Read about my favorite medicinal herb, Oatstraw, and it’s benefits including balancing the nervous system while providing essential minerals and vitamins.
Oatstraw Benefits
I’m a huge fan of the medicinal herb Oatstraw (Avena sativa) also known as Milky Oats. After drinking it consistently you’ll notice things like how you can finally go to sleep at a decent time and wake up feeling refreshed or how things don’t feel quite as stressful as usual. It can remineralize the body and repair the nervous system. Think of it as a reboot for the body and mind!
Oatstraw tea is such an easy way to incorporate herbs into your daily life that can have big impact on your overall health and wellbeing. Plus it has a naturally sweet taste that even kids enjoy! Keep reading to find out more about Oatstraw and why this herb is a must-have in your home.
All About the Medicinal Herb Oatstraw (Avena sativa) aka Milky Oats
Parts used: oat stem and milky tops, harvested during the milky stage right after it flowers and before it hardens to become what we know of as traditional oats
Constituents: vitamin A, C, E, K and B complex, calcium, magnesium, silica, iron, phosphorus, protein, alkaloids, polysaccharides
Herbal Actions: Nutritive, Antidepressant, Emollient, Aphrodisiac, Cardiotonic, Immunomodulant, Demulcent, Tonic
Indications: those needing nourishment, remineralization, menopause, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, loss of libido, osteoporosis, cognitive issues, controlling blood sugar levels, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, irritated skin, poison ivy, chicken pox, atopic dermatitis, immune support
Ways to use: tincture, tea, bath, compress
Cautions: considered safe even in pregnancy or breastfeeding, uncontaminated oat straw is shown to be safe for Celiac and people with gluten sensitivity
Where to purchase: Mountain Rose Herbs, Starwest Botanicals, Amazon or you can find Oatstraw blended into many of our teas in the apothecary shop
A Simple Oatstraw Tea Recipe
Want a nourishing tea that the whole family will enjoy? Oatstraw has a mildly sweet taste that is sure to please even the pickiest tea drinkers. Overnight Oatstraw infusions are a simple way to extract the medicinal properties from Oatstraw while also making it a refreshing drink. Essentially, overnight infusions are making tea but you let it infuse much longer to get the most benefits. I typically do this is in a quart size mason jar so I can sip on it throughout the day or share some with others.
How to Make Oatstraw Tea
- Place 1 oz Oatstraw in quart size mason jar.
- Fill with hot water to the top.
- Cover with a piece of parchment paper and lid.
- Let sit on countertop overnight. Make sure it gets at the minimum 4 hours worth of time to infuse.
- Strain Oatstraw from water into a new jar.
- Add ice, lemon, fresh Lemon balm or Mint and sweetener of choice if you like. Enjoy!
* If wanting to use Oatstraw for skin issues you can add the infusion to a bath or make a compress out of it.
Herbs that blend nicely with Oatstraw
- Lemon balm
- Red raspberry leaf
- Calendula
- Nettle
- Catnip
- Mint
- Hibiscus
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