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Avena sativa use across the perinatal spectrum
Herbs can support a person to receive vitamins, minerals & macronutrients during preconception care, pregnancy & beyond. Avena can be used as a prenatal option to boost vitamin intake, it can be used in the first trimester to support sleep, the second & third for replenishing a nervous system & throughout breastfeeding if that’s something you do as well as in strategies for postpartum depression (4). Here is how Avena sativa aka Milky Oats* can be beneficial:
For Nutrition & Strength
Avena is a highly nutritive herb & tonic for the nervous system. It contains calcium, iron & magnesium. It also has protein, one macronutrient we all need no matter if we’re pregnant or not! Forty different phenolic compounds have been identified in Avena sativa which promote anti-inflammatory effects. It is indicated for exhaustion & fatigue (hello, first trimester) (2). It contains vitamins A, C, E & B-vitamins (1).For Sleep
Try it for a good night’s rest! If you’re having trouble sleeping while pregnancy, a tincture of Avena sativa three times a day may support your sleep/wake cycle. If using a tincture, look for one made with the milky oats which is prepared from the ripe seed stalks right before the juicy aka milky oat has matured into a starch!For a Safe Ritual
You may prepare a tea with it. Always look for organic manufacturers or farms you trust. Drink 2 teaspoons of plant in a 10 minute warm water infusion 3 times a day.No side effects or drug interactions are known. (3)
Mmmm! Milky Oats!
Take care,
Allie Cuozzo, September 2024
* Note that Avena sativa refers to the whole herb/grass whereas “milky oats” refers to the ripe part before it becomes a starch. This is what functional herbalists use for formulas to boost adrenal health, improve mood & support the nervous system. The other part of the plant that isn’t the juicy top is referred to as Oatstraw. Oatstraw & Milky Oats are both Avena sativa.
1) Wish Garden aka Rosemary Gladstar!
2) Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 3, Jill Stansbury
3) Medical Herbalism, David Hoffman
4) Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, Aviva Romm