Oatstraw 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Oatstraw – 100 g ($14.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Avena sativa, or common oat, is a species of cereal grass known for its highly nutritious seeds. While its mature seeds are what become the oats you buy, oat straw herb is the stems and leaves, which are harvested earlier while the grass is still green. Oat straw can by other names, like green oats and wild oats.

It’s high in iron, manganese, and zinc, though its nutrient composition can vary by brand. Oatstraw is claimed to offer many health benefits, including improvements in brain health, insomnia, stress, and physical and sexual performance.  However, not all of these benefits are supported by research. While many benefits have been linked to oat straw, only a few have been studied.

Blood Flow  Impaired blood flow is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Green oats contain a unique group of antioxidants called avenanthramides, which have been shown to improve heart health. In particular, they may improve blood flow by increasing the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that helps dilate blood vessels.

One 24-week study in 37 older adults with excess weight found that supplementing with 1,500 mg of oat straw extract daily significantly improved measures of blood flow in the heart and brain, compared with a placebo. While research shows that oat straw may help maintain a healthy heart, more long-term studies are needed to fully understand its effects.

Inflammation  Chronic inflammation has been shown to increase your risk of conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Oat straw is rich in many antioxidants, including avenanthramides, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation, thereby decreasing your risk of these illnesses. Additionally, test-tube studies indicate that avenanthramides from oats can reduce the production and secretion of cytokines, which are proinflammatory compounds that are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions.

Brain  Oat straw may help boost brain function in older adults.

One study in middle-aged adults with impaired memory found that using with 800–1,600 mg of green oat significantly improved memory, attention, and concentration. A newer study confirmed these results, as well as determining that the supplement decreased the subjects’ physical response to stress. However, these studies were funded by the company that created the supplement, which may have influenced these findings. An older 12-week study in 36 healthy adults with normal brain function observed that supplementing with 1,500 mg of green oat daily did not change measures of attention, memory, task focus, accuracy, or multi-tasking performance. Overall, current research on oat straw and brain function is limited, and it has not been shown to benefit adults with normal brain function.

Improve Mood  Traditionally, oat straw extract has been used to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

While research is limited, some studies suggest that the extract may improve mood by inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4), which is found in immune cells. Research suggests that inhibiting PDE4 may reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Oat straw may reduce levels of proinflammatory cytokines, which may be involved in the development of depression and other psychiatric disorders. One 2009 rat study found that a low dose of green oat extract over seven weeks significantly improved the animals’ ability to cope and react to stress, compared with a placebo, but these results have not been replicated in humans.

Libido  Tradition holds oat straw as a powerful aphrodisiac, and recent research is confirming that these claims are not too far off. ^[1] It is said that oat straw can support circulation, a key element when it comes to increasing sexual desire.

Menstrual  Some traditions claim that oat straw may provide relief for menstrual cramps and bloating. The herb has also been widely used as a natural diuretic, a gentle tool that may help decrease bloating. Diuretics are also said to be important tools that aid the cleansing process by helping to support the kidneys and urinary tract.

Mood Lifter  Avena sativa is an excellent source of B vitamins, nutrients essential for energy production and mood stabilization. ^[2] [3] Natural saponins contained within the entire plant may help support blood sugar health by decreasing blood sugar spikes following consumption of a high-carbohydrate meal. ^[4] Traditionally, oat straw has been used as a stimulant and a remedy for stress, anxiety, depression, and overall tension.

Bone Health  Oats are naturally rich in calcium, a nutrient that plays an important role in bone density. One study also reported that oat straw increases luteinizing hormone in rats, an important hormone that stimulates cell growth. This may be helpful for initiating bone cell production, possibly supporting bone strength. ^[5]

Botanical Name: Avena sativa
English: Oat, Common oat
Also, known as: Sult, Jao Birahnaa, Jao Gandum, Evenhafer, Husks of oats, Avoine, Avens, Groats, Biada,, Haber, Hafer, Oatgrass
Habitat: Europe
Origin: Germany
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Aerial parts

General Information:
Avena sativa, the common oat, is an annual member of the grass family Poaceae which has also given us wheat, rye, barley, rice and maize and one of the eight major cereal crops of the world. It was domesticated about 3,000 years ago, in the wetter, colder conditions of Europe, in which oats thrive, and soon became an important cereal of Europe. Oats have been eaten since prehistoric times. The genus name, Avens, is derived from Latin and means “nourishing Sativa means “cultivated. It is an annual grass grows to 1-1.5 meters tall, culms tufted or solitary, erect or bent at the base, smooth.

The leaves are non-auriculate, green and the sheaths rounded on the back, 15-30 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide ligulex blunt, membranous. The panicle stands upright, loose and fans out with fine side branches which barely branch out. The 15 30 cm tall panicles usually bear two or three-flowered ears. The flowers are androgynous as are most types of cereal grain The herb known as oat straw refers to the whole plant, including the leaves and stems. These parts of the plant are dried and chopped and used in both internal and external forms by traditional herbalists. Stems are smooth and erect. Oat grains are borne on a drooping panicle. Harvest the green grain in the early fruiting stage. The milky oat tops while still green are the best, but you can also use the entire plant if it is still in its early or immature phase and still greenish in color.

Oats are cultivated for the grain, as source of proteins, for hay, as winter cover, and are used as a pasture crop in the growing or ‘milk stage. Oats are used for cereals, as rolled oats, in cakes, biscuits and other pastries. Oatmeal, oat flakes and groats are all highly nutritious and are a valuable source of food. In the food industry, oatmeal is used as a stabilizer in, for example, ice cream; in the cosmetic industry it is used in various skin care products. Oats are also used as fodder for livestock and in the manufacture of ethylene. Oats extract is especially used in products that have a moisturizing and anti-aging effect, as well as in products that are used to alleviate acne, pimples and to treat problems skin.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1 -3 tsp oatstraw (1-3 g)/use, up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food, drink or to make tea.