Green oat herb The hidden force
The oat plant (Avena sativa) is a well known plant in Europe and belongs to the grass family. This annual herbaceous plant can grow to a height of 0.6m to 1.5m. The plant has a tall, slender stem and long leaves that are green in color. Characteristic constituents of green oat herb harvested before flowering are N-containing carboxylic acids (avenic acid A and B), glycosylated steroidal saponins, like avenacoside A and B as well as flavonoids, for instance vitexin derivatives. Polysaccharides, e.g., beta-glucan and sugars, like saccharose are also present.
Unlike the typical grain which is further processed to oat meal and used for daily consumption, cognitaven® is derived from green oat herb. The herb is harvested in its green unripe state and quickly dried after harvesting. Harvesting in Europe takes place around June and is conducted by our experienced partners. Contract farming of the oat plant guarantees a sustainable supply chain. Immature or “green” oat extracts made from the higher aerial parts of oat plants are well known and have a long history of use for mental well being.
Green Oat Herb Benefits
Oats were already cultivated around 4000 years ago in Europe. Also Hippocrates knew about the benefits of oat and recommended oats for its tonic and feeding properties. One of the first documented medicinal applications comes from Hildegard of Bingen in the 12th century. She described the plant and its application in the `Physica´, which is her medical book describing the healing power of nature. While in that period of time the distinction between oat and green oat herb is not always clear, nowadays it is very important to distinguish between oat and green oat and their application area.
Green oat herb is believed to have a number of potential health benefits. Some of the reported traditional benefits of green oat herb include:
- support in case of nervous exhaustion and weakness of nerves
- as sleeping aid
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