Oatstraw Infusion and Decoctions
Oatstraw infusion is a very nourishing tonic for the nervous system, containing calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and B vitamins. Oatstraw infusion is especially nice for anyone who is fatigued, needing focused and calming energy, and for those who are healing from nerve damage or degenerative nerve diseases. Women who are pregnant and going through menopause may also benefit from oatstraw’s soothing and nurturing qualities. Even those with a gluten intolerance have benefited from oatstraw without problems. Infusions are a Wise Woman approach to nourishment, passed on to me from Linda Conroy, Susan Weed, and Isla Burgess; and hopefully, they will also become a part of your nourishing traditions, too. See Herbal Allies for more discussion of Avena sativa.
1 oz dried Oatstraw/milky oat tops
1 quart filtered water
In a large covered pot, bring oatstraw and filtered water to a boil for 5 minutes and then let simmer for 45 minutes OR in a heat proof quart jar, pour filtered boiling water over oatstraw and let infuse for 4-8 hours, keeping the jar insulated. Strain and squeeze out all liquid, then compost the remaining herb. Drink at room temperature or cool it in the summer months. Keep infusion refrigerated and use within 36-48 hours. Enjoy one to two cups a day or as needed.
We alternate infusions each day, working with other herbs such as stinging nettle, red clover, red raspberry leaves, comfrey leaves, mullein leaves, and rose hips, but oatstraw and stinging nettle tend to be favored as they are more available to us and we have allied strongly with them in the last several years.
Relax & Renew Herbal Tea Blend
I invite you to tea time… a time to nourish our hearts, minds and bodies. Cultivate a practice of slowing down and offering yourself and others a ritual of rest and delicious teas. Choose single herbs or blends of wildcrafted, locally grown and/or organic herbs. Let a cup of tea help you to pause and savor the beauty in life!
This blend has been a favorite in our home, at herbal workshops, and at the Galesburg Farmer’s Market!
1 part dried Oatstraw/milky oat tops
1 part dried Peppermint leaves (Mentha sp.)
1 part dried Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita)
1 part dried Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense)
Place one teaspoon to one tablespoon of herbal blend in one cup of just boiled water and steep 10- 15 minutes (depending on taste). Strain and enjoy! We love this alone or with a little local raw honey or fresh ginger in the afternoon or in the evening before going to bed.
I often include a restorative yoga pose before or after sipping this tea in the afternoon. To receive the full effects of the Relax/Renew tea, I highly recommend an afternoon savasana of 15- 25 minutes. Prop the head and neck on a folded blanket, with forehead slightly elevated above the chin. Bend the knees and prop under them with a bolster or folded blanket OR place legs up on the wall or on a chair. Refer to the Yoga section on website for a picture. Slow the breath, close the eyes, and clear the mind as you invite a deep sense of relaxation and renewal to your heart, mind, and body.
Relaxation Herbal Tea Blend OR Herbal Footbath
Oatstraw pairs well with a lot of other herbs for relaxation. Choose single herbs or blends of wildcrafted, locally grown and/or organic herbs to mix with the oatstraw. The blend below is quite calming. Let this cup of tea help you to fully relax, breathe deeply, and settle in for the evening. This same herbal tea blend can be made as a tea and added to a small tub or basin of hot water for a delightful foot bath before bed, another great way to induce a good night’s sleep. For even more pampering, finish with a warmed herbal infused oil foot massage… sounds like the makings to a very relaxing evening!
1 part dried Oatstraw/milky oat tops (this could be made as an infusion first) and mixed with one or all of the following herbs:
1 part dried Lemon balm leaves (Melissa officinalis)
1 part dried Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita)
1/2 part dried Lavender flowers (Lavendula angustifolia) or Rose petals (Rosa Rugosa)
For even more relaxation: include 1 part Hops (Humulus lupulus) or decocted Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis)
Place one teaspoon to one tablespoon of herbal blend in one cup of just boiled water and steep 5 – 10 minutes (depending on taste). Strain and enjoy with or without raw local honey! We usually drink this late in the evening, as it can induce a sleepy state.
Prenatal Mama Herbal Blend
This is a nutritious and calming blend to include during pregnancy. Raspberry leaves are often used in pregnancy to tone and prepare the uterus for birth and to help prevent post partum hemorrhage. The oats nourish and relax the mama with bioavailable calcium at a most critical time. This can be made as a tea, but it is even more nutritious as a long steeped infusion.
For Infusion: 1/2 oz. dried organic oatstraw (with milky oat tops) 1/2 oz dried organic red raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus); 1 quart filtered water
In a large covered pot, bring oatstraw and water to a boil for 5 minutes. Turn off stove. Add raspberry leaves and stir to immerse all of the herb. Let sit (infuse) for 4-8 hours, keeping pot insulated with a towel wrapped around it. Strain and squeeze out any residual liquid, then compost the remaining herb. Drink at room temperature or cool it in the summer. Keep infusion refrigerated and use within 36-48 hours. Enjoy one to two cups a day as needed. This can also be frozen as ice cubes with a little honey as a refreshing treat during hot summer days or taken as ice chips during labor.
