Cut dried oat straw and a cup of the tea.

Oat Straw Tea

Q: Does oat straw tea help with sleep or stress?

The EU herbal committee accepts oat herb preparations, which include herbal tea, for mild stress and to aid sleep, but only on long use. It says clinical-trial evidence is insufficient. We found no trial of the tea. See a doctor if poor sleep or worry lasts.

Q: Is oat straw the same as milky oats or green oat extract?

They come from the same plant but are different products. Oat straw is the dried green stem and leaf. Milky oats are the unripe seed heads. Green oat extracts used in trials are concentrated and standardised, and results from them may not apply to a cup of tea.

Q: Does oat straw tea improve memory or thinking?

No trial tested the tea. Small trials of branded green oat extract found faster or better scores on some tasks after a single dose and after four weeks, but a 12-week trial in healthy older adults found no effect, and a 2023 review urged caution.

Q: Is oat straw tea gluten-free?

Not necessarily. Oats do not contain wheat gluten, but oat crops and mills are often shared with wheat, barley and rye. NIDDK says cross-contact is common, and in a Chilean survey more than a third of gluten-free labelled oat grain products were above the limit. We found no gluten test of oat straw tea. People with celiac disease should ask a doctor or dietitian first.

Q: Can oat straw tea cause an allergic reaction?

Oat allergy exists. The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity as a reason not to use oat herb, and case reports describe severe reactions to oat food and oat milk. We found no report about oat straw tea. Swelling of the face or lips or trouble breathing is an emergency.

Q: Can it make me drowsy? Can I drive after it?

The EU monograph says oat herb may impair the ability to drive and use machines, and that affected people should not drive or operate machinery. No trial measured drowsiness from the tea.

Q: Is oat straw tea safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

The EU monograph says safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and use is not recommended. We found no LactMed or LiverTox chapter on oat. Ask your midwife, doctor or pharmacist.

Q: Can children drink oat straw tea?

The EU conclusion covers adults and adolescents over 12 only; use under 12 is not recommended because there are not enough data. Ask a paediatrician first.

Q: Does oat straw tea interact with medicines?

The EU monograph lists no interactions as reported, which means none were found, not that none exist. No study tested the tea with any medicine. Because it is traditionally used for calming, extra drowsiness with sedatives or alcohol is a theory. Ask a pharmacist.

Q: What are the side effects?

The EU page says no side effects had been reported when it assessed oat herb, and the monograph lists none known and no overdose reported. The extract trials reported no serious problems in their abstracts, but they were small and short. Allergy, gluten reactions and drowsiness are the cautions to keep in mind.

Avena sativa L. · also called Oatstraw tea, milky oats tea, green oats tea

Oat straw tea is a mild, grassy herbal drink made from the dried green parts of the oat plant, not from oatmeal. It is used traditionally to calm the nerves and help sleep, and the EU accepts that on long use only. No trial has tested the tea itself; the thinking-test studies used concentrated extracts. The main cautions: celiac disease, oat allergy, drowsiness, and pregnancy or children under 12.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

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About Oat Straw Tea

Oat straw tea is an infusion of the dried green parts of the oat plant (Avena sativa). The EU accepts oat herb, including as herbal tea, for mild stress and sleep on traditional use only. No trial of the tea was found; small trials of green oat extract showed patchy thinking-test gains, mostly after one dose, and a 12-week trial found nothing. Ask a doctor first if you have celiac disease or an oat allergy, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are thinking of giving it to a child under 12.

What oat straw tea is

Oat straw tea is made from the dried, cut green parts of the oat plant, Avena sativa L., a grass in the family Poaceae (name checked in GBIF). The EU herbal committee defines oat herb as the aerial parts harvested before flowering. It has no tea-plant leaf in it, so it is a herbal infusion, not a true tea.

Milky oats are the unripe seed heads. Green oat extract, tincture and capsules are different products from the tea, and so is oatmeal, which comes from the ripe grain.

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What the research shows

The EU committee accepts oat herb preparations, which can be herbal tea, for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep in adults and adolescents over 12. It says this rests on long use and that clinical-trial evidence is insufficient. It noted rat studies.

We found no trial of oat straw tea. The human trials we found tested concentrated, branded green oat extracts. After a single dose some thinking tasks got faster in small trials, four weeks helped two tasks in one trial, and a 12-week trial in older adults found no effect on any measure. A 2023 review judged the evidence average and urged caution. The one trial of people cutting down smoking is also an extract trial run for the maker.

These results may not carry over to a cup of tea, which is a water infusion and not a standardised extract.

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Caffeine

We found no measurement of caffeine in oat straw. Oat straw is not the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Blends may add other leaves, so check the ingredient list.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Taken as a calming 'nerve tonic' tea for mild stress and restless sleep.
The EU herbal committee accepts oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, for mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, on at least 30 years of use (15 in the EU).

Studied for research

Mild stress and sleep (traditional use; no tea trial), insufficient
Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea), low
Working memory over four weeks (extract), low
Daily use in older adults for 12 weeks (extract), insufficient
Body stress response and brain waves (extract), very low
Cutting down smoking and wellbeing (extract), very low

Main compounds

Triterpene saponins (avenacosides), thought to matter in green oat extracts
Flavonoids
Avenanthramides and beta-glucan (mostly in oat grain)
Silica (a traditional claim, not verified)

Common forms

Cut dried oat straw (aerial parts) for tea
Tea bags and blends (read the full ingredient list)
Milky oat tincture, capsules and branded green oat extracts (different from tea)

Research links: EU herbal committee: oat herb summary · EU herbal monograph on oat herb (PDF) · Green oat extract, four-week trial, 2020 (abstract) · Green oat extract and thinking, 12-week trial in older adults (abstract) · Oat extract and cognition, systematic review, 2023 (abstract) · Gluten in gluten-free labelled oat products (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

What it is and its history

Accepted scientific name: Avena sativa L.
Naming authority: GBIF accepted name Avena sativa L. (usageKey 2705290), checked again by API 2026-10-25.
Common names: Oat straw tea (English); Oatstraw tea (English); Milky oats tea (English); Green oats tea (English); Oat herb (Avenae herba) (English / Latin)
Family or group: Poaceae (grass family)
Classification: Plantae > Poales (GBIF) > Poaceae (GBIF) > Avena > Avena sativa
Native range: Not read in the sources used.
Habitat: Not read in the sources used.
What it looks like: Part used: The dried green aerial parts (stem and leaf), cut for tea. 'Milky oats' are the unripe seed heads.
Cultivation: Not read. EMA defines oat herb as the aerial parts harvested before flowering.
Harvest and processing: Oat herb in the EU is the aerial parts harvested before flowering, used comminuted (cut) or as juice or extracts (EMA). For tea, the monograph covers the comminuted herb prepared as an infusion.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Oats (grain) and oat bran; Note: Same species, different part and different uses (food, beta-glucan). Gluten and allergy facts for the grain are not assumed to apply to oat straw. See the oats page.; Name: Wild oat (Avena fatua); Note: A separate accepted species in GBIF (usageKey 2705297). Whether it appears in oat straw products was not checked.; Name: Barley, wheat and rye straw; Note: Other cereal straws are not the same plant and carry gluten-grain issues; check the Latin name on the label.
Sustainability and conservation: Not assessed in the sources read.

