Oatmeal is a common breakfast porridge that is known for its heart-healthy nutrients. Oats can be ground into flour and used in baking. It is fed to animals. It is used as herbal medicine. The milky green tops of the oat plant and its oatstraw are used to support the nervous, skeletal, and integumentary systems.

Personal Story

I made an oat straw water infusion during my herbalist training. When I poured the water into the oatstraw, the aromatic smell instantly took me back to my teen years when my dad was farming oats in northern Minnesota. We helped him with the harvest, and we fed oats to our horses. It is amazing how God made our senses work together and ties events with smells that embed in our memories.

Medicinal Uses of Oats for the Nervous System

Oats are known for its ability to soothe the nervous system in these situations:

• Relieve nervous stress
• Improve stress resistance
• Exhaustion
• Anxiety
• Irritation
• Hyperactivity in adults and children
• Muscular sclerosis’s symptoms can be lessened by improving nerve function, reducing fatigue, and strengthening the muscles.

Medicinal Uses of Oats for the Skeletal System

• Strengthens and heals bones
• Dietary source of calcium that supports pregnancy and menopause
• Osteoporosis

Medicinal Uses of Oats for the Digestive System

• Soothes the digestive system after surgery or chemotherapy treatments when no other foods will stay down

Medicinal Uses of Oats for the Integumentary System

• Topical use for skin irritation and itchiness- a warm oatmeal bath soothes chapped, dry skin
• Topical use as a sunburn lotion
• Topical use for a healing facial

Oatstraw Water Infusion (Tea)

One way to use milky oats as a calming agent is to drink an oatstraw tea. Here are the directions for making oatstraw infusion.

• Supplies: oatstraw, pot with a lid, scale, container to measure in, oatstraw, measuring cup, teakettle, reverse osmosis water, stainless steel spoon, and timer. 

• Heat water in the teakettle and heat the pot on the stove. Measured 1 ounce of oatstraw. When the water boils, put the oatstraw in the pot and take it off the heat. Add the boiling water and stir. Cover the container with the lid, set the timer for 20 minutes, and set the pot in a warm place. Strain out the tea and press the liquid in the pulp. Add more hot water through the pulp to make the infusion to make one pint.

Safety

Oats are Class 1, which means they may be consumed safely, unless you have an allergy. Oatstraw is naturally gluten-free, but there is a risk of cross-contamination. If you must avoid gluten, purchase oatstraw products that are certified gluten-free.  

Action

Enjoy a cup of oatstraw tea, bowl of oatmeal, or take an oatmeal bath to reap the benefits of oats.

Resources:

Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, by Rosemary Gladstar

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. How do you enjoy using oats in your life?