> > Anyone know of any health benefits or dangers of barley "tea"?
>
> Barley tea, or "mugi-cha", is reputed to be a mild laxative. Whether
> this is a benefit or a danger depends on your constitution.


Here in the US, the constitution is pretty solid. But it may be in danger
from within. Perhaps a general prescription of barley water for some
officials would have a salutary effect?

In the UK, children are sometimes given barley water to drink. Barley sugar
also used to be a treat. In SE Asia, there are cold drinks with barley
extract containing the actual grains as well.

-DM