Wired but Tired? How Green Oat Herb Restores Deep Calm
How the minerals, silica, and antioxidants in green oat herb quiet the mind and shield the brain from chronic stress.
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Dear friends
Last Friday, I asked whether you might like me to share information on herbs that support the nervous system, to help us better navigate this challenging time. Your response was resoundingly in favour, with 86% of you saying “Yes!” Today we begin with green oat herb — the vibrant stems and leaves of the oat plant, harvested before the grain matures.
To understand how green oat herbs (Avena sativa) support us, we must look at how they move beyond a simple breakfast cereal to physically rebuild the structures of our nervous system. This is a process of restoration that addresses both the physical “hardware” of our nerves and the chemical “software” that governs our mood and stress levels.
Deep nourishment for depleted nerves
Green oats act as a trophorestorative, a term used to describe a substance that provides specific, functional “food” to a particular organ system. When we are pushed to the brink by chronic stress, our neurons — the fundamental cells of the brain and spinal cord — can become depleted and less efficient at sending signals. The herb provides a concentrated source of minerals and specific compounds that help to rebuild these tissues. This is particularly helpful for those of us feeling “wired but tired,” where our bodies are exhausted but our minds remain in a state of hyper-vigilance.
Efficient neuronal communication
The herb is a dense source of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are essential for the action potential of our neurons. The action potential is the electrical spark that allows a nerve cell to fire and transmit a message. When our mineral levels are low, the nervous system has to work much harder to send the same signals, which eventually leads to a state of systemic fatigue. By providing these electrolytes in a form our bodies can easily use, green oats help to recharge our “cellular batteries,” allowing our system to operate with much greater efficiency and less strain.
Restored insulation
The integrity of our nervous system signalling depends heavily on the myelin sheath — the fatty, protective insulation that surrounds our nerve fibres. If we think of our nerves as electrical wires, they require this robust layer of insulation to transmit signals clearly. When this coating is compromised through stress or depletion, it can become “frayed,” and signals can misfire. This often manifests as feeling “exposed” or overly sensitive to sound and light. Green oats are one of nature’s richest sources of soluble silica, a foundational element for maintaining this insulation. By providing this building block, we help the body physically mend our neural wiring, helping us to feel more contained and less reactive.
Gentle quietening of the mind
Green oats are a source of a compound called apigenin. This constituent is valued for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with GABA receptors. These receptors act as the primary “brakes” of our nervous system, responsible for dampening over-excitation and allowing us to feel calm. Unlike synthetic substances that can cause grogginess, apigenin acts as a gentle modulator. It helps to quiet the background “chatter” of an overactive mind, lowering our baseline of anxiety and allowing for the state of internal stillness essential for deep recovery.
Cellular protection against mental fatigue
A constituent called isovitexin within the herb acts as a guardian for our neurons. Chronic stress produces free radicals — unstable molecules that can damage our mitochondria, which are the tiny power plants within our cells. Isovitexin serves as a protective agent, neutralising these molecules and ensuring that our brain cells can continue to produce energy efficiently. This support of a stable energy supply is essential for overcoming “brain fog,” as it allows the nervous system to maintain its stamina without the cellular “rusting” that often follows periods of intense mental exertion.
Clearer thinking through improved circulation
Restoration cannot occur without the delivery of oxygen and the removal of metabolic waste. Green oats are the only known botanical source of antioxidants called avenanthramides. These compounds stimulate an enzyme in the lining of our blood vessels to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, which signals the smooth muscles around our arteries to relax and widen. This increases the volume of blood reaching the brain and peripheral nerves, ensuring our neurons are well-fuelled and that waste products are cleared away, removing the heavy feeling of “brain fog.”
Sustained motivation by protecting dopamine
In a state of chronic stress, we often break down our “feel-good” chemicals faster than we can create them. Dopamine is a precious resource that gives us the motivation to face the day. Green oats gently inhibit an enzyme called monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), which is responsible for breaking down dopamine once it has been used in the gaps between our nerve cells. By slowing this enzyme, the herb allows the dopamine we already have to stay active for longer. This prevents the “dopamine dip” that leads to emotional fatigue, allowing our baseline mood to stabilise while the deeper work of tissue repair takes place.
A shift into a state of relaxed alertness
Observation of brain activity shows that green oats encourage the production of alpha-2 brain waves. These waves are the signature of “relaxed alertness” — a state where we are mentally calm but cognitively sharp and present. By shifting the brain away from the jagged, high-frequency “beta” waves associated with anxiety and panic, the herb moves us towards a more rhythmic, grounded state. This shift allows us to process information with more ease and less emotional friction, reducing the internal heat that leads to mental exhaustion.
A calmer state through reduced inflammation
Chronic stress creates a pro-inflammatory state in the body. This can lead to the release of cytokines, which are signalling proteins that trigger inflammation in the brain — a leading cause of low mood. The combination of apigenin and avenanthramides in the herb helps to inhibit the pathways that produce these inflammatory markers. By lowering this internal “heat”, the nervous system can shift out of a defensive position and back into a state of growth and repair, leading to a more resilient mood.