Photographs

Dried cut oat straw beside a glass cup of pale oat straw tea — Cut dried oat straw and a cup of the tea.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
European regulatory view of traditional use	The EU herbal committee accepts oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, for mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, based on at least 30 years of use (15 in the EU).	EMA public page and monograph
Western herbal practice (milky oat tops as a 'nerve tonic')	Often described as a calming tea for frazzled nerves. No historical source was read, so this is NOT verified.	none read

Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Avenacoside A (triterpene saponin) PubChem 71581001	saponin (steroidal glycoside)	Oat plant (green parts and grain; exact content not verified)	Saponins are thought to contribute to the effects of green oat extracts. The 2020 trial abstract calls them species-specific triterpene saponins. ^{10 18}	Laboratory research
Avenanthramide A PubChem 5281157	polyphenol (phenolic amide)	Mostly oat grain; green-herb content NOT verified	Not studied in any trial read here. ¹⁸	None
Flavonoids	polyphenol	Green oat extract	The 2017 trial abstract says Neuravena contains flavonoids and triterpene saponins that are potentially bioactive. ⁹	Laboratory research
Beta-glucan	soluble fibre (polysaccharide)	Oat grain and bran; green-herb content NOT verified	Linked to cholesterol effects of oat grain; not tested in oat straw. See the oats page. ¹⁸	None
Silica (orthosilicic acid) PubChem 14942	mineral	Oat straw (traditional claim; NOT verified from a source)	Often claimed for bone, hair or nails; no source was read, so no effect is claimed. ¹⁸	None

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
Brain electrical activity	Not identified	Single doses changed EEG measures in two small trials (resting delta power down, theta power up during a concentration test; smaller N2, ERN and P3 responses). ^{2 11}	Human data
Stress response	Not identified	Four weeks of the highest amount lowered skin-sweat response to a laboratory stressor in one trial. ¹⁰	Human data
Rat stress and behaviour	Not identified	Rat studies reported lower stress signs or better behaviour; EMA mentions rat studies. Lab/animal only. ^{16 4}	Animal research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: No human absorption study of oat herb compounds was found.
Distribution: Not studied.
Metabolism: Not studied.
Elimination: Not studied.
Bioavailability: Not known.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

The trials used standardised branded extracts, not tea or plain oat straw. Whether a cup of oat straw tea acts in the same way is not known. A tea is a water infusion; extracts are concentrated and standardised.

Nutritional composition

We found no analysis of what a cup of oat straw tea contains, so no nutrient, mineral or silica claim is made. The nutrition of oat grain (fibre, beta-glucan) is a different subject; see the oats page.

8benefits and uses looked at

22studies and sources checked

Low certaintybest evidence rating found

9lab markers tracked in trials

2 low certainty4 very low certainty2 not enough evidence

What was looked at

The 8 benefits and uses checked for Oat Straw Tea, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.

Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea)Not enough evidence
Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea)Low certainty
Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea)Low certainty
Daily use in healthy older adults (12 weeks) (extract, not tea)Not enough evidence
Body response to a stressful task (extract, not tea)Very low certainty
Brain-wave changes (EEG) (extract, not tea)Very low certainty
Cutting down on cigarettes (extract, not tea)Very low certainty
Quality of life, stress and sleep while cutting down smoking (extract, not tea)Very low certainty

Lab markers tracked in the studies

Skin sweat response (electrodermal activity)Stroop colour-naming errorsWorking memory (Corsi blocks)EEG brain-wave power (theta, delta)Mood scoresCigarettes per day (share of people cutting by over 20%)Quality-of-life scores (WHOQOL-BREF, SF-36)Perceived stress and sleep scoresResting blood pressure

What is Oat Straw Tea good for?

The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is for each. Read the certainty label first: for the tea itself there is no trial, and every trial result below came from a concentrated extract.

Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea)Not enough evidenceThe EU committee accepts oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, for mild stress and to aid sleep, based only on long use. It says trial evidence is insufficient. We found no trial of oat straw tea. Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea)Low certaintyIn several small trials of a concentrated green oat extract, one dose made some thinking tasks faster or more accurate. Results were patchy and a 2023 review urged caution. Not tea. Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea)Low certaintyOne trial of 132 healthy adults found four weeks of a branded extract improved a working-memory task and a multitasking task. The maker sponsored it; mood did not change. Not tea. Daily use in healthy older adults (12 weeks) (extract, not tea)Not enough evidenceA 12-week trial in 37 healthy older adults found no benefit on any thinking test from a branded extract. The early gains did not carry over to daily use. Not tea. Body response to a stressful task (extract, not tea)Very low certaintyIn the four-week trial, the highest amount of extract lowered a skin-sweat response during a lab stress test. A body signal, not proof that people feel less stressed. Not tea. Brain-wave changes (EEG) (extract, not tea)Very low certaintyTwo small trials found a single dose of extract changed brain-wave readings. This shows something measurable, not that people feel or think better. Not tea. Cutting down on cigarettes (extract, not tea)Very low certaintyIn one 8-week trial of 145 people, more people on a branded extract cut their cigarettes by over a fifth than on placebo (66.7% vs 49.3%). Run for the maker; the only trial. Not tea. Quality of life, stress and sleep while cutting down smoking (extract, not tea)Very low certaintyIn the same trial, the extract group reported better quality of life, a bigger drop in perceived stress and better sleep scores than placebo. Self-reported; maker-linked. Not tea.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea)

Not enough evidence

In the EU, oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, are accepted for easing mild signs of mental stress and helping sleep, but only because of long use. The EU committee says there is not enough clinical-trial evidence. We found no trial of oat straw tea.

3 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

The EU herbal committee (HMPC) accepted oat herb preparations (aerial parts harvested before flowering) for mild mental stress and to aid sleep in adults and adolescents over 12, on traditional-use grounds. Its monograph names herbal tea for oral use among the forms covered. It says clinical-trial evidence is insufficient but the use is plausible and has been safe for at least 30 years (15 in the EU). The committee noted rat studies; a 2009 rat paper used a wild green oat extract in food.

Results

No trial of oat straw tea for stress or sleep was found. One trial in people cutting down smoking reported better sleep scores with an extract (see the Body tab); it was not a sleep trial.

Why this rating

Rated by long use and an agency statement, not by trials. A traditional-use status means "plausible and used safely for 30+ years", not "proven".

Form and dose studied

These trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat herb (Neuravena from Frutarom/IFF, cognitaven from Anklam). Oat straw tea was not tested in any of them. Amounts are not shown on this page.

Who was studied

Adults and adolescents over 12 (EU wording).

Limits

No human trial of oat straw tea, or of any form, for calming or sleep in people with stress or insomnia. Combination products are not covered by the EU conclusion.

Why researchers looked

Green oat tops and oat straw are used as a calming "nerve tonic" tea.

Traditional use

Oat straw and milky oat tops are often described as old Western folk remedies for frazzled nerves and poor sleep; no historical source was read for that, so this is not verified. The EU view rests on regulator records of use.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Not shown in people. The EMA page says laboratory studies in rats found oat herb medicines reduced stress when given in food over 7 weeks.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

The EU monograph says it may impair the ability to drive and use machines. See the Safety tab.

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Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea)

Low certainty

In several small trials, a single dose of a branded green oat extract made some thinking tasks faster or more accurate in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Results were patchy. A 2023 review judged the evidence average and said to be cautious.

4 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Kennedy 2017 (adults 40-65 who felt their memory had slipped): the lower of two single amounts sped up performance across timed tasks, cut errors on delayed word recall and made an executive task faster; working memory span rose on only one of two repeats. Berry 2011 (older adults with below-average thinking): fewer Stroop colour-naming errors at the middle amount but not at the higher amount. Martinez-Horta 2021 (20 healthy adults, one amount): faster reactions with no loss of accuracy. Jibril 2023 reviewed six trials (287 people): acute intake may improve accuracy and speed; caution because few trials and mixed amounts.

Results

Some tasks improved after one dose; many other measures did not; the pattern is not the same from trial to trial.

Effect sizes as reported

Berry 2011: F(1,36)=18.85, p<0.001 for Stroop colour-naming errors at the middle amount versus placebo or the higher amount.

Why this rating

Several small, short trials of branded extracts, two with extract-maker employees among the authors. A systematic review says caution. Benefits seen after one dose, not shown in real-life tasks.

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Healthy adults, many with mild self-reported memory decline; older volunteers.

Limits

Small. The extract makers or their staff are involved in several of these trials. Many outcomes tested, few changed. Different amounts between trials (one trial found an effect at a middle but not at a higher amount). Not tested in people with dementia. Not tested with tea.

Why researchers looked

Researchers wanted to test whether green oat herb could lift attention and memory.

Traditional use

Oat herb is traditionally taken for the nerves; the cognition trials are modern.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Proposed: saponins and flavonoids in green oat may act on the brain. This is a guess drawn from lab work; not shown in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No serious problems were reported in the abstracts. See the Safety tab.

