Scientific Name: Avena sativa
Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
Common Names: Green oats, milky oats, oat tops, oat grass
Aerial parts (leaves, stems, seed heads in the “milky” stage): Harvested fresh or tinctured for herbal use.
Dried herb: Sometimes used in powders, teas, or supplements, though fresh material is considered superior medicinally.
Nervous System Support: Traditionally used for anxious, stressed, or overworked horses; may help steady “hot” or reactive temperaments.
Muscle & Joint Support: Mildly anti-inflammatory and supportive for stiffness or tension.
Nutritional Tonic: Rich in minerals including silica, magnesium, and iron, beneficial for skin, coat, and connective tissue.
Convalescent Support: Useful for horses recovering from illness or fatigue.
Given as a fresh herb, dried powder, or liquid extract mixed into feed.
Can also be offered as a chopped forage supplement when in season.
Should not be confused with dry oats used as feed; medicinal effects come from the green, milky stage.
Use cautiously in very insulin-resistant horses if given in large amounts as fresh forage.
Anxiety & Stress Relief: Helpful for nervous, hyperactive, or highly sensitive dogs.
Skin & Coat Health: Supports healthy hair growth and skin resilience.
Joint Comfort: May assist older dogs with mild stiffness.
Given as a tincture in water or food, or as a powdered herb in meals.
Generally very safe, but discontinue if any digestive upset occurs.
Nervine Herb of British Herbalism: Used by traditional herbalists such as Gerard and Culpeper as a restorative for “weakened nerves.”
Symbol of Vitality: Green oats were associated with growth, renewal, and strength in rural herbal traditions.
Folk Tonic: Often given in spring as a cleansing and strengthening remedy for both people and working animals.
Green oat grass remains widely available and sustainable. It is regarded as one of the best gentle nerve tonics in Western herbal medicine for both humans and animals.