Long term resilience and balanced responses
Because the green herb works cumulatively, its true value lies in its ability to re-educate the HPA axis — the complex communication network between our brain and our adrenal glands that governs our stress response. Over time, the synergy of these minerals and compounds supports “synaptic plasticity,” which is the brain’s ability to create new, healthier pathways. By supporting the way our nerves fire and signal, we help our nervous system “unlearn” the chronic stress response and re-establish a baseline of balance, where our body can focus on repair and maintenance rather than just survival.
Sourcing, using and dosing
The two best delivery methods for green oat herbs are by tincture and long infusion.
Using a tincture
The most critical requirement is that a tincture is made from the freshly harvested green herb. If the plant is dried, the plant’s most potent constituents can oxidise or break down, significantly reducing their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and lower neuro-inflammation. The tincture should be deep olive-green and carry a fresh, grassy scent.
Look for a 1:2 extraction ratio on the label. This means that one part of the fresh herb was steeped in two parts of the liquid solvent. This concentrated ratio is necessary to ensure the final tincture is sufficiently “loaded” with the minerals and flavonoids we need. A more dilute preparation, such as a 1:5 ratio, may not provide a high enough concentration of protective compounds.
Take a dose of 3ml to 5ml three times a day. After 4-6 weeks, you may notice you are no longer “crashing” by mid-afternoon. For the physical mending of the myelin sheath a three-month protocol is far more realistic.
If you are feeling particularly “jangly” or overwhelmed, you can take the tincture sublingually — placing the drops directly under the tongue and holding them there for a minute. This allows the small molecules to pass through the thin membranes of the mouth and enter the bloodstream directly, bypassing the digestive system and the liver’s initial processing. This method provides the fastest route to the brain’s GABA receptors.
Long infusion
Alternatively, you can prepare a long infusion. This method is specifically designed to extract the dense mineral profile — especially the silica — that is otherwise locked within the tough, fibrous cell walls of the green oat herb.
To find the high-quality material you need for infusions, search for Green Oat Straw or the botanical name Avena sativa. Look for a herb that is a vibrant, meadow green — this confirms the plant was harvested while it was still full of life. If the straw looks yellow and bleached, it was likely left in the field too long, so the active compounds will have largely degraded. The straw should be “nutri-fine” or “chaff” style, which provides the high surface area needed for the water to penetrate the tough cellulose.
Start by weighing out approximately 15 to 20 grams of the dried green herb — this is generally a large, dense handful. Place the herb into a 0.5-litre glass mason jar. Using this volume allows you to create a highly concentrated mineral “soup” that you can realistically consume within a single day.
Fill the jar to the very top with boiling water that has been allowed to cool for 10 minutes. It is essential to cap the jar tightly immediately after filling as many of the constituents that help quieten the nervous system are volatile and will escape in the steam if the jar is left open. By sealing it, you force these gases back into the liquid as it cools, ensuring you retain the chemistry needed to support your nervous system.
Leave the jar to sit on the counter for at least eight to ten hours, or ideally overnight. This extended time is the only way to break down the plant’s cellular structure and release the orthosilicic acid — the bioavailable silica required to mend the “frayed” insulation of your myelin sheath. A quick steep will only provide a pleasant flavour; only a long infusion provides the structural nourishment.
Once strained, drink the half-litre of infusion at room temperature throughout the following day. You should finish the batch within 36 hours max, as the organic minerals and antioxidants will begin to oxidise and lose their potency beyond this point. For the best results in clearing “brain fog,” you should aim for a fresh batch every 24 hours.
Bonus Tip: After straining the first batch for drinking, you do not need to discard the herb immediately. You can pour more hot water over the same straw to create a second, lighter infusion. Once cooled, this can be used as a hair tonic or final rinse after washing. The silica that strengthens our internal neural “wiring” is also effective at reinforcing the structural integrity of our hair.
When we begin to support a nervous system that has been overtaxed for months, or even years, we need to have patience. These practices — the slow overnight infusion or the regular dose of tincture — are reliable and practical ways to reinforce our internal structure from the inside out. But it takes time for the silica to bolster our wiring and for the minerals to replenish what has been lost. We should try to be as steady and patient with ourselves as we are with the process, acknowledging that physical repair happens at its own pace.
There is a quiet reassurance in knowing that we are finally giving the nervous system the materials it has been lacking. As the days go by, we may find that our reactions feel a little less urgent and our rest feels a little more restorative. By maintaining this consistent care, we can help ourselves to gradually find a much firmer and more reliable sense of internal calm for the demanding months ahead.
I look forward to sharing another plant ally with you next Friday.
In solidarity, as ever
— Lori
© Lori Corbet Mann, 2026
🫶 i genuinely thank you with my whole heart. i chose “other” in the poll because it’s really all of the above for me. i have a constant level of anxiety that pushes me all the way back into major depression. i can’t accomplish anything because i’m overwhelmed all the time. ❤️🔥
Are you using tincture as a general "any liquid" base? Because any label that says tincture--from a medical or pharmaceutical POV--means specifically in an alcohol base. The difference can be very important for people who avoid alcohol for medical, lifestyle, or religious reasons.