The Magic of Oats: Calming Your Body, Mind, and Skin
When you think of oats, you probably picture a cozy bowl of oatmeal for breakfast—but did you know oats offer incredible benefits for calming frazzled nerves and soothing irritated skin? This humble plant works wonders both internally and externally, and it’s a great herbal ally to add to your natural lifestyle toolkit.
Use as a Nervine: Calming Without Sedating
If you’re feeling frayed around the edges, oats can help smooth things out. As a nervine, oats nourish and support your nervous system, helping to calm frazzled nerves without making you feel sleepy or sluggish. This is especially helpful when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed but need to stay focused and energized.
Milky oats are often the go-to form for herbalists. These are harvested fresh, right when the oat seeds are in their milky stage—a short window of time when they exude a milky, nourishing liquid. Milky oats are rich in minerals and nutrients that gently strengthen and restore the nervous system. However, because they need to be used fresh, they can be difficult to get your hands on unless you grow your own oats.
The good news? Oat straw makes an excellent alternative! Oat straw is the dried green part of the plant and is easy to find (I’ve linked to a trusted source on the Resources page). It makes a wonderful tea with a smooth, slightly sweet taste that’s deeply calming and restorative. Sip on oat straw tea regularly, and over time, you may notice you feel less frazzled, more balanced, and more resilient.
As a Nutritive: A Powerful, Nutrient-Rich Infusion
Oats, including oat straw, are considered nutritive because of the vitamins and minerals they contain. This makes oat straw perfect for creating a nutrient-rich infusion—a powerful herbal drink that tastes good and nourishes your body while calming your mind.
To make a nutritive oat straw infusion:
- Strain and drink the infusion over the next 24 hours. You can enjoy it cold, room temperature, or gently reheated.
- Add about an ounce of oat straw to a quart jar.
- Fill the jar with just-boiled water.
- Cover and allow it to steep for 4 to 8 hours (I find it easier to just let it go overnight).
This highly nourishing and calming drink is an excellent addition to your daily or weekly routine, providing deep, gentle support for your nervous system.
Oats for Skin: Gentle, Soothing Relief
Oats work on your skin in much the same way they work on your nervous system—gently calming irritation and restoring balance.
If you’ve ever used an oatmeal bath for dry, itchy, or inflamed skin, you already know how soothing oats can be. Oatmeal contains compounds called beta-glucans that help form a protective, hydrating layer on your skin, while also reducing redness and inflammation.
The best part? It’s simple to make your own oat-based skin treatments at home:
- Start with the highest-quality oatmeal you can find—look for an organic brand that contains nothing but oats.
- Grind the oats into a fine powder using a blender or food processor. (This is sometimes called colloidal oatmeal.)
- Store the powder in an airtight jar, and it will last a long time.
You can add this oat powder to your bathwater, use it as a gentle face mask, or mix it into DIY skincare recipes. A good rule of thumb: If it’s good enough to eat, it’s good enough for your skin. After all, what goes on your body is just as important as what goes in it.
How to Use Oats in Your Everyday Routine
- Oat Straw Tea: Brew 1-2 tablespoons of oat straw in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy a warm cup during the day or as part of your evening wind-down routine.
- Nutritive Oat Straw Infusion: Steep 1 ounce of oat straw in a quart of just-boiled water for 4-8 hours or overnight. Strain and sip throughout the following day for a deeply nourishing drink.
- Milky Oats Tincture: If you can get fresh milky oats, a tincture is a great way to preserve their benefits.
- Soothing Oatmeal Bath: Add ½ to 1 cup of finely ground oatmeal to warm bathwater and soak for 15-20 minutes. Great for itchy or irritated skin! Tip: Use a muslin bag to prevent a messy clean up afterwards.
- Oat Face Mask: Mix oat powder with a bit of warm water (or honey) to create a paste. Apply to your face, let it sit for 10 minutes, and rinse gently.
Learn why using honey is a great idea here.
Bringing It All Together
Oats are a versatile and gentle herbal remedy that nourishes your nervous system and soothes your skin. Whether you’re sipping oat straw tea to calm your mind, enjoying an oatmeal bath to comfort your skin, or drinking a nutrient-rich oat straw infusion for extra nourishment, oats are easily accessible and a powerful tool for everyday wellness.
Looking for a source to buy oat straw? Check out the Resources page for a trusted supplier!
Have you used oats for stress relief or skincare? I’d love to hear about it—drop a comment and share your experience!
