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Herb library · Herb · Triticum aestivum

Wheatgrass

The young grass of the wheat plant, juiced fresh or dried to a green powder. A handful of small trials in people (ulcerative colitis, thalassemia, chemotherapy) reported encouraging results, but a 2015 review called them all small with methodological problems. Its taste and nausea are the common complaints.

Traditional use

Promoted by natural-health advocates as a general tonic and for digestive and other complaints for decades (more than 30 years, a 2002 trial noted), taken as fresh juice, frozen juice, tablets or powder. A 2015 review notes that its makeup varies with how it is grown and processed.

What studies show

  • Limited

    Ulcerative colitis: in a one-month randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in Israel of 23 people with active colitis of the lower bowel, 100 mL a day of wheatgrass juice lowered a disease-activity score and rectal bleeding more than placebo, with no serious side effects. Only 19 people had complete data.

  • Limited

    Blood disorders and chemotherapy: in a pilot study of 16 patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, half needed at least 25% less transfused blood while drinking wheatgrass juice, compared with the year before; in a matched-control study of 60 people having chemotherapy for breast cancer, those who drank it had fewer blood-count problems that led to dose cuts or extra drugs. Neither was a placebo-controlled trial.

Be careful of

Cautions

  • AmountNausea is the common side effect: in the chemotherapy study, 6 patients stopped drinking it because it worsened their nausea. The 2015 review notes tolerability problems with some forms.
  • ConditionUlcerative colitis, thalassemia and cancer need a specialist's care. In the thalassemia and chemotherapy studies it was taken alongside standard care; tell your care team before adding it, especially during chemotherapy.
  • Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.

Sources

  1. The Medical Use of Wheatgrass: Review of the Gap Between Basic and Clinical Applications (Mini Rev Med Chem, 2015) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  2. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (Scand J Gastroenterol, 2002) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  3. Wheat grass juice reduces transfusion requirement in patients with thalassemia major: a pilot study (Indian Pediatr, 2004) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  4. Wheat grass juice may improve hematological toxicity related to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a pilot study (Nutr Cancer, 2007) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026

Reviewed September 25, 2026.