Oats - research shows Oats are fantastic for sooting the skin

Anti-itch, anti-inflammatory compound found in Oats

Research has told us that Oats (Avena sativa) is one of the super foods of this century. It not only helps to lower cholesterol but it also is a great glucose leveller (its great food for those with glucose intolerance and diabetes), its a fantastic source of fibre and is especially useful in combating the risk of colo-rectal cancer and disease.

Finally science has been able to prove what herbalists and natural therapists have long known that oats is one of natures best skin soothers.
Researchers have identified the substance within oats that not only soothes the skin, is anti-inflammatory but is also anti-itch as well!

What herbalists and traditional practitioners have known about oats

When faced with inflamed, itchy skin, herbalists and traditional medical practitioners have known that there is nothing better than to fill a sock or old stocking with a hand full of oats, run a lukewarm bath and and sponge yourself with soaked oat filled sock. The oat milk from the oats is what soothes the skin.

You know when you cook oatmeal for breakfast and the oats not only cook but a wonderful gelatinous goo is produced. This is the magical substance that works wonders on cholesterol, glucose balancing and yes soothing skin!

The magic phytonutrient is...

You see one of the major phytonutrients in Oats - wonderful avenanthramides - have been shown to have a strong anti-inflammatory anti-puritic (anti -itch) effect, even when applied to skin at low concentrations. While traditional medicine may not have