The Wins:
Gentle but powerful calming agent
Nourishing nervine for that ‘wired & tired’ person
Nervous heart soother
Milky Oat Seed/Oat Straw: Avena sativa. Neutral, moistening, nourishing. Mineralizer and nervine. Best for people with mental and physical exhaustion, “wired & tired”, prone to headaches/migraines, panic attacks and panic with heart palpitations, the overachiever. Highly nutritive, contains iron, calcium, magnesium, and additional vitamins for a deeply nourishing infusion. This tea best when used as a building tonic: drinking 2 cups – 1 quart daily. Milky Oat tincture is best used in acute situations.
[9 minute read – A case study on anxiety and panic]
No forum, post or website comment should be considered medical advice. You are responsible for consulting a medical professional before trying any new herb or remedy mentioned in the website or any related forum. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbal medicine, particularly if you have a known medical condition or if you are pregnant or nursing. You are responsible for your own choices, Uncouth Herbalista accepts no liability relating to or arising from your activities.
Anxiety is a beast.
First though, before I continue, I must insist I establish this: I am not a medical professional and I can only tell you what has worked for me and my family. Everyone is different. What works for one, may not for another. Pharmaceuticals work for many and if it is working for you, that is a blessing, awesome! I’m not trying to convince you otherwise, as there’s not right or wrong in healing – it’s the healing that’s important. If you are struggling to figure some things out, there are other ways to approach your healing. I am lucky, I have a beautiful job that affords me quality health insurance. There are many that do not have that luxury so, in some cases, that is a point in which plants can step in, even as an intermediary. A pound of herbs or a bottle of tincture can be purchased without prescription, without immense costs, and can be easily used. I am not in any way against modern western medicine and being raised in a home with an RN, I fully appreciate allopathic medicine. Conventional medicine has saved my life. Additionally, plants and herbal medicine have also saved my life and healed me and many of my family members time and time again. So you see, there is room for both in this world. I use and apply both.
The Herb:
I have two infusions shown, the lighter is Oatstraw, the dark one is Nettle. I’ll get to Nettle another day but for now, Oatstraw. An infusion is a very strong herbal “tea”. Infusions use significantly larger proportions of herbs, steeped for much longer, and produces a very strong drink. The larger herb:water ratio and the longer steeping time allow for a greater infusion of the chemical constituents of the plants to be pulled into the menstruum (the liquid used to extract an herbal preparation). The menstruum in this case is boiling filtered water.
Oatstraw (the whole plant: green stem and the tops) is an extremely safe herb, but of course, do not use if allergic to oats. Duh. I can’t believe I have to say that, but I do. Celiac sensitivities have occurred very rarely so use caution if even gluten free oats bother your system. I have a severe gluten allergy and I do not have any issues with oatstraw.
Oatstraw contains a significant amount of minerals which is a key reason that it helps to nourish an emaciated, burnt-out person. High in B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron and protein, it’s like a multi-vitamin that is highly bioabsorbable, meaning your body can use it. Bonus: If you’re super into science like me, check out this NIH article on Avena sativa extract.
Oatstraw’s energetic properties of neutral & moistening work with inflamed and dry tissues (gut linings, anyone?) to soothe, nourish and repair.
The Case Study:
This tea came into play when a family member was severely struggling with anxiety. A perfectionist, an overachiever, that puts immense pressure on themselves to perform in all areas, alongside being an elite athlete, they found themselves in a place no-one wants to be. In persistent true panic mode with daily and numerous panic attacks, heart palpitations, stomach pain and regular gastrointestinal distress, migraines, emaciated, severely fatigued, and exhausted with ‘no room for more’.
After many (many) tests to ensure there was not a critical component to this anxiety (heart scans, blood screens, stress tests) and it was determined by several physicians that there was “no cause” for how this person was feeling, I dove in. I’ll repeat that frustrating statement that you probably hear too often “there’s nothing wrong”, “there’s no cause”, “it’s in all in your head”. If you’re feeling the way you’re feeling, there’s a reason. The answer, though, may not be in a pill.
