Background

Wheatgrass is a kind of grass. The above-ground parts, roots, and rhizome are used to make medicine. Wheatgrass is often used as a source of nutrients. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, calcium, magnesium, and amino acids.

People use wheatgrass for conditions such as a blood disorder that reduces levels of protein in the blood called hemoglobin (beta-thalassemia), high cholesterol, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Wheatgrass juice is a popular health drink. It is thought to benefit health only when fresh and taken on an empty stomach immediately after being mixed. But there is no research to support this.

In foods and beverages, wheatgrass extracts are used as a flavoring component.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Wheatgrass is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken in medicinal amounts for up to 18 months. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe when used long-term as medicine. Wheatgrass can cause nausea, appetite loss, and constipation.

When applied to the skin: Wheatgrass is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin as a cream for up to 6 weeks.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if wheatgrass is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Wheatgrass may lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use wheatgrass.

Surgery: Wheatgrass might lower blood sugar and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking wheatgrass as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of wheatgrass depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for wheatgrass. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Wheatgrass might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking wheatgrass along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), empaglifozin (Jardiance), liraglutide (Victoza), and others.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Wheatgrass might lower blood sugar levels. Taking it along with other herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar could lower blood sugar too much in some people. Some herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Wheatgrass contains chemicals that might have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (anti-swelling) activity. This is why some people think it might be helpful for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. It also contains a chemical that might fight bacterial infections.