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Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea)

Low certainty

One trial of 132 healthy adults found that four weeks of a green oat extract improved a working-memory test and a multitasking test. It was funded by the extract maker and mood did not change. No other trial has repeated it.

2 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Kennedy 2020 (132 adults, 35-65, 29 days, branded cognitaven extract): at day 29, both the lowest and the highest of three amounts beat placebo on a Corsi blocks working-memory task and a multitasking task; the middle amount is not reported as helping. No treatment-related effect on mood. The 2023 review (Jibril) says short-term chronic use helped and long-term chronic use did not.

Results

Two cognitive tasks improved; mood unchanged.

Effect sizes as reported

Not reported in the abstract (only "significantly improved" versus placebo).

Why this rating

One moderate-sized trial, sponsored by the extract maker, healthy people, a different product from the other trials. Not replicated.

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Healthy adults aged 35-65.

Limits

Single trial; sponsor employees among authors (authors say the sponsor did not influence analysis). The middle amount did not clearly help. Healthy volunteers only.

Why researchers looked

To see whether benefits last if the extract is taken daily.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Not known.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Authors report no safety concerns in the abstract that we read; this does not replace the Safety tab.

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Daily use in healthy older adults (12 weeks) (extract, not tea)

Not enough evidence

A 12-week trial in 37 healthy older adults found no benefit on any thinking test. So the small gains after a single dose did not carry over to everyday use in this group.

2 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Wong 2012 (37 healthy adults, average age 67, 12 weeks versus placebo in a cross-over): no difference on the Stroop test, letter cancellation, rule-shift, multitasking battery or trail-making test. The authors suggest it might be different in mild cognitive impairment, which was not tested.

Results

No effect.

Effect sizes as reported

No effect on any measure.

Why this rating

One small null trial (37 people). It shows no effect in this group, but it is too small to rule out a small one, and it used a branded extract of a maker (funding not stated in the abstract).

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Healthy older adults with normal thinking.

Limits

Small; one extract; healthy people only; maker-linked product (funding not stated in the abstract).

Why researchers looked

To test whether a daily oat extract helps older people keep their thinking sharp.

Proposed mechanism None

Not applicable.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Not applicable.

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Body response to a stressful task (extract, not tea)

Very low certainty

In the 132-person four-week trial, the highest amount of green oat extract lowered a skin-sweat response during a laboratory stress test. This is a body signal, not proof that people feel less stressed.

1 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Kennedy 2020: after four weeks the highest amount lowered electrodermal activity (skin sweat) in response to a multitasking stressor. There were no treatment-related effects on mood.

Results

Lower electrodermal response at one amount; mood unchanged.

Effect sizes as reported

Not reported in the abstract.

Why this rating

One trial; a physiological marker, not a symptom; mood did not change; sponsor-funded.

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Healthy adults.

Limits

Single trial; surrogate measure; the same product as above.

Why researchers looked

Oat herb is used traditionally for stress, so researchers tested a stress challenge.

Traditional use

Used for "frayed nerves" in folk medicine.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Not known.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the Safety tab.

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Brain-wave changes (EEG) (extract, not tea)

Very low certainty

Two small trials found that a single dose of oat herb extract changed brain-wave readings. These show the extract does something measurable, but not that people feel or think better.

2 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Dimpfel 2011: in healthy volunteers, resting delta power in the left front-temporal area fell (p<0.01) and theta power rose during a concentration test (p<0.05); arithmetic showed only a weaker trend (p=0.115); no effect on the P300 test. Martinez-Horta 2021 (20 adults, one dose): smaller N2, ERN and P3a/P3b responses and faster reactions with no loss of accuracy; the placebo group got slower and less accurate.

Results

Brain-wave measures shifted; link to everyday benefit not shown.

Effect sizes as reported

Dimpfel: p<0.01 and p<0.05 for the main changes.

Why this rating

Tiny, short trials of a surrogate measure, of a branded extract; one has extract-maker employees among the authors.

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Healthy adults.

Limits

EEG changes do not equal benefit; very small samples.

Why researchers looked

To look for a brain-level effect that could explain the results of thinking tests.

Proposed mechanism Human data

Plausible, not proven: shifts in brain wave activity.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Not applicable.

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Cutting down on cigarettes (extract, not tea)

Very low certainty

In one 8-week trial of 145 people, more people on a branded green oat extract cut their cigarettes by more than a fifth than on placebo. The trial was run for the extract maker, and this is the only trial of this use.

1 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Friling 2024 (72 extract, 73 placebo, 8 weeks plus 4-week follow-up, NCT04749017): 66.7% on the extract versus 49.3% on placebo reduced daily cigarettes by more than 20% (p=0.034).

Results

More "reducers" on the extract.

Effect sizes as reported

66.7% vs 49.3% reducers (p=0.034).

Why this rating

One trial run for the extract maker (authors include maker employees); measured by reduction, not quitting; the abstract does not give craving or nicotine-dependence results.

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Adults reducing or stopping smoking.

Limits

Single trial; industry-linked; not a quit-smoking trial; short.

Why researchers looked

Stress and cravings make quitting hard, so researchers tested whether the extract helps.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Not known.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Described as safe and well tolerated in the abstract.

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Quality of life, stress and sleep while cutting down smoking (extract, not tea)

Very low certainty

In the same trial, people on the extract reported better quality of life, a bigger drop in perceived stress and better sleep scores than people on placebo. Gains in quality of life lasted four weeks after stopping.

1 studiesThese trials used concentrated, branded dry extracts of green oat her…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Friling 2024: greater improvement in WHOQOL-BREF, SF-36 and a visual quality-of-life scale; perceived stress fell more; sleep scores improved on the extract and worsened on placebo.

Results

Better self-reported wellbeing than placebo.

Effect sizes as reported

Not reported in the abstract (only "greater improvements").

Why this rating

One trial; self-reported scales; industry-linked; results for depression and anxiety are not given in the abstract.

Form and dose studied

Who was studied

Adults reducing or stopping smoking.

Limits

Single trial; self-report; not a sleep or anxiety study.

Why researchers looked

To see if the extract eases the mood and sleep dip that can come with smoking less.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Not known.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Described as safe and well tolerated in the abstract.

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Connections to the rest of health

How Oat Straw Tea connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Stress Reduction	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea): In the EU, oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, are accepted for easing mild signs of mental stress and helping sleep, but only because of long use. The EU committee says there is not enough clinical-trial evidence. We found no trial of oat straw tea.	^{4 3 16}
Calm Relaxation	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea): In the EU, oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, are accepted for easing mild signs of mental stress and helping sleep, but only because of long use. The EU committee says there is not enough clinical-trial evidence. We found no trial of oat straw tea.	^{4 3 16}
Better Sleep	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea): In the EU, oat herb preparations, including herbal tea, are accepted for easing mild signs of mental stress and helping sleep, but only because of long use. The EU committee says there is not enough clinical-trial evidence. We found no trial of oat straw tea.	^{4 3 16}
Cognitive Performance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea): In several small trials, a single dose of a branded green oat extract made some thinking tasks faster or more accurate in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Results were patchy. A 2023 review judged the evidence average and said to be cautious. Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea): One trial of 132 healthy adults found that four weeks of a green oat extract improved a working-memory test and a multitasking test. It was funded by the extract maker and mood did not change. No other trial has repeated it.	^{9 1 11 8 10}
Memory Support	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea): In several small trials, a single dose of a branded green oat extract made some thinking tasks faster or more accurate in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Results were patchy. A 2023 review judged the evidence average and said to be cautious. Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea): One trial of 132 healthy adults found that four weeks of a green oat extract improved a working-memory test and a multitasking test. It was funded by the extract maker and mood did not change. No other trial has repeated it.	^{9 1 11 8 10}
Cognitive Performance		Not enough evidence	Daily use in healthy older adults (12 weeks) (extract, not tea): A 12-week trial in 37 healthy older adults found no benefit on any thinking test. So the small gains after a single dose did not carry over to everyday use in this group.	^{22 8}
Stress Reduction	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Body response to a stressful task (extract, not tea): In the 132-person four-week trial, the highest amount of green oat extract lowered a skin-sweat response during a laboratory stress test. This is a body signal, not proof that people feel less stressed. Cutting down on cigarettes (extract, not tea): In one 8-week trial of 145 people, more people on a branded green oat extract cut their cigarettes by more than a fifth than on placebo. The trial was run for the extract maker, and this is the only trial of this use.	^{10 5}
Cognitive Performance		Very low certainty	Brain-wave changes (EEG) (extract, not tea): Two small trials found that a single dose of oat herb extract changed brain-wave readings. These show the extract does something measurable, but not that people feel or think better.	^{2 11}
Better Sleep	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Quality of life, stress and sleep while cutting down smoking (extract, not tea): In the same trial, people on the extract reported better quality of life, a bigger drop in perceived stress and better sleep scores than people on placebo. Gains in quality of life lasted four weeks after stopping.	⁵