For tea: 1 teaspoon – 1 Tablespoon of equally blended dried Oatstraw/milky oat tops and Raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus). Place one teaspoon to one tablespoon of herbal blend in one cup of just boiled water and steep 10 – 15 minutes (depending on taste). Strain and enjoy! If there are any feelings of nausea, add fresh or dried ginger and/ or peppermint to the tea blend.
Oatstraw & Deep Nourishment Herbal Infusion
Deep nourishment herbal infusion is a combination of nutritive herbs that can help to support the nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive system and muscular system as it contains calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, silica, folic acid, and B vitamins. This infusion is especially nice for anyone who is nutritionally depleted or fatigued. Oatstraw pairs well with a lot of other herbs for deep nourishment and it balances many of them out by offering a more mellow taste and moisturizing effect to the herbal blend. Choose one or all of the following wildcrafted, locally grown, and/or organic herbs to blend with the oatstraw. The amounts of herbs can vary according to taste and the reason you have chosen them, so that you use approximately one ounce of blended herb to one quart of filtered water.
1 oz dried organic Oatstraw (with milky oat tops)
1/2 oz dried Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
1/4 oz dried Red Raspberry leaves (Rubus ideaus)
1/4 oz part dried Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense)or Comfrey leaves (Symphytum officinale), depending on the intention for where you are directing the healing
1/8 oz Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
1/2 gallon filtered water
In a large covered pot, bring oatstraw and water to a boil for 5 minutes. Turn off stove and then add the remaining herbs. Stir and let sit (infuse) for 4-8 hours, keeping the pot wrapped in a towel. Strain and squeeze out all liquid, then compost the remaining herb. Drink at room temperature or cool it in the summer months. Keep infusion refrigerated and use within 36-48 hours. Nourish with one to two cups a day or as needed.
Oatmeal Facial Scrub
This is a simple and natural facial scrub that is easy to make, easy to use, and leaves the skin feeling extremely refreshed and invigorated. It is gentle enough to use several times a week, depending on the condition of your skin. As we age, our skin is a little thinner and often dryer, so adjust your skincare routine and ingredients accordingly, using more fatty liquids for dry skin (whole milk) or less fatty liquids for oily skin (skim milk or filtered water).
2 Tablespoons ground organic oats
1/2 Tablespoon raw organic sunflower seeds
1- 2 Tablespoons liquid (filtered water mixed with choice of organic milk)
This should be enough for one week, if only being used on the face.
Optional: herbal infused teas to replace water, such as lavender, elder flower, calendula, & rose
Grind oats and sunflower seeds. (I use an old cleaned coffee bean grinder and store the dry oat scrub in a 4 oz glass jar with lid away from light and moisture). In another small bowl, add 1/2 Tablespoon liquid mixture to 1 Tablespoon of dry oat scrub powder to form a paste. Add more or less liquid to your desired preference. It usually thickens after one or two minutes. Apply the oat scrub paste to the face and neck and gently massage with loving thoughts, to nourish, clean, and exfoliate. (I can’t help myself from licking my lips and tasting the sweetness of this scrub, dreaming of other yummy recipes). Rinse with warm water and apply a good quality, natural facial moisturizing cream (see moisturizers and skin care products on website).
Note: This could be made as an oat body scrub by increasing the amount of the dry oat scrub powder and increasing the amount of liquid. Make an herbal oat scrub by adding herbal infused liquid to the oat powder mixture.
Soothing Oats & Herbal Bath
Oatmeal steeped in hot water and added to the bath is a long time remedy for soothing all types of skin irritations. I remember my mother preparing this warm bath when I was a young child with the chicken pox, to soothe the itching and bring some relief to my younger sister and I (we didn’t want to get out of the tub that night!).
1 oz dried Oatstraw
1/2 cup organic oats
2 quarts filtered water
handful of your favorite herbs: lavender flowers, calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, & rose
In a large covered pot, bring oatstraw and water to a boil for 5 minutes. Let sit for one hour. Heat the mixture again until boiling. Turn off heat. Add the herbs and oats, then steep an additional 30 minutes – 60 minutes. Strain and squeeze out all liquid, composting the remaining herb. Add this mixture to your hot bath water and soothe your worries away, as you soak in this herbal bath for 20-30 minutes.
Warm herbal baths are wonderful for nurturing the body and soul, providing the time for yourself to fully relax and receive the penetrating warmth and essence of the herbs and the softening and soothing effects of the oats on your skin and nerves. Adding other rituals to the self care routine, like good quality candles, hot herbal tea, and a restorative pose after you are finished with your bath, can also be deeply satisfying.
To purchase local herbal products, visit the Products page on the website and contact tinasbotanicals.com to make arrangements. Herbal products and tea blends can be found locally for purchase at Dahinda General Store in Dahinda, Illinois and at the Galesburg Farmer’s Market, Galesburg, Illinois.