OATS

Avena fatua (wild) A. sativa (cultivated)

Common Names: Wild oats, milky oats, oatstraw, oatgrass 
Family: Poaceae, Gramineae
Part/s Used: Milky, unripe seeds for fresh tincture preparations. Dry oat stems for tea (oatstraw)
Energetics: Neutral to warm
Taste: Sweet, salty, bland
Actions: Trophorestorative, nervine, nutritive tonic, adaptogen, alterative, anxiolytic, reproductive tonic
Organ System Affinity: Nervous system
Tissue State: Dry/atrophy
Constituents: Proteins, glycosides, avenin, avenacines A and B, histamine, hordenine, trigonelline, flavonoids
Nutritional properties: Vitamins A,C,E, K. Many B vitamins including B6, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine. Oats are rich in minerals such as calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and sodium. It contains low to average amounts of colbolt, manganese, potassium, selium and tin. Additionally, oat straw contains protein and amino acids such as arginine, histandine, leucine, lysine, phenylalaine and tryptophan.
Planet: Moon
Element: Air

Medicinal Preparations:

Tincture: Fresh 1:3 or 1:4 95% 
Drops: 10-30   Times a day: 4x
Glycerite: Fresh 1:3 or 1:4 Glycerin 50% Alcohol 50%
 
Tea: Hot/cold infusion/decoction (Steep for 4 hours)
Ounces: 8-12 Times a Day: 3-4
 

Habitat and Botanical Description: 

Oats is a species of grass native to the Mediterranean but has been naturalized in most temperate regions of the world. You can find oats growing along the roadsides, in disturbed areas with poor soil or swaying gently in an open sunny meadow. Oat grows up to four feet tall on an erect stem with long flat linear leaves and open branches with nodding flower clusters.  

Medicinal Uses:

Oats has rich history rooted in traditional herbal medicine. Also known commonly as, "milky oats" specifically refers to the oat seeds harvested at a particular stage of maturity when they exude a milky sap.This stage is considered optimal for medicinal use due to its nutrient and medicinal content.

Oats have been cultivated since ancient times, cherished by civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks for both sustenance and healing. In the realms of European herbalism, oats emerged as an herbal ally for nourishing the nervous system, easing anxiety, and restoring vitality. The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed milky oats rise to prominence in Western herbal medicine, esteemed by herbalists and naturopaths alike as a tonic for rejuvenating the nervous system amidst stress and exhaustion.

Today, Milky oats stands tall as a Trophorestorative herb, deeply nourishing the mind, body, and spirit with its rich vitamin and mineral content. It acts gradually, and will work its transformative magic over time when consumed consistently.

This herbal ally holds a special affinity for the nervous system, offering a gentle and soothing tonic for those plagued by fatigue, anxiety, or uncertainty. Unlike sedatives, milky oats invites stability and well-being without inducing drowsiness, making it safe for daytime use. Its tincture form proves especially potent for alleviating severe symptoms.

Rich in calcium and other nutrients, milky oats supports robust bones, nails, and connective tissues. It synergizes effectively with herbs like horsetail, mullein, and nettle, particularly beneficial in managing conditions such as osteoporosis.

Milky oats extends its healing embrace to pregnant and lactating mothers, fortifying their bodies and nurturing healthy milk production. It serves as a vital reproductive tonic for both genders, often integrated into formulas to mitigate PMS symptoms and cravings.

For those navigating the tumultuous seas of addiction recovery, milky oats offers steadfast support, replenishing depleted nerves and fostering emotional stability during withdrawal.

Beyond internal use, oats manifest their power topically as well. Ground oats combined with milky oat tea form a soothing paste, lending relief to a spectrum of skin afflictions from rashes to shingles. A staple for the home apothecary.

Energetically, milky oats exudes a calming influence, whispering softly amidst the winds of change. It encourages resilience and trust, grounding us firmly while navigating life's ebbs and flows with grace.

Ruled by the moon, milky oats reflects lunar qualities through its milky white sap. Its medicine soothes our sensitive emotional nature and aids in tempering reactivity, fostering clarity and equanimity in times of stress.

In the garden, oats serve not only as a medicinal treasure but also as a nourishing cover crop, replenishing the earth with vital nutrients. 

Harvesting:

Harvesting wild oats is a wonderful pastime. They grow abundantly throughout the country, and is considered invasive! They can be harvested freely, with no limitation. Find a deserted or abandoned field in late spring when the oat grains are green and plump and excrete a milky sap (the medicine) when squeezed between two fingers. The time to harvest this sap is a relatively short, lasting only about a week. When ready, pinch the middle of the stem between your two fingers just below the branches and slide up the stem popping the grains off. Once the seeds grains are harvested cut the at grass just above the soil level and make bundles. Upon returning home, tincture the fresh seeds immediately.  Once the stalks are dry, cut into smaller pieces (oatstraw), jar and label.

Contraindications:

Individuals with gluten sensitivity should avoid oats (although if taken as a tincture, the alcohol inactivates the protein that usually triggers allergic sensitivity and is unlikely to aggravate a gluten sensitive person). Use caution. Avoid excessively high doses of the tincture as it can induce a third eye headache. Oats antagonize the antinociceptive anti pain effect of morphine and the pressor response to nicotine.

Recommended Products:

Oat Straw Harvest Prayer by Diane Perazzo  

Oat straw ancient one
Milk of our Mother Gaia
Thank you for soothing
And supporting us.
Thank you for giving us
The strength to lead
And the faith to follow.
 
Oat straw ancient one
Your nourishment builds our bones
And help use to stand straight and strong
Your dusty milk
Eases our worried minds
And gladdens our hearts
 
Oat straw ancient one
Your golden fields
Drift in waves of love
For she whose gifts are never ending
Always mending,
Helping to carry on

 Sources:

  • Avena Fatua. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avena_fatua. April 2022
  • Cunningfolk, Alexis J. Nourishing the Soul. Milky oats plant profile.
  • Dellman, Jesse. Milky Oat: Nourishment for the nerves. https://ravensongherbals.com/blog-post/milky-oat-nourishment-for-the-nerves. August 2021
  • Edwards, Gail Faith. The Way of the Wild Heart. Oat straw Avena sativa. https://gailfaithedwards.com/2012/07/11/oatstraw-avena-sativa/  
  • Gladstar, Rosemary. The Science and Art of Herbalism. A Home-Study Course. Lesson 1
  • Herbal Academy. The Herbarium. Monographs: Oat.
  • Northeast School of Botanical Medicine. Avena-A Monograph on Oats as medicine. https://7song.com/avena-a-monograph-on-oats-as-medicine/ . April 2022
  • Perazzo, Diane Finkle. Oat Straw Harvest Prayer.  https://dianeperazzo.com/2019/10/07/oat-straw-harvest-prayer/ April 2022
  • Popham, Sajah. Alchemical Herbalism Course. School of Evolutionary Herbalism. Lecture Notes; 2020
  • Popham, Sajah. The Vitalist Herbal Practitioner Program. School of Evolutionary Herbalism. Lecture Notes; 2021
  • Sinadinos, Christa. The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine. Fieldbrook, CA; 2020
  • Sinadinos, Christa. Northwest School for Botanical Studies Course. Lecture Notes; 2014
  • Worts and Cunning Apothecary.  http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/nourishing-the-soul-milky-oat-plant-profile. April 2022

    Disclosure: This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.