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Stress Mood	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea) Studied for: Body response to a stressful task (extract, not tea)	^{4 3 16 10 5}
Sleep Recovery	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea) Studied for: Quality of life, stress and sleep while cutting down smoking (extract, not tea)	^{4 3 16 5}
Nervous System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea) Studied for: Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea)	^{4 3 16 9 1 11 8 2}
Brain Focus	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea) Studied for: Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea)	^{9 1 11 8 10 22 2}

E. Health conditions

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Celiac disease		Review	Most with celiac disease tolerate uncontaminated oats; many gluten-free oat products are still over limits in a survey. The EU advises caution in coeliac disease; most people with celiac disease tolerate uncontaminated oats, but many gluten-free labelled oat grain products tested above limits. Preparation or compound: Oat products (gluten cross-contact)	^{20 19 3}
Oat allergy	Adverse effect or risk	Case report	Case reports of anaphylaxis after oats; none for oat straw found. Preparation or compound: Oat food	^{21 7 17}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Skin sweat response (electrodermal activity)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁰
Stroop colour-naming errors	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹
Working memory (Corsi blocks)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{10 9}
EEG brain-wave power (theta, delta)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{2 11}
Mood scores	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: unchanged. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁰
Cigarettes per day (share of people cutting by over 20%)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁵
Quality-of-life scores (WHOQOL-BREF, SF-36)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁵
Perceived stress and sleep scores	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: improved. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁵
Resting blood pressure	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: unchanged. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Brain wave activity (EEG)	Preliminary mechanism	Human	Changed after single doses in two small trials.	^{2 11}

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Avenacoside A (triterpene saponin)	Biological association	In vitro	Saponins are thought to contribute to the effects of green oat extracts. The 2020 trial abstract calls them species-specific triterpene saponins. Preparation or compound: Oat plant (green parts and grain; exact content not verified)	^{10 18}
Avenanthramide A	Biological association	None	Not studied in any trial read here. Preparation or compound: Mostly oat grain; green-herb content NOT verified	¹⁸
Flavonoids	Biological association	In vitro	The 2017 trial abstract says Neuravena contains flavonoids and triterpene saponins that are potentially bioactive. Preparation or compound: Green oat extract	⁹
Beta-glucan	Biological association	None	Linked to cholesterol effects of oat grain; not tested in oat straw. See the oats page. Preparation or compound: Oat grain and bran; green-herb content NOT verified	¹⁸
Silica (orthosilicic acid)	Biological association	None	Often claimed for bone, hair or nails; no source was read, so no effect is claimed. Preparation or compound: Oat straw (traditional claim; NOT verified from a source)	¹⁸

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 6 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Other321

The evidence

The research centre for Oat Straw Tea. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Mild stress and sleep (traditional use of oat herb, which can be taken as tea) 3 studies Not enough evidence Thinking tests after one dose (extract, not tea) 4 studies · 20 people in trials Low certainty Working memory and multitasking over four weeks (extract, not tea) 2 studies · 132 people in trials Low certainty Daily use in healthy older adults (12 weeks) (extract, not tea) 2 studies · 37 people in trials Not enough evidence Body response to a stressful task (extract, not tea) 1 study · 132 people in trials Very low certainty Brain-wave changes (EEG) (extract, not tea) 2 studies · 20 people in trials Very low certainty Cutting down on cigarettes (extract, not tea) 1 study · 145 people in trials Very low certainty Quality of life, stress and sleep while cutting down smoking (extract, not tea) 1 study · 145 people in trials Very low certainty

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read the abstracts of 11 PubMed papers and the titles of 3 allergy case reports (PubMed has no abstract for them), the EU oat herb public page and the full EU monograph, and the oat sentences on the NHS and NIDDK coeliac pages. Names were checked in GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. A title search found no LiverTox or LactMed chapter on oat. NCCIH, FDA, WHO and Commission E were not read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's reading.

