Oatstraw is a nutritive and possibly healing by-product derived from the stalk and leaves of the Avena sativa plant. The Avena sativa plant can be found growing on continents where grassy fields thrive, such as North America, Asia, and Europe. Oatstraw can be consumed in the form of teas or oatmeal. It can also be used as a topical agent to soothe the skin or promote the curing of various skin disorders.
Oatmeal is a breakfast dish that has been around in some form ever since the Chinese used it as a porridge as long ago as 7,000 B.C. The oatstraw found in oatmeal offers many nutritional benefits. It is high in calcium, iron, potassium, and proteins. Vitamins A, C, and E, and the B-complex vitamins are found in oatstraw. It is widely believed that eating oatmeal will reduce high levels of bad cholesterol in a person’s system.
Some people take a break to unwind in the middle of the afternoon by having a cup of oatstraw tea. The trace mineral silica, which is contained in the tea, may contribute to and enhance a feeling of relaxation. Many believe that, overall, it helps alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Oatstraw silica also seems to promote healthy toenails and fingernails, as well as healthy skin, bones, and hair.
Drinking the tea may also reduce dangerous fluid retention and help reduce the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism. Itchy skin and can be soothed, either through taking an oatmeal bath, or by using oatmeal compresses. Oatmeal emollients also may be beneficial for the serious skin ailment known as shingles.
During the 1970s, oatstraw liquid extracts were studied see if they might be helpful as an aid to quit smoking. The results were inconclusive. There are many companies that market various forms of oatstraw to men and women who want to enhance their sexual functioning. In general, they claim that it seems to reactivate testosterone levels in the blood. The extract is often used in conjunction with saw palmetto for that purpose. Some also claim that it is beneficial for men with an enlarged prostate.