EASY TO THRESH
Hulled oats have been grown for centuries by farmers who enjoy the advantages of an oat variety that can be easily used as porridge or other food for humans.

The nutrition profile of hulled oats is quite impressive, with contributions rich in minerals and vitamins and a fat content rivaling the corn itself, along with high-quality protein similar to that found in soya.

FROM AMERICA TO CHINA
Although it is unclear when hulled oats were first introduced to Europe, colonists arriving to the New World brought seed stock with them from home that included several varieties no longer commonly grown here. John Josselyn, a chronicler of early life in the colonies, wrote in 1671 about silpee cultivated in New England (also called pilcorn or peelcorn), which was Avena nuda. Wheat did not thrive in the early years, and some settlers thought corn more suitable for cattle, so their reliance on hulled oats was considerable. Josselyn described a dish much favored by the settlers made from oatmeal, sugar, spices and "a pottle of milk" (a pottle was two quarts).

Hulled oats were cultivated as a staple cereal by the Chinese up until three decades ago, although recent introduction of hulled varieties of oats from western countries has resulted in an equal proportion of hulled oats production in the last ten years, with predictions that hulled varieties will soon outstrip the hulless.

MEDICINAL USES
Making hulled oats for medicinal purposes is an option : Oats and oatstraw cut when seeds have formed but several weeks before they mature and then carefully dried are a long-revered source of minerals and other nutrients and alkaloids that restore nervous system health in all forms of nervous exhaustion and stress. Prepared as an infusion, oatstraw is a mild tasting restorative that can be used long term to calm nerves, tone the circulatory system and soothe digestion, along with many other benefits.

Also oatmeal has been used for centuries as a soothing agent to relieve itch and irritation associated with various xerotic dermatoses. In 1945, a ready to use colloidal oatmeal, produced by finely grinding the oat and boiling it to extract the colloidal material, became available. Today, colloidal oatmeal is available in various dosage forms from powders for the bath to shampoos, shaving gels, and moisturizing creams. The cleansing activity of oat is mostly due to saponins. Its many functional properties make colloidal oatmeal a cleanser, moisturizer, buffer, as well as a soothing and protective anti-inflammatory agent.

Diabetics could have a much better chance of keeping their blood sugar levels under control most of the day if they begin their day with oats. This can be especially true if the rest of the day they also include other whole foods rich in fiber

The many clinical properties of colloidal oatmeal derive from its chemical polymorphism. The high concentration in starches and beta-glucan is responsible for the protective and water-holding functions of oat. The presence of different types of phenols confers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Some of the oat phenols are also strong ultraviolet absorbers.

An oatmeal pack may be used to treat skin conditions. The oatmeal facial is a popular treatment for promoting smoother skin because the textured oat sloughs off dead skin when used as a mask or scrub. An oatstraw bath can provide more relief for skin conditions and neuralgia.

Wild oat is also believed to help with nicotine withdrawal, a remedy recommended by German doctors. The wild oat extract is said to be effective, and oat cereal is also said to be helpful.

Wild oat is available in various forms and is used in various alternative medicine traditions such as homeopathy. Commercial preparations include oatstraw tea, tincture, and the wild oat Bach flower remedy (a liquid concentrate called a stock). The packaged oatmeal sold in the grocery store can also be used for treatments.

Wild oat tea, which is also known as an infusion, is made by pouring 1 c (240 ml) of boiling water over 1-3 tsp (1.5-3 g) of the dried straw. The mixture is steeped for 10-15 minutes and then strained. Wild oat tea should be drunk three times a day.

When wild oat tincture is used, the dosage is 1 oz (1 ml) taken three times a day.

Wild oat can be combined with skullcap and mugwort to provide relief from depression and to improve sleep.

Flower remedies are liquid concentrates made by soaking flowers in spring water. Also known as flower essences, 38 remedies were developed by homeopathic physician Edward Bach during the 1930s. Bach's wild oat remedy is taken to resolve conditions such as career anxiety and uneasiness about a lack of direction or commitment.

The daily dosage of the Bach wild oat flower remedy is 2-4 drops (1/8-1/4 ml) taken four times each day. The drops can be placed under the tongue or added to a glass of water. Another remedy is to add some stock to the bath water.

An oatstraw bath can provide relief for irritated skin and neuralgia. A bath is prepared by boiling 1 lb (500 g) of shredded oatstraw in 2 qt (0.95 l) of water. After boiling for 20 minutes, this mixture is strained and used in the bath. Another option is to place cooked rolled oat in a bag and the bag is put in the bath.

Wild oat has not been associated with any health risks when taken in proper dosages, according to Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, the 1998 book based on the findings of Germany's Commission E.