Study library: every study we checked 22

Design Research type Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Berry 2011 Acute effects of an Avena sativa herb extract on responses to the Stroop Color-Word test. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · PMID 21711204 · DOI	Controlled trial	Elderly volunteers with below-average cognitive performance	Oat herb extract (Neuravena) Oat herb Single amounts at two levels or placebo, a week apart; amounts not shown on this page. Single doses at weekly intervals · vs Placebo and other amount (cross-over)	Fewer colour-naming errors on the Stroop test after the middle amount than after placebo or the higher amount (F(1,36) = 18.85, p < 0.001). In 7 people with suspected cognitive impairment, Stroop interference also improved at the middle amount. Resting blood pressure was unaffected. Fewer Stroop errors at one amount only Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Stroop colour-word errors, resting blood pressure Limitations: Only the abstract was read. The higher amount did not help, so the pattern is odd. Very small subgroup of 7. Group size is inferred from the statistics, not stated. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Neuravena is a branded product. Read: abstract
Dimpfel 2011 Ingested oat herb extract (Avena sativa) changes EEG spectral frequencies in healthy subjects. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · PMID 21563962 · DOI	Controlled trial	Healthy volunteers (number not in the abstract)	Oat herb extract (Neuravena) Oat herb (Avenae herba) Two amounts or placebo; amounts not shown on this page. Single dose, EEG during rest and mental tasks · vs Placebo (cross-over)	Two amounts of a special oat herb preparation (Neuravena) were compared with placebo in a cross-over trial with EEG recording. At rest, delta power fell (p < 0.01) and during a concentration test theta power rose (p < 0.05) in the left front-temporal area. During mental arithmetic the theta rise was only a trend (p = 0.115). The P300 test showed no effect. Brain-wave changes only Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: EEG brain-wave power during rest, a concentration test and mental arithmetic Limitations: Only the abstract was read. EEG changes are a surrogate; no thinking-test benefit shown in this paper. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Neuravena is a branded product. Read: abstract
European Medicines Agency 2008 EMA/HMPC: Community herbal monograph on Avena sativa L., herba (EMEA/HMPC/202966/2007), final, 4 September 2008 EMEA/HMPC/202966/2007 · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable	Adolescents over 12, adults, elderly (traditional herbal medicine, including herbal tea)	n/a aerial parts harvested before flowering, dried or fresh Not shown on this page.	Traditional use only: relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep. Forms covered include herbal tea for oral use. Contraindication: hypersensitivity. Not recommended under 12 for lack of data. Caution in coeliac disease because data on the protein content are not available. Interactions: none reported. Pregnancy and lactation: safety not established, use not recommended. May impair the ability to drive and use machines. Undesirable effects: none known. No case of overdose reported. Tests on reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity have not been performed. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: n/a Limitations: A 2008 document; a periodic review is listed as in progress on the EMA page. Based on long use, not trials. Read: PDF text read in full 2026-10-25 (sections 1 to 7)
European Medicines Agency 2026 Avenae herba - herbal medicinal product (EMA public page) European Medicines Agency · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			Oat herb is the aerial parts of Avena sativa L. harvested before flowering. The HMPC concluded, on traditional use only, that oat herb preparations can relieve mild symptoms of mental stress and aid sleep in adults and adolescents over 12. It says clinical-trial evidence is insufficient but the use is plausible and has been safe for at least 30 years (at least 15 in the EU). It noted rat studies. No side effects had been reported at the time of assessment. Medicines can be solid or liquid forms or herbal tea. Status: ongoing call for scientific data for the periodic review (consultation 2024). Methods, limits and funding Limitations: Traditional use is not proof from trials. The page says combinations with other herbs are not covered. Read: public page read in full 2026-10-25
Friling 2024 Dietary supplementation with a wild green oat extract (Avena sativa L.) to improve wellness and wellbeing during smoking reduction or cessation: a randomized double-blind controlled study. Frontiers in Nutrition · PMID 38962436 · DOI	Controlled trial	145 Adults reducing or stopping smoking (72 extract, 73 placebo)	Wild green oat extract (Neuravena), a branded extract Green oat herb (aerial parts) Daily for 8 weeks versus placebo; amount not shown on this page. 8 weeks plus a 4-week follow-up · vs Placebo	The extract group had greater improvement in quality-of-life scores and a bigger fall in perceived stress; sleep scores improved in the extract group and worsened on placebo. More people cut daily cigarettes by over 20% (66.7% vs 49.3%, p = 0.034). Quality-of-life gains lasted 4 weeks after stopping. The authors call it safe and well tolerated. 66.7% vs 49.3% reduced cigarettes by more than 20% (p = 0.034) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Quality of life, perceived stress, sleep, nicotine dependence, craving, cigarettes per day Limitations: Only the abstract was read. Self-reported scales; results for depression, anxiety, craving and nicotine dependence are not given in the abstract. Not a sleep study or a quit-smoking trial. Funding and conflicts: Several authors are employees of IFF Health, which sells Neuravena; the university team was hired by IFF Health to run the study. Registration: NCT04749017 Read: abstract
GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Avena sativa L. and Avena fatua L. GBIF · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			GBIF usageKey 2705290: Avena sativa L., ACCEPTED, species, family Poaceae, order Poales, exact match. Avena fatua L. (usageKey 2705297) is a separate ACCEPTED species. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: See notes. Read: API read 2026-10-25 (re-run)
Goh 2023 Oat milk anaphylaxis: Oat an emerging food allergen. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · PMID 37471498 · DOI	Case report	Not stated (title only)	Oat milk Oat grain	Title only was read: reports anaphylaxis after oat milk and calls oat an emerging food allergen. Case report Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anaphylaxis after oat milk Limitations: No abstract was available in PubMed; only the title was read. Read: title only
Jibril 2023 Effect of Avena sativa (Oats) on cognitive function: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN · PMID 36657906 · DOI	Systematic review	287 Healthy adults, 6 randomised trials (3 cross-over)	Avena sativa extracts (oat extracts) Mainly green oat herb extracts (the abstract says "oat extracts") Amounts not shown on this page. Acute (4 trials) and chronic (2 trials) · vs Placebo	Acute intake appeared to improve accuracy and speed. Short-term chronic supplementation improved cognition; long-term chronic supplementation did not. Evidence quality "average". Acute benefit possible; long-term benefit not shown Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Accuracy and speed of cognitive performance Limitations: Only the abstract was read. Few trials, mixed doses; the authors ask for caution. Not independent of the individual trials above. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract
Kennedy 2017 Acute effects of a wild green-oat (Avena sativa) extract on cognitive function in middle-aged adults: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects trial. Nutritional Neuroscience · PMID 26618715 · DOI	Controlled trial	Healthy adults aged 40-65 who felt their memory had declined with age	Wild green oat extract (Neuravena), a branded extract Green oat herb (aerial parts) Single amounts at two levels or placebo; amounts not shown on this page. Six visits, each a single dose; testing up to 6 hours after · vs Placebo (cross-over)	At the lower of two single amounts, speed of performance across timed tasks increased, delayed word recall errors improved and an executive task (Peg and Ball) was faster. Working memory span (Corsi blocks) rose only on the second time that amount was taken. The authors suggest the best amount lies at or below the lower one tested. Faster performance on some tasks after one dose Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Attention, spatial, working and episodic memory, executive function Limitations: Only the abstract was read. Sample size not in the abstract. Several outcomes tested; only some changed, and one change appeared on only one of two repeats. Single doses only. Funding and conflicts: Two authors are from Frutarom Switzerland, the extract maker (affiliation in the abstract). No funding statement in the abstract. Read: abstract
Kennedy 2020 Acute and Chronic Effects of Green Oat (Avena sativa) Extract on Cognitive Function and Mood during a Laboratory Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Humans. Nutrients · PMID 32485993 · DOI	Controlled trial	132 Healthy men and women aged 35-65	Green oat extract (cognitaven), a branded extract made by Anklam Extrakt Green oat herb (aerial parts) Three amounts or placebo for 29 days; amounts not shown on this page. 29 days, with tests on day 1 and day 29 · vs Placebo (parallel groups)	A single dose at the highest amount, and more so four weeks at the lowest or the highest amount, improved a working-memory task (Corsi blocks) and a multitasking task compared with placebo. After four weeks the highest amount lowered the skin-sweat (electrodermal) response to the stressor. No treatment-related effects on mood. Better scores on 2 tasks; lower electrodermal response at the top amount; no mood effect Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cognition, mood, and body response to a laboratory multitasking stressor Limitations: Only the abstract was read. Healthy volunteers; short; the middle amount is not reported as helping. Product differs from the Neuravena extract in the other trials. Funding and conflicts: Sponsored by Anklam Extrakt GmbH, whose employees are authors; the authors state the sponsor had no input into data collection, analysis or interpretation. Read: abstract
Martinez-Horta 2021 Effects of a Green Oat Herb Extract on Cognitive Performance and Neurophysiological Activity: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Frontiers in Neuroscience · PMID 34658781 · DOI	Controlled trial	20 Healthy adults	Green oat herb extract (Neuravena) Green oat herb (aerial parts) One amount, once; not shown on this page. Single dose, EEG during tasks · vs Placebo	After the extract, the N2, ERN and P3a/P3b brain responses were smaller and reactions faster with no loss of accuracy. In the placebo group reaction time and accuracy got worse. The authors say it may protect against tiredness effects. Faster reactions; smaller ERP responses after one dose Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Reaction time, accuracy and brain-wave (ERP) measures during attention tasks Limitations: Only the abstract was read. 20 people; one dose; EEG changes are not the same as a real-life benefit. Funding and conflicts: Authors include employees of Frutarom, the extract maker. Read: abstract
NCBI Bookshelf 2026 LiverTox and LactMed search for oat / oat straw NCBI Bookshelf · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			A search of NCBI Bookshelf for 'lactmed oat' returned no results. A 'LiverTox oat' search returned 5 unrelated old records that were not opened. No oat or oat straw chapter in LiverTox or LactMed was found. This is a search, not a full read; absence is not proof of safety. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: See notes. Read: search run 2026-10-25; no page read
NCBI Taxonomy 2026 NCBI Taxonomy: Avena sativa NCBI Taxonomy · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			NCBI Taxonomy id 4498: species Avena sativa, common name oats (monocots). Methods, limits and funding Limitations: See notes. Read: API read 2026-10-25
NHS (UK) 2026 Coeliac disease NHS (UK) · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			The NHS coeliac page says a small number of people with coeliac disease may also get symptoms from foods that contain pure oats. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: See notes. Read: page fetched 2026-10-25; only the sentence about oats was read
NIDDK (NIH) 2026 Eating, diet and nutrition for celiac disease NIDDK (NIH) · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			NIDDK says to talk with your doctor or a dietitian about oats; research suggests most people with celiac disease can safely eat moderate amounts of oats; they should be gluten-free; and cross-contact between oats and gluten grains is common and can make oats unsafe for people with celiac disease. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: See notes. Read: page fetched 2026-10-25; the oat sentences were read
Phytotherapy Research 2009 An extract from wild green oat improves rat behaviour. Phytotherapy Research · PMID 19322760	Animal research animal	36 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats	Wild green oat extract Green oat herb	Rats fed a wild green oat extract in their food (two levels) showed, at the lower level, an improved active stress response, better shock-avoidance learning and more synchronised social behaviour. Food and fluid intake were slightly lower at the high level; no side effects were seen. Rats only. Animal only Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Rat behaviour Limitations: Only the abstract was read. Animal study; no conclusion drawn for people. Read: abstract
Prados-Castano 2016 Anaphylaxis Due to Oat Ingestion. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology · PMID 27012025	Case report	Not stated (title only)	Oat (food) Oat grain	Title only was read: anaphylaxis after eating oats. Case report Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anaphylaxis after eating oats Limitations: No abstract was available in PubMed; only the title was read. Read: title only
PubChem 2026 PubChem compound records: avenanthramide A, avenacoside A, orthosilicic acid, beta-glucan PubChem · Source	Regulatory or database not applicable			CIDs checked by CID lookup 2026-10-25: avenanthramide A 5281157 (C16H13NO5); avenacoside A 71581001 (C51H82O23); orthosilicic acid 14942 (H4O4Si). Beta-glucan is a long polymer so no CID is shown. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: See notes. Read: API read 2026-10-25
Rodriguez 2022 Commercial oats in gluten-free diet: A persistent risk for celiac patients. Frontiers in Nutrition · PMID 36276819 · DOI	Cross sectional not applicable	52 25 gluten-free labelled and 27 regular oat products sold in Chile	Oat flours, rolled oats and instant oat cereals (oat grain products) Oat grain products Amounts not shown on this page. Product survey · vs Regular oat products	Of 25 gluten-free labelled oat flours, rolled and instant products in Chile, gluten was above the local (5 ppm) limit in 40% and above the Codex (20 ppm) limit in 36%. Labelled and unlabelled products did not differ in gluten when all positive products were pooled. Rolled and instant oats were less contaminated than flours. 36-40% of gluten-free labelled oat products over the limit Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Gluten content against 5 ppm (Chile) and 20 ppm (Codex) limits Limitations: Only the abstract was read. One country, a small market; grain products, not oat straw. Findings may differ elsewhere. Funding and conflicts: Authors state no commercial or financial relationships. Read: abstract
Thies 2014 Oats and bowel disease: a systematic literature review. British Journal of Nutrition · PMID 25267242 · DOI	Systematic review	29 studies of oats or oat bran (including 11 in adults with coeliac disease)	Oats and oat bran (the food grain, not the green herb) Whole oat grain and bran Amounts not shown on this page. Varied · vs Controls or other cereals	Of 29 intervention studies, most of the 11 in adults with coeliac disease showed no negative effects of uncontaminated oats. Oats or oat bran increased stool weight and eased constipation in healthy volunteers, though no specific oat effect on bowel function versus other cereals was shown. The authors say the majority of people with coeliac disease could eat uncontaminated oats. Uncontaminated oats tolerated by most with coeliac disease Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Bowel disease risk markers, stool weight, coeliac outcomes Limitations: Only the abstract was read. About oat grain and bran, not oat straw. The word "uncontaminated" is the key condition. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Tomas-Perez 2020 Oat Allergy: Report on 2 Cases. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology · PMID 31932273 · DOI	Case report	2 Two people with oat allergy	Oat (food) Oat grain	Title only was read: two reported cases of oat allergy. Two cases Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergic reaction to oats Limitations: No abstract was available in PubMed; only the title was read. No details of symptoms are claimed. Read: title only
Wong 2012 Chronic effects of a wild green oat extract supplementation on cognitive performance in older adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Nutrients · PMID 22690320 · DOI	Controlled trial	37 Healthy older adults, average age 67	Wild green oat extract (Neuravena ELFA 955, Frutarom, Switzerland) Green oat herb (aerial parts) Daily for 12 weeks versus placebo; amounts not shown on this page. 12 weeks per phase, cross-over · vs Placebo (cross-over)	No effect on any measure of cognition (Stroop, letter cancellation, rule-shift, multitasking battery, trail-making). No effect on any cognitive measure Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Stroop test, letter cancellation, rule-shift, multitasking battery, trail-making Limitations: Only the abstract was read. Small trial of people with normal thinking; the authors suggest effects might show in mild cognitive impairment, which was not tested. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. The tested product is the maker Frutarom's branded extract. Read: abstract

