Oatstraw Infusion Recipe and Benefits

An oatstraw infusion makes a wonderful nerve tonic that helps with anxiety, insomnia, nervous tension, skin inflammation, and stress. This easy-to-make herbal drink has a delicious, very gentle flavor that anybody can enjoy.

I grew up with oatstraw (Avena sativa, A. fatua) growing all around me. I remember when I first started studying herbal medicine, I went to the East Coast to do an herbal apprenticeship. The East Coast herbalists were in love with this plant (it didn’t grow around them). I remember thinking to myself, “They couldn’t really be talking about oatstraw, could they?” It was the most common weed growing on every hill and every piece of land where I grew up. I had to travel 3,000 miles to learn about the amazing healing benefits of the most common plant around me. Life is sometimes like that, isn’t it?

Oatstraw Infusion Benefits

Oatstraw is high in minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Those minerals are very nourishing and nutritive for your nervous system. You can turn to oatstraw tea when you are stressed out and anxious, or to help prevent becoming so! This herb is packed with minerals that nourish and regenerate your nervous system and it really helps you to feel more grounded and settled.

Oatstraw is not a sedative, so you won’t feel relaxed right away. It works over time as you drink the infusion regularly.

Dried oatstraw can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Oatstraw Infusion Recipe

An herbal infusion is a longer-steeped tea. When you want to really get the vitamins, minerals, and deeper nutrition out of herbs, you go for a longer steeping time than a regular tea. This makes a stronger, more therapeutic drink.

To make an infusion, you need to steep the herbs for several hours. There’s a big difference between steeping oatstraw for 5 minutes or 8 hours. I usually make my infusion just before bed, let the herbs steep overnight, and then strain them out in the morning.

You can learn more about herbal teas and infusions in my online course, Herbal Tea Kick-Start Guide.

Print Recipe

Oatstraw Infusion

Author: Kami McBride

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp dried oatstraw
• 1 quart boiling water

Instructions

• Put oatstraw into a quart-sized juice jar or Mason jar. 
• Pour boiling water into the jar and put the lid on. 
• Let sit for a few hours or overnight.
• Strain out the herbs and drink throughout the day. 

I would love to hear from you! Have oatstraw infusions helped soothe your nerves? Please share in the comments below!

More Recipes

Refreshing Rose and Oatstraw Tea
Strawberry Smoothie with Oatstraw-Calendula Tea
Herbal Tea Recipes for Stress Relief