(English) From the oat field Avenah, Aviena, Avyna, Avina, Avinah, Avynah, Avienah, Aveinah, Aveina
Oats, oatmeal, oatstraw (Avena sativa).Plant Part Used: Seeds (oat grain), fruiting tops.Dominican Medicinal Uses: Oats are traditionally boiled in water to make oatmeal or an oatmeal-like beverage and taken orally for high cholesterol, to stimulate lactation, for nutrition and strength and to relieve menopausal hot flashes.Safety: Oats are commonly consumed and generally regarded as safe. They have shown low potential for allergic reaction in gluten-sensitive individuals.Contraindications: In patients with celiac disease, oats may cause gastrointestinal irritation, but they have been shown to be well-tolerated in recent clinical studies.Drug Interactions: Lovastatin and statin drugs (impaired absorption of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors).Clinical Data: The following effects of oats or oat extracts have been investigated in human clinical trials: anti-diabetic, cholesterol-lowering, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, smoking cessation (grain extract or oat bran); antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, reduced heart disease risk, stimulation of bile acid secretion and synthesis, tolerance in celiac patients (whole-grain and oat bran); anti-skin irritant, burn wound-healing, itch reduction (topical oil-based preparation).* See entry for Avena in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
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