idea that wheat-grass can benefit serious disease sufferers was conceived by Indian Nature-cure experts over centuries ago. It gave them an unwavering confidence in the healing power of nature.
The Nature Cure Believers believed in astrology, and described them as a dreamer who saw life from the spiritual viewpoint to the neglect of the physical. Their theory on the healing power of grasses was predicated upon the story of king Pandoo who spent seven years, insane, living like a wild animal eating the grass of the fields. Because he recovered, it was theorized that the grasses had cured his insanity. The common observation that dogs and cats nibble on grass, presumably when ill, also strengthen the belief in the healing power of grasses.
Nature Cure Believers theorized that rotting food in the intestine forms toxins that circulate in the bloodstream aka, the intestinal toxicity theory and cause cancer. They taught that the duration of the wheat-grass juice was less than three hours so it had to be cut from growing plants, juiced and consumed fresh. They speculated that the enzymes found in raw wheatgrass were alive and could "detoxify" the body by oral ingestion and by enemas.
It was the chlorophyll in wheat-grass that enthused them. They called chlorophyll "the life blood of the planet." They advocated that cooking foods "killed" them because it deactivates enzymes. They held that the moment the "sacred" 7.4 acid-alkaline balance, the same as human blood, is "killed" that its effectiveness would be reduced.
The fact that grass-eating animals are not spared from cancer, despite their large intake of fresh chlorophyll, seems to have been lost on them. In fact, chlorophyll cannot "detoxify the body" since it is not absorbed. Although it is conceivable that enzymes present in rectally-administered wheat-grass juice could have chemical activity, there is no evidence that this is beneficial. In fact, when challenged legally, they backed away from healing claims stating that they merely had an "educational program" to teach people how to "cleanse" their bodies and make vegetable juices popular.
Tray-grown wheat-grass juice has become a familiar product in juice bars, natural food stores, and the homes of do-it-yourself juicers worldwide. The juice has been associated with many health benefits. However, many who purchase "fresh" wheat-grass juice don’t realize that it has not reached its full nutritional potential. Wheat grass grown outdoors in its natural climate has much higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll than tray-grown grass due to vast differences in the growth process.
Tray-grown wheat-grass is grown in a warm greenhouse or indoors under fluorescent lighting. After growing for 7-10 days, the plant is approximately 6-8 inches tall. It is then harvested and juiced for consumption. Because it grows so quickly in the warm conditions, the plant has a relatively high level of simple sugars and is not given time to convert these sugars into complex carbohydrates, vitamins, enzymes, and proteins. This may explain the quick burst of energy that some users experience immediately after drinking the juice. Wheat-grass is said to be a complete food, wheat-grass is a source of beta carotene and the B vitamins, plus C, E, H and K, is said to contain 90 different minerals and 19 amino acids. 'More iron than spinach, more protein than meat, fish, eggs, beans or dairy produce'. And the tablet form gives twice the fibre of bran. Wheat-grass has an amazing ability to concentrate nutrients from the soil - maybe why it has been such a successful plant in evolutionary terms. Scientists have established that it has to be cultivated carefully and harvested at the 'jointing' stage, when content of chlorophyll, enzymes and other nutrients is at its peak.
It turns out that wheat-grass juice is up to 70% chlorophyll, which in chemical composition closely resembles haemoglobin. It is said to heal tissues, help purify the liver, improve blood sugar levels and help flush out accumulated toxins. That makes it an ideal 'companion' for fasting and in weight control regimes, taking it in tablet form gives some sensation of fullness'.
Specialists recommend chlorophyll for its antiseptic benefits. The article suggests the following clinical uses for chlorophyll: to clear up foul-smelling odours, neutralize strep infections, heal wounds, hasten skin grafting, cure chronic sinus, overcome ear inflammation and infections, reduce varicose veins and heal leg ulcers, eliminate impetigo and other scabby eruptions, heal rectal sores, successfully treat inflammation of the uterine cervix, get rid of parasitic vaginal infections, reduce typhoid fever, and cure advanced pyorrhoea in many cases.
Chlorophyll is antibacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a healer. Gargle with wheatgrass juice for a sore throat. Wheatgrass juice is great for constipation and keeping the bowels open.
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This article is for general information only.
