Food
Barley Water
A gentle, time-honored drink made by simmering barley in water - soothing and cooling, and traditionally used to comfort the urinary tract.
⤢📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 77/100Tap to see the breakdown
🌱 What it is
Barley water is made by simmering whole or pearl barley grains in water until the liquid turns soft and slightly cloudy, then straining out the grains. It has been sipped for generations as a mild, soothing home drink.
📜 Where it comes from
Barley water has a long history in European folk medicine, referenced by Greco-Roman physicians including Hippocrates and Galen, who recommended barley preparations as a soothing, easily digested drink for the sick. It became a common household remedy in Britain for centuries, traditionally given to settle the stomach and comfort the urinary tract. It remains part of some traditional home-care practices today.
✨ Why it's good for you
- Traditionally used to support urinary comfort as a gentle, hydrating drink
- May help support healthy hydration throughout the day
- Traditionally used to soothe the stomach after a simple meal
- May help support gentle digestion with the small amount of dissolved grain fiber
🥗 Nutrition
Per 1 cup (240 ml), home-prepared · about 20 calories
- Mostly water
- Carbohydrate (trace, from dissolved starch) ~5 g
- Small amounts of B vitamins
🥄 How to use it
Simmer barley in water, strain off the cloudy liquid, and sip it warm or cooled, plain or with a little lemon.
How much: Simmer 1/4 cup barley in about 4 cups water for 20-30 minutes, strain, and sip 1-3 cups of the liquid through the day, along with plenty of plain water.
Why it works: Non-irritating; helpful when chest or intestinal lining is inflamed; restorative during convalescence.
Show full details & how to prepare it
Barley water is one of the oldest and gentlest of home drinks: simply barley simmered in water until the liquid turns soft and cloudy, then strained and sipped. It is soothing, cooling, and easy on the body - a comforting way to take in extra fluid.
Its long-standing reputation is for the urinary tract. By encouraging plenty of gentle fluid through the system, it helps flush and soothe during a bout of cystitis or a mild urinary infection, and supports the steady hydrationGiving your body enough water to work well. More → that helps discourage kidney stones from forming. A little lemon makes it refreshing.
It is important to keep its role in perspective. Barley water is a kind, supportive drink for mild discomfort, not a treatment for an established infection -- fever, back pain, or symptoms that linger point to something doctors typically treat with antibiotics. Within those limits, it is a wholesome, time-honored comfort.
Ways to prepare it
⚠️ Cautions
- Barley contains gluten, so it is not suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
- Barley water is a soothing helper for mild discomfort, not a treatment for infection -- a urinary infection with fever, back pain, or symptoms that don't settle usually calls for medical evaluation and antibiotics.
- Drink it unsweetened or only lightly sweetened to keep it gentle.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
🩺 The conventional view
💬 Ask Remy about Barley Water
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
Your vote is saved. Source endorsement totals come from books and studies (+7 per book, +5 per article). You can change your vote anytime from this device.
💬 Comments & experiences
Share what worked for you — and reply or 👍 like the experiences that resonate. Comments get a quick review before they appear publicly, to keep things safe and honest. Please don't make medical claims.
💚 Have an experience to share? Create a free account to join the conversation — your words might be exactly what someone else needs. Reading is always open to everyone.
Know a remedy like this?
Share a structured suggestion and our team will review it for the site.
Suggest a similar remedy