Oats
Avena sativa
Personality:
Grains are an extremely important and flexible source of nutrition. However, our over dependence on wheat and its over-breeding have resulted in grain being in plentiful supply (in richer countries) but often of poor quality. Older strains of wheat and the less ‘popular’ grains seem to be richer in minerals and produce fewer allergic reactions. As well as being an excellent food, oats are also considered an important medicine.
Sources:
I recommend that you buy oats in the most natural form possible i.e. whole organic oats or organic tincture of oat seed or oat straw (which has different properties). You will probably need a good wholefood shop for these, as supermarkets tend towards instant porridge or rolled, non organic oats.
Anecdotes:
A good way to remember the properties of oats is to reflect on race horses being fed oats, whilst other horses make do with hay. Oats tonify the nervous system, increase stamina and give (the horse) that extra boost.
Uses:
Mild depression, insomnia caused by over-fatigue, lethargy, convalescence from debilitating conditions, nervous exhaustion. In cases of insomnia, the oats are still taken in the morning, as the action is to support the nervous system, rather than induce sleep through sedation.
Actions:
Generally tonifying without being stimulating, nervous restorative, nutritive.
Dosage & Preparations:
The best way to take Oats is as porridge and the best porridge is made from whole, organic oats. These Oats, unrolled and unchopped, need to be soaked in water overnight. They should then be brought to the boil and simmered for about 45 minutes, before serving with a little milk and honey (or salt if you are more austere). The extra time and trouble are worth it, as the resulting porridge oozes wholesomeness. Second best is tincture of Oats, which has the advantage of being far lower in gluten and is quick and easy to take.