First, diet came into play. A full revamp of their diet- going 100% gluten free- was number one. (Another day, I’ll discuss the Gut-Brain Axis and the levels that come into play between mood disorders and gluten sensitivity but until then, read up on that here with NIH.) Within a month, their stomach issues dramatically lessened, and panic decreased. Not gone, but decreased. Then, therapy. We found an amazing online counselor and they got to work. Then, herbal medicine. There were a few, this tea was just one portion. Notice the steps in this process: #1 Diet (you can’t expect change when your body is on fire), #2 Therapy/Counseling (find that person that can guide you), #3 Herbal Medicine (here is that last boost of support).
This infusion is perfect for those with panic, mental fatigue, physical exhaustion, irritable, lacking focus or drive due to burn-out, and especially those that experience heart palpitations with their anxiousness. Please note: if you are experiencing heart palpitations, please refer to your practitioner to rule out any underlying severe issues such as cardiac issues, thyroid problems, and more.
This tea is great for morning or evening, but specifically both if you can. Oatstraw infusion is very light and sweet on its own, reminiscent of chamomile. The calming benefits of this tea are compounded, meaning it works best when you drink it on a daily basis. Yes, a cup here or there is nice, but to use it as an herbal medicinal application, daily administration is best, 1-4 times per day, 8oz per serving or approximately 1 quart per day, for 2 weeks, up to 1 month, then review where you are at. Repeat as needed, reviewing every month.
For this “case study”, I noticed that this family member would not have benefitted from any herbal medicines until their gut was fixed and they had the resources from a therapist to help them move into the right headspace. I will say that again: drinking a quart of oatstraw will not do much if your gut cannot absorb it and your brain cannot move out of the panic. Guess what? That took almost 8 months, friends. 8 months. However, when they got to that point in their healing and this herb was added to their routine -boom! The absolute difference was astounding. The anxiety and panic were gone, even in acutely stressful situations. Yes, general nervousness was there in high level situations, as it should be, but anxiety and panic were not present. Heart palpitations, gone. Migraines, gone. Muscle fatigue and depletion, gone. Sleep, deep and relaxing. Their confidence and general presence was calm but strong; their knowing of being more than capable no matter what was going on. This herb helps to bring out that mindset: strength, calm, fortified, stable, nourished. Additionally, the foresight, the excitement of the future is returned, opposed to the fear of the future that they were living in daily.
The Recipe:
These particular recipe proportions came from herbalists Rosalee de la Foret & Sharon Gray. I found that it is the easiest to prepare in measurement as well as storage with the most nourishing levels. I have omitted the lavender in their recipe but keep that in if you desire! Lavender is a wonderful additional calming agent.
Oatstraw Infusion for Calm & Stability
- 28 grams (approximately 1 heaping cup) of organic milky oat tops/oatstraw. These are not regular rolled or steel cut oats. This is the plant before it transforms into a grain. It is green and grass-like in texture with the small oat buds or tops. You can purchase it easily online at Frontier organic, Mountain Rose Herbs or your favorite organic herb supplier. At Frontier it is $26 for 1 pound of oatstraw and yes for this use, you’ll need the whole pound so just buy it.
- 1 quart filtered water, brought to a boil
- 1 glass quart Ball jar, with lid
- Large, fine mesh strainer or several layers of cheesecloth to separate herbs from water
Measure your oatstraw into a glass quart jar. Boil water and pour over herbs, stirring to combine until oatstraw is submerged. I use a bamboo chopstick to stir as it helps to easily incorporate the bulk of dried herbs without sloshing water everywhere. Some herbs will float to the top of the jar at first but soon filter to the bottom. Place a lid on the jar, let steep at room temperature for 4-8 hours or overnight. (I prep mine at night, go to bed and it’s ready when I wake!) Strain out the herbs, compost those and transfer your infusion into a clean jar; keep refrigerated. Use as needed – measure out for Oat & Rose Milk Tea (recipe coming soon!), use as the liquid base for your morning smoothie (my favorite trick!), drink plain, or mix into your water bottle to sip throughout the day.
Stay happy and calm, friends.
EoErica 