Oat Straw
BotanicalAvena sativaAlso calledOat herb, Oatstraw, Milky oats (when harvested in the milky stage)
The green stems and tops of the oat plant, brewed into a mild, nourishing tea for frayed nerves and long, depleting seasons.
Most of us know oats as breakfast. Oat straw is the rest of the plant, the green stalks and leaves cut before the grain is fully ripe. Herbalists in Europe and North America have long brewed it as a gentle, everyday tonic, especially for people who feel worn thin.
The tea is mild and grassy, almost like sweet hay. There is nothing sharp or dramatic about it. In Ayurvedic terms its sweet taste is building and nourishing, which is exactly what a depleted, dried-out vata nervous system tends to crave.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as sweet in taste and slightly cooling, with a sweet post-digestive effect (Frawley and Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, and other modern Ayurvedic teachers).
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Slightly cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Sweet
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Neutral for agni
Mild and nourishing, with little direct effect on digestion.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: decreases
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases, in moderation
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Oat straw's sweet, steady nature nourishes vata and calms pitta. Kapha types can enjoy it too, though as a long daily tonic they may want to add a warming spice like ginger.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support a calm, nourished nervous system during stressful seasons.
- Traditionally used to support steady energy when you feel worn out.
- Traditionally used to support restful sleep.
- Traditionally used to support soft, comfortable skin in a warm bath.
How People Use It
- TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried oat straw in a cup of just-boiled water, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. It is mild, so a long steep is fine.
- WaterMany herbalists make a long infusion: about 4 teaspoons in a quart jar (roughly 1 teaspoon per cup), covered with hot water and left on the counter overnight, then strained and sipped through the next day.
- TopicalTie a handful of oat straw in a cloth and soak it in a warm bath for a soft, soothing soak. Patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
Overnight Oat Straw and Tulsi Infusion
A simple daily ritual for a stretched-thin season.
- 1 quart jar
- 4 teaspoons dried oat straw
- 2 teaspoons dried tulsi
- 4 cups just-boiled water
- Put the oat straw and tulsi in the jar and pour the hot water over them.
- Cap the jar and leave it on the counter overnight.
- In the morning, strain it and warm a cup gently on the stove.
- Sip it through the day and finish it within 24 hours.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Oats themselves do not contain wheat gluten, but cross-contact with wheat, barley and rye is common during growing and processing. If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, only use oat straw labeled gluten-free and check with your doctor or dietitian.
- Oat straw has a long record as a gentle tea, but its safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been formally studied. Please check with your midwife or doctor.
- Traditional-use monographs suggest it for adults and children over 12.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using it regularly, especially if you take any medication.
In Our Shop
Organic Oat Straw, from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
Shop Oat Straw →From the Journal
Sources and Further Reading
This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.