Oat Straw – Avena sativa

Location   Grown in Europe and other places

Part used  Dehusked and rolled starchy seed endosperm

Harvesting Time When seeds are ripe.  Also, the ‘grass’ may be used for juicing etc.

Constituents

Starch, Protein, Fats, including tocopherol (vitamin E), Prolamines – avenins, C-glycosyl flavones, Minerals, particularly silica and calcium, Vitamins, especially B group, Saponins, Alkaloids, Sterols

History/Folklore/Taste/Energetics

Taste is sweet, mealy, neutral

Actions

• Antidepressive
• Thymoleptic
• Cardiac tonic
• Nervous system trophorestorative
• Topically – emollient
• Nutritive
• Hypercholesterolaemia

Traditional and current uses

• Depression
• Melancholia
• Menopausal neurasthenia
• General debility, especially from chronic pain or insomnia
• Soft fibre can help to reduce cholesterol (the bran is particularly helpful)
• Soft fibre helpful for IBS and constipation
• Useful food for convalescence
• Useful food to improve stamina and muscle function
• Excellent food for children to build bones and teeth
• As a skin cleanser and softener.  Place fine oatmeal in a muslin bag and use as a substitute for soap.
• As above or added to the bath can soothe eczema and itchy skin.
• Use fine oatmeal to make purifying face packs for acne and congested skin.
• Use as a base for poultices

Facepack Mousse

Equally good as a face pack or to eat as a vegan mousse.

500g berries (straw berries, blue berries, raspberries or a mixture)

1 dessertspoon honey

50 ml rosewater or neroli water

3 cups ground oats

Blend all the ingredients together and leave in the fridge for 2-12 hours if eating, or apply directly to the face (eat what’s left!) and leave on for about 15 minutes then wash off.

This herbal monograph is used with the permission of The Plant Medicine School.