Oat Straw P.E. 4.1

Oat straw grows in moderate temperatures such as Northern Europe. It grows well in dry wastelands, cultivated ground and meadows alike. It is a hardy zone 2-type plant that can be grown in heavier soils although it normally prefers sandy or loamy soils. The Oat straw plant is an annual grass. It stands erect with a flat, rough, but elongated leaf. It has a golden seed shaped much like a spindle. Oatstraw is the crushed dry stalks of the Avena sativa plant. It's used in folk medicine to strengthen the nervous system, increase sexual drive and reduce high levels of cholesterol. The oat seeds carry antispasmodic, cardia, diuretic, emollient, nervine and stimulant properties. Oat straw and the grain have also been prescribed in the treatment of a wide range of nervous conditions. It has also been shown to help with the exhaustion related to neurological pains or herbal treatment for insominia, or multiple sclerosis.