What we do not know yet

No trial of oat straw tea, plain dried oat straw or milky oat tincture was found for any use.
Every human trial used a concentrated branded extract, and several involve the makers; no independent repeat was found.
No trial in people with anxiety, insomnia or diagnosed cognitive impairment.
No gluten test or contaminant analysis of oat straw tea, and no study with any medicine.
The EU monograph dates from 2008 and its periodic review is in progress.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Other 9

▼

Skin sweat response (electrodermal activity)

Lowered in trials

A measure of how much the skin sweats, which rises under stress.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A body marker of the stress reaction.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A body signal, not a symptom.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁰	After four weeks the highest amount lowered the response to a laboratory stressor.	132 healthy adults	Cognitaven green oat extract, 29 days

¹⁰

▼

Stroop colour-naming errors

Lowered in trials

A thinking test of attention: naming ink colours while words say other colours.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A quick test of attention and focus.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A lab test, not daily life.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹	Fewer errors at the middle amount than at placebo or the higher amount (p<0.001).	Older volunteers with below-average thinking	Neuravena single doses

▲

Working memory (Corsi blocks)

Raised in trials

A computer test of remembering and repeating sequences of locations.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Working memory is the "mental notepad" we use for tasks.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A lab test; results were inconsistent.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁰	Better than placebo at day 29 at two of the three amounts.	132 healthy adults	Cognitaven extract, 29 days
⁹	Span rose only on the second time the lower amount was taken.	Adults 40-65 with perceived memory decline	Neuravena single doses

^{10 9}

↕

EEG brain-wave power (theta, delta)

Mixed results in trials

Electrical brain activity recorded from the scalp.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A brain-level signal of a change in how the brain works during tasks.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Surrogate measure.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
²	Delta power fell at rest (p<0.01); theta rose during a concentration test (p<0.05).	Healthy volunteers	Neuravena single doses
¹¹	Smaller N2, ERN and P3 responses and faster reactions after one dose.	20 healthy adults	Neuravena single dose

^{2 11}

●

Mood scores

Unchanged in trials

Questionnaires on how people feel.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

To see whether the extract changes mood.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One trial found no effect.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁰	No treatment-related effects on mood.	132 healthy adults	Cognitaven extract, 29 days

¹⁰

▼

Cigarettes per day (share of people cutting by over 20%)

Lowered in trials

Number of cigarettes smoked daily.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A direct measure of smoking reduction.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Self-reported; one trial.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁵	66.7% on the extract vs 49.3% on placebo cut by more than 20% (p=0.034).	145 adults reducing smoking	Neuravena green oat extract, 8 weeks

⁵

▲

Quality-of-life scores (WHOQOL-BREF, SF-36)

Raised in trials

Questionnaires on overall wellbeing.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Self-reported wellbeing.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Self-reported; one trial.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁵	Greater improvement than placebo; gains persisted 4 weeks after the end.	145 adults reducing smoking	Neuravena green oat extract, 8 weeks

⁵

●

Perceived stress and sleep scores

Improved in trials

Questionnaires on how stressed and how well rested people feel.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Self-reported stress and sleep.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Self-reported; one trial.

Safety implication

Not applicable.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁵	Perceived stress fell more on the extract; sleep scores improved on the extract and worsened on placebo.	145 adults reducing smoking	Neuravena green oat extract, 8 weeks

⁵

●

Resting blood pressure

Unchanged in trials

Blood pressure measured at rest.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A basic safety check in the Stroop trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Single-dose only; no long-term data.

