Oats

Avena sativa

Part used: Seed, stem

Energetics: Cooling, moistening, sweet

Actions: Alterative, antidepressant, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, blood tonic, brain tonic, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, endocrine tonic, febrifuge, laxative, mood elevator, nervine, nervous system tonic, nutritive, rejuvenative, reproductive tonic, restorative

Indications: anxiety, colds, constipation, convalescence, conclusions, Crohn’s disease, debility, erectile dysfunction, gout, headache, haemorrhoids, incontinence, infertility, insomnia, low libido, lupus, menopause, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, rheumatism, shingles, stress, ulcers, varicose veins

Common oat is mainly cultivated in the cool and moist regions of Northern Europe and North America. It is high in dietary fibre, nutritional value, and health benefits due to its composition in macronutrients, such as unsaturated lipids, proteins with essential amino acids, and high content of β-glucan. The high levels of β-glucan in particular have been shown to reduce bad cholesterol, the main risk factor for coronary heart disease [1].

For centuries, oats in their colloidal form have also been used as a topical treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including skin rashes, erythema, burns, itch, and eczema. Studies show that colloidal oat extracts exhibit direct anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which may provide the mechanisms for observed dermatological benefits while using colloidal oatmeal as an active ingredient in skin protectant lotion [2].