Milky Oats for Stress Relief
- Kim Montoya
- Aug 17, 2024
- 3 min read
It’s easy to get caught up in the bustle of our daily lives and so often, we put our own mental health on the back burner while simultaneously trying to make sure everyone around us is ok. This pattern may work for a while, but eventually, it will catch up with us and the result will be mental burnout and overload.
You may be reading that and relating to my words, but also thinking, “sure Kim, that’s what happens, but I don’t have time to stop and decompress,” and maybe you don’t, but what if I introduced you to a wonderful Herb that you can add into your daily routine; an Herb that carries with it a host of beneficial qualities, specifically created to help nurture those frayed nerves. Sound good?Well let me introduce you to Milky Oats and the benefits of Milky Oats for Stress Relief.
Milky Oats, botanical name Avena sativa
Milky Oats are technically the exact same plant we get good old fashioned oatmeal from. When the fresh, young oat tops are harvested before the grains have ripened, we get a seed that is filled with a latex-like milky substance, that carries within it some amazing adaptogenic properties. In this state, the oat is a Medicinal Herb that can help combat stress and fatigue, and is essentially an overall tonic for the nervous system.
There are records of Milky Oats being used as an Herbal Remedy since the early 1800’s. Everyone can benefit from the calming effects of this plant! It can uplift the mood and even provide support for those battling addictions (helping with withdrawal symptoms). It is known to ease nervous tension and promote overall mental calm, so if you spend much of your time worrying, Milky Oats might be helpful for you.
Type A personalities (like me) can really benefit from the adaptogenic effects of Milky Oats because we have a tendency to take on the world, which can really give us burn out. In case you’re not sure what an adaptogen is, here’s the definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “An Adaptogen is a nontoxic substance and especially a plant extract that is held to increase the body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.” Ok, who doesn’t need that kind of help?
As a therapist I know would say, “we have to put on our masks first’. This is in reference to when you’re flying in a plane, and they make the announcement about air pressure changing in the cabin and how you must put your own mask on first before assisting anyone else. Without first ensuring our own flow of oxygen, we can't breathe well enough to help our loved ones. The same rings true with our mental health. We have to put on our masks first...and while we may not all have time to spend a few weeks on a tropical island, removed from technology and daily responsibilities, we CAN take a few minutes each day to breathe, and add in a nervous system tonic to help our bodies cope a little better.
I shared a tea blend in my August newsletter, and I’m going to be making up a large batch of this blend for sale in my online Apothecary Shoppe (which will be available in limited quantities by the end of August 2024). However, if you like to create your own looseleaf teas, or make tinctures, I’m going to share a great recipe for you as well. Milky Oats can be tinctured individually (or as part of a blend), and they extract well in both alcohol and plant based glycerin. Additionally, they work great when brewed in a tea, and that's the recipe I'm sharing today.
This blend of plant allies has been designed to ease stress and soothe the nervous system. It’s is gentle enough to be used daily, and it’s neither sedating nor stimulating, so it can be taken whenever you want it. If you find yourself suffering from irritability, stress, or mild anxiety, I hope you’ll give this mood balancing blend a try. And one more thing...be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can!
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