Safety implication

No change after single doses; no long-term data.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹	Resting blood pressure was unaffected by single doses.	Older volunteers	Neuravena single doses

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 6

Celiac disease and gluten: ask first. The EU monograph advises caution in coeliac disease because data on the protein content of oat herb are not available. Oats have no wheat gluten of their own, but crops and mills are often shared with wheat, barley and rye: NIDDK says cross-contact between oats and gluten grains is common, and the NHS says a small number of people with coeliac disease may get symptoms even from pure oats. In a Chilean survey, more than a third of gluten-free labelled oat grain products were over the gluten limit. We found no gluten test of oat straw or oat straw tea. If you have celiac disease, ask your doctor or dietitian first. Regulatory ^{3 14 15 19 20}
Oat allergy. The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity to the active substance as a reason not to use oat herb. Oat allergy exists, including severe reactions (anaphylaxis) in case reports about oat food and oat milk; we read only the titles of those reports. We found no report about oat straw. Anyone who has reacted to oats should ask a doctor before drinking oat straw tea. Regulatory ^{3 21 7 17}
May make you drowsy: take care before driving. The EU monograph says oat herb may impair the ability to drive and use machines, and that affected people should not drive or operate machinery. No trial we read measured drowsiness from the tea. Regulatory ³
Not recommended in pregnancy, while breastfeeding or under 12. The EU conclusion covers adults and adolescents over 12 only. The monograph says safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and use is not recommended without enough data, and that use under 12 is not recommended for lack of data. LiverTox and LactMed have no oat chapter that we could find. Ask your midwife, doctor or pharmacist first. Regulatory ^{3 4 12}
Very little safety testing. The EU page says no side effects had been reported when it assessed oat herb, and the monograph lists undesirable effects as none known and no overdose reported. It also says tests of reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity have not been done. The extract trials we read reported no serious problems in their abstracts, but they were small and short (single doses to 12 weeks), and several involve the makers. Rare or long-term problems are not ruled out. Regulatory ^{4 3 5 22}
Medicines: none reported, but little studied. The EU monograph says no interactions have been reported. That means none were found, not that none exist. No study tested oat straw tea with any medicine. Because the herb is traditionally used for calming, a theoretical extra drowsiness with sedatives or alcohol cannot be ruled out. Ask a pharmacist. Regulatory ³

Side effects 5

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
No undesirable effects known (EU monograph) and none reported when the EU committee assessed oat herb Absence of reports is not proof of safety. The monograph dates from 2008.	Not established	not applicable not applicable	Regulatory ^{4 3}
Drowsiness that may impair driving or machine use A precaution in the EU monograph; no trial measured it.	Not stated	not stated Not stated	Regulatory ³
Stomach or bowel upset Oat grain and bran increase stool weight and ease constipation in healthy people. No bowel side-effect data were found for oat straw or green oat extracts in the abstracts read.	Not established	mild expected, not measured not applicable	Not verified ²⁰
Allergic reaction to oats Based on titles of reports about oat food and oat milk; not about oat straw.	Not established	can be serious (anaphylaxis in case reports of oat food) Not stated	Case report ^{21 7 17}
Gluten reaction in celiac disease From gluten cross-contact in oat grain products and, for a few people, oat protein; no oat straw gluten testing found.	Not established	varies Not stated	Review ^{20 19 14 15}

Liver

No case of liver injury linked to oat herb was found. A title search of NIH LiverTox and LactMed found no chapter on oat or Avena. That is a search result, not proof of liver safety. ¹²

How often. No frequency can be given.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice for the liver was found. Seek care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Oat Straw Tea supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 4

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Medicines in general prescription	The EU monograph lists interactions as none reported.	None found in the EU review. No study of oat straw tea or green oat extract with any drug was found.	Regulatory Not enough evidence ³	Ask a pharmacist if you take regular medicines.
Medicines taken by mouth (fibre theory) prescription	Fibre can bind or slow the absorption of some drugs. This is a general property of fibre-rich foods; oat straw tea has not been tested and a tea is not a high-fibre product.	Unknown. A theory, not a finding.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ²⁰	Ask a pharmacist if you take medicines with narrow safety margins.
Sedatives, sleep medicines and alcohol prescription	Oat herb is traditionally used for calming and sleep, and the EU monograph warns it may impair driving, so extra drowsiness is possible in theory.	Theory only; no study tested this.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ³	Take care if you also use sedatives; ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Other calming herbs (valerian, passionflower, lemon balm) herb	Overlapping traditional use.	Not studied. Blends are not covered by the EU conclusion.	Not verified Not enough evidence ⁴	Check labels of blended teas and ask your pharmacist.

Who should check first 5

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Known allergy or hypersensitivity to oats	The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity as a contraindication. Avoid oat straw tea unless an allergy specialist approves.	Regulatory ^{3 21 7 17}
Celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity	Caution is advised in the EU monograph. Ask your doctor or dietitian first, and note that gluten-free labelled oat products have still tested above limits.	Regulatory ^{3 14 15 19}
Pregnancy and breastfeeding	Not recommended in the EU monograph for lack of safety data. Ask a midwife, doctor or pharmacist.	Regulatory ³
Children under 12	Not recommended in the EU monograph for lack of data. Ask a doctor first.	Regulatory ³
Driving or operating machinery	The monograph says affected patients should not drive or operate machinery.	Regulatory ³

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. No toxic plant part or poisoning is known for oat herb in the sources read. The main concerns are allergy and gluten cross-contact, not poisoning.

Animal. The EMA page mentions rat studies of stress; a 2009 rat paper reported no side effects with a green oat extract in food, apart from slightly lower food and fluid intake at the high level. Rat study only.

Human doses studied. Trials used branded extracts from single doses to 12 weeks. Amounts are not shown on this page.

Overdose response. The EU monograph says no case of overdose has been reported.

Genotoxicity. The EU monograph says tests on reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity have not been performed.

The documented contamination issue is gluten from other grains in oat grain products. Pesticide, heavy metal and mould contamination of oat straw tea was not looked up, and no analysis of oat straw tea products was found.

Gluten in gluten-free labelled oat products. In a Chilean market survey, 36-40% of gluten-free labelled oat flours, rolled and instant oat products were above the gluten limits (20 ppm Codex; 5 ppm local). Not oat straw. ¹⁹

Uncontaminated oats and celiac disease. A systematic review found most people with celiac disease tolerated uncontaminated oats; the key word is uncontaminated. ²⁰

Body	Action	Date
European Medicines Agency, HMPC (oat herb public page) (European Union)	Traditional-use conclusion: oat herb preparations (aerial parts harvested before flowering), which include herbal tea, can relieve mild symptoms of mental stress and aid sleep in adults and adolescents over 12. Traditional use only; clinical-trial evidence insufficient. No side effects reported at assessment. Status: ongoing call for scientific data for the monograph's periodic review. source	Summary for the public first published 2019-08-23; page read 2026-10-25
European Medicines Agency, HMPC (oat herb monograph) (European Union)	Contraindication: hypersensitivity. Not recommended under 12. Caution in coeliac disease (protein content data not available). Interactions: none reported. Pregnancy and lactation: not recommended, safety not established. May impair ability to drive and use machines. Undesirable effects: none known. No overdose reported. Reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity not tested. source	2008-09-04
NHS (United Kingdom)	Coeliac disease page: a small number of people with coeliac disease may get symptoms from foods containing pure oats. source	Page fetched 2026-10-25
NIDDK (NIH) (United States)	Celiac eating guidance: talk with a doctor or dietitian about oats; most people with celiac disease can safely eat moderate amounts of oats; choose gluten-free oats; cross-contact is common. source	Page fetched 2026-10-25

When to get medical help

Swelling of the face, lips or throat, trouble breathing, or widespread hives after oat straw tea: call emergency services now (possible severe allergy).
Hives, itching or wheeze after drinking it: stop and see a doctor.
Feeling drowsy or slowed: do not drive or use machinery.
Ongoing diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia or stomach pain if you have celiac disease and use oat products: see your doctor.
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools: stop and seek care.
Symptoms (low mood, trouble sleeping, worry) that last: see a doctor; do not rely on a herbal tea alone.

Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does oat straw tea help with sleep or stress?

The EU herbal committee accepts oat herb preparations, which include herbal tea, for mild stress and to aid sleep, but only on long use. It says clinical-trial evidence is insufficient. We found no trial of the tea. See a doctor if poor sleep or worry lasts.

^{4 3}

Is oat straw the same as milky oats or green oat extract?

