Plants have their own unique seasons…
Herbalism is season work. As an herbalist part of our work is to learn to listen to the seasons. To recognize the subtle and not to subtle shifts in nature and to let that wisdom inform our practice, and also the space we live from.
In each season we are often working with different plant parts. We can also think of each of the plants as having their own unique seasons. A season that informs which medicinal part of the plant to use.
When a plant is flowering I would call this the plant's spring. The new life is full of nutrients and energy. When a plant is flowering we use the young flowers and leaves in medicine making.
Maybe we see a freshly blooming goldenrod solidago. We then harvest young flowers and leaves for a tea supportive for the respiratory season and the urinary tract.
Generally once an herb's flowers start to die back and the leaves get more rough the medicine of the plant becomes less potent.
(Obviously it is important to note that this is going to vary from plant to plant.)
We can see this example in dandelion root. If you harvest the leaves of dandelion taraxacum officinale as food when the leaves are young, they are going to be significantly less bitter and tough than the leaves of an older and more developed taraxacum officinale .
When flowers begin to dry and release their seeds in their own ending of a summer cycle, we begin to look towards seed medicine. Harvesting seeds like milk thistle that will be tinctured for the liver.
Once certain plants have begun to enter their own fall cycle, we can see that the flower heads have died back & the leaves are getting old- and at this point we would look to root medicine.
Looking to signals from the plant that it is time to harvest the root.
Take a plant part like dandelion root for example. Once we no longer want to harvest the leaves and flowers of dandelion root we can dig up this nutrient rich root system. Leaving some in the ground to become food for the earth. And then rinsing the rest and drying it for teas for the seasons ahead. Or bottle the root fresh and make a tincture that will help to nourish your body while moving stagnation, and supporting the removal of waste.
While a plant was putting most of its energy into flowering- the roots below the surface were absorbing nutrients from the earth. In this full circle way the earth and the roots give nutrients back to us. Gratefully, we receive.
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This fall there is one plant in specific that has really been calling to me- avena sativa. I began working with avena sativa in late summer. Introducing them to my daily blends to nourish and restore after a long and warm summer.
Also known as “oat straw,” or by some “milky oat tops. “ In actuality both of these names refer to a specific plant part of the avena sativa plant. Each with similar yet varying uses.
In the plants spring- which just so happens to be our spring and summer here on the California coast, avena sativa is growing bountifully along coastlines, in open fields, and even on the side of the road.
This tall grass begins a beautiful green. The long tall part of the grass refers to the oat straw, while the grassy tops refer to the milky oat tops.
Both plant parts are very nourishing and supportive for the nervous system.
People praise the milky oat tops for their amazing ability to restore the nervous system when it is frayed and exhausted.
The thing about those precious tops is that the medicine is most potent when the tops are young and green. They contain this white latex that is rich in nutrients, minerals and plant compounds.
So if we are wanting to get milky oats medicine we have to harvest and tincture this plant part while it is fresh. If the white latex is no longer in that plant part- it is no longer going to perform those herbal actions we are looking to for medicine making.
Once the tops have dried up we can use the straw as nourishing medicine. This plant part can be dried and stored to enjoy throughout the rest of the year.
This plant part is also supportive for the nervous system and is very nourishing & mineralizing. Oat straw has been called the bone broth of herbs. An infusion of the straw has a sweet and salty taste pointing to its mineral rich content.
So if you find yourself harvesting a bunch of avena sativa next spring and summer- it is important to remember that plants have their own unique seasons.
So process that milky oat medicine fresh and then dry your oat straw for the seasons to come.
Below is an herbal monograph for avena sativa and the plant parts we talked about today.
Enjoy!
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avena sativa
Family: Poaceae
Native habitat: Iran and Iraq, introduced and cultivated in North America, North Africa, Asia, Europe, parts of South America and Australia
Parts Used: milky oat tops and oat straw
Notes:
The oat straw of this plant is known as the bone broth of herbs
When infused it makes a nourishing blend that helps to nourish and support bones
This plant part is very mineralizing
The milky oat tops are great for supporting the nervous system
The straw and tops are rich in trace minerals and nutrients like silica and magnesium among other other deeply nourishing constituents
The tops of oat are more relaxing while the straw is more building/nourishing to the tissues
The tops are also considered a nervine tonic.
Milky oats also contains endocrine balancing properties.
Oat straw is mucilaginous and helps to coat tissues, making it both soothing and hydrating
Oat is high in flavanoids.
Oat is also known to be soothing topically to different skin conditions including a rash from poision oak
Tastes:
Oat straw- sweet,salty
Oat Tops- sweet, salty
Identification:
Growing at least 4 ft tall and in disturbed fields and roadsides this tall grass has leaves that are dull green and have a sand paper-y feel
The tops have two black seeds that stick out of the top
Herbal Energetics:
Moistening
Cooling
relaxant/toning
Herbal Actions:
Tops- nervine tonic, nutritive, nervine trophorestorative, sedative, emollient
Straw- nutritive, cardiovascular tonic, reproductive tonic, toning, nervine tonic
Tissue State Indications:
dry/atrophy
heat/excitation
tension/constriction
Subtle body wisdom:
Building a stable base takes time
It is important to nourish our root system
We can have a nourished root system and sway with the wind.
Be flexible to changes and stimuli.
We can build the capacity to find calm in frayed states.
We are stronger together.
Be patient when rebuilding. Oat Straw/Milky Oat tops- avena sativa
