Wild Oats

Avena sativa

Of all the plants we know, oats are among the most nutritive for both body and mind. The green tops and grains come from a cereal grass that originated in Europe, but is now cultivated on every continent. Oats grow best in cool, temperate climates, and have been used for thousands of years both as food and medicine.

Herbalists have long prized oats for their profound and restorative effect on the nervous system [1][2]. They ease anxiety, improve focus, and support recovery from stress or fatigue. Fresh “milky oats,” when the seed has not yet hardened and is full of milky sap, is the stage most often used medicinally. A tincture made at this stage is used as a nervine tonic, gently rebuilding the body’s resistance over time. There is some evidence that oat extract improves attention and memory, particularly in older people [3][4].

Oats are also supportive during addiction recovery, reducing cravings and soothing the nerves. Applied externally, oat baths can help to calm irritated or inflamed skin, such as with eczema, psoriasis, or poison oak. The same qualities that make oats such a gentle nervine internally make them soothing topically as well [5].

Each stage of the plant is uniquely valuable. The milky tops restore the nerves, and the mature grains can nourish when added to food. Taken as a tea, tincture, or bath, oats offer a sort of steady, healing stillness — simple and humble, yet profoundly restorative.

[1] The Naturopathic Herbalist. “Oats (Avena sativa) – Nervous System Nourishment & Stress Support Herb.” https://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/herbs/a-2/avena-sativa-oats/

[2] TheHerbalMedic.co.uk. “Oats (Avena sativa), Especially Milky Oat Tops … a Deeply Nourishing Remedy for the Nervous System.” https://theherbalmedic.co.uk/oat-avena-sativa

[3] Frontiers in Neuroscience. “Effects of a Green Oat Herb Extract on Cognitive Performance and Neurophysiological Activity: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.” 2021. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.748188/full

[4] Nutrients. “Acute and Chronic Effects of Green Oat (Avena sativa) Extract on Cognitive Function and Mood during a Laboratory Stressor in Healthy Adults.” 2020. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1598

[5] Healthline. “Oat Straw Extract (Avena sativa): Benefits, Downsides, and Uses.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oat-straw-extract