They come from the same plant but are different products. Oat straw is the dried green stem and leaf. Milky oats are the unripe seed heads. Green oat extracts used in trials are concentrated and standardised, and results from them may not apply to a cup of tea.

^{4 10}

Does oat straw tea improve memory or thinking?

No trial tested the tea. Small trials of branded green oat extract found faster or better scores on some tasks after a single dose and after four weeks, but a 12-week trial in healthy older adults found no effect, and a 2023 review urged caution.

^{9 10 22 8}

Is oat straw tea gluten-free?

Not necessarily. Oats do not contain wheat gluten, but oat crops and mills are often shared with wheat, barley and rye. NIDDK says cross-contact is common, and in a Chilean survey more than a third of gluten-free labelled oat grain products were above the limit. We found no gluten test of oat straw tea. People with celiac disease should ask a doctor or dietitian first.

^{15 19 3}

Can oat straw tea cause an allergic reaction?

Oat allergy exists. The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity as a reason not to use oat herb, and case reports describe severe reactions to oat food and oat milk. We found no report about oat straw tea. Swelling of the face or lips or trouble breathing is an emergency.

^{3 21 7 17}

Can it make me drowsy? Can I drive after it?

The EU monograph says oat herb may impair the ability to drive and use machines, and that affected people should not drive or operate machinery. No trial measured drowsiness from the tea.

Is oat straw tea safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

The EU monograph says safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and use is not recommended. We found no LactMed or LiverTox chapter on oat. Ask your midwife, doctor or pharmacist.

^{3 12}

Can children drink oat straw tea?

The EU conclusion covers adults and adolescents over 12 only; use under 12 is not recommended because there are not enough data. Ask a paediatrician first.

^{3 4}

Does oat straw tea interact with medicines?

The EU monograph lists no interactions as reported, which means none were found, not that none exist. No study tested the tea with any medicine. Because it is traditionally used for calming, extra drowsiness with sedatives or alcohol is a theory. Ask a pharmacist.

What are the side effects?

The EU page says no side effects had been reported when it assessed oat herb, and the monograph lists none known and no overdose reported. The extract trials reported no serious problems in their abstracts, but they were small and short. Allergy, gluten reactions and drowsiness are the cautions to keep in mind.

^{4 3 5 22}

Does oat straw tea contain caffeine?

We found no measurement of caffeine in oat straw. It is not the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Blends can add other leaves, so check the ingredient list.

⁶

Is oat straw good for bones, hair or nails because of silica?

We found no source that tests this. Silica is a traditional claim for oat straw, and we read nothing on how much silica a cup contains or whether it does anything. No such claim is made here.

¹⁸

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We read the abstracts of 11 PubMed papers and the titles of 3 allergy case reports (PubMed has no abstract for them), the EU oat herb public page and the full EU monograph, and the oat sentences on the NHS and NIDDK coeliac pages. Names were checked in GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. A title search found no LiverTox or LactMed chapter on oat. NCCIH, FDA, WHO and Commission E were not read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's reading.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.

Sources 22

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Berry NM, Robinson MJ, Bryan J, Buckley JD, Murphy KJ, Howe PR. Acute effects of an Avena sativa herb extract on responses to the Stroop Color-Word test.. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2011. PMID 21711204. DOI 10.1089/acm.2010.0450. (abstract)
Dimpfel W, Storni C, Verbruggen M. Ingested oat herb extract (Avena sativa) changes EEG spectral frequencies in healthy subjects.. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2011. PMID 21563962. DOI 10.1089/acm.2010.0143. (abstract)
European Medicines Agency, HMPC. EMA/HMPC: Community herbal monograph on Avena sativa L., herba (EMEA/HMPC/202966/2007), final, 4 September 2008. EMEA/HMPC/202966/2007. 2008. (PDF text read in full 2026-10-25 (sections 1 to 7))
European Medicines Agency. Avenae herba - herbal medicinal product (EMA public page). European Medicines Agency. 2026. (public page read in full 2026-10-25)
Friling M, Garcia-Munoz AM, Lavie A, Perez-Pinero S, Victoria-Montesinos D, Lopez-Roman FJ, Garcia-Guillen AI, Munoz-Carrillo JC, Canovas F, Ivanir E, Jalanka J. Dietary supplementation with a wild green oat extract (Avena sativa L.) to improve wellness and wellbeing during smoking reduction or cessation: a randomized double-blind controlled study.. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2024. PMID 38962436. DOI 10.3389/fnut.2024.1405156. (abstract)
GBIF. GBIF species match: Avena sativa L. and Avena fatua L.. GBIF. 2026. (API read 2026-10-25 (re-run))
Goh JY, Lee HY. Oat milk anaphylaxis: Oat an emerging food allergen.. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2023. PMID 37471498. DOI 10.1111/jdv.19374. (title only)
Jibril AT, Arero AG, Kankam SB, Fuseini M. Effect of Avena sativa (Oats) on cognitive function: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 2023. PMID 36657906. DOI 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.12.011. (abstract)
Kennedy DO, Jackson PA, Forster J, Khan J, Grothe T, Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Haskell-Ramsay CF. Acute effects of a wild green-oat (Avena sativa) extract on cognitive function in middle-aged adults: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects trial.. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2017. PMID 26618715. DOI 10.1080/1028415X.2015.1101304. (abstract)
Kennedy DO, Bonnlander B, Lang SC, Pischel I, Forster J, Khan J, Jackson PA, Wightman EL. Acute and Chronic Effects of Green Oat (Avena sativa) Extract on Cognitive Function and Mood during a Laboratory Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Humans.. Nutrients. 2020. PMID 32485993. DOI 10.3390/nu12061598. (abstract)
Martinez-Horta S, Ivanir E, Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Keuter MH, Kulisevsky J. Effects of a Green Oat Herb Extract on Cognitive Performance and Neurophysiological Activity: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2021. PMID 34658781. DOI 10.3389/fnins.2021.748188. (abstract)
NCBI Bookshelf. LiverTox and LactMed search for oat / oat straw. NCBI Bookshelf. 2026. (search run 2026-10-25; no page read)
NCBI Taxonomy. NCBI Taxonomy: Avena sativa. NCBI Taxonomy. 2026. (API read 2026-10-25)
NHS (UK). Coeliac disease. NHS (UK). 2026. (page fetched 2026-10-25; only the sentence about oats was read)
NIDDK (NIH). Eating, diet and nutrition for celiac disease. NIDDK (NIH). 2026. (page fetched 2026-10-25; the oat sentences were read)
. An extract from wild green oat improves rat behaviour.. Phytotherapy Research. 2009. PMID 19322760. (abstract)
Prados-Castano M, Pinero-Saavedra M, Leguisamo-Milla S, Pastor C, Cuesta P, Bartolome B. Anaphylaxis Due to Oat Ingestion.. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology. 2016. PMID 27012025. (title only)
PubChem. PubChem compound records: avenanthramide A, avenacoside A, orthosilicic acid, beta-glucan. PubChem. 2026. (API read 2026-10-25)
Rodriguez JM, Estevez V, Bascunan K, Ayala J, Araya M. Commercial oats in gluten-free diet: A persistent risk for celiac patients.. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022. PMID 36276819. DOI 10.3389/fnut.2022.986282. (abstract)
Thies F, Masson LF, Boffetta P, Kris-Etherton P. Oats and bowel disease: a systematic literature review.. British Journal of Nutrition. 2014. PMID 25267242. DOI 10.1017/S0007114514002293. (abstract)
Tomas-Perez M, Iglesias-Souto FJ, Bartolome B. Oat Allergy: Report on 2 Cases.. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology. 2020. PMID 31932273. DOI 10.18176/jiaci.0477. (title only)
Wong RH, Howe PR, Bryan J, Coates AM, Buckley JD, Berry NM. Chronic effects of a wild green oat extract supplementation on cognitive performance in older adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.. Nutrients. 2012. PMID 22690320. DOI 10.3390/nu4050331. (abstract)

Where to buy

Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:

The herb is the first or only ingredient
Organic or lab-tested if that matters to you
Loose leaf or tea bags, and how long they have been stored
If you take medicines or are pregnant, ask a pharmacist about the herb first

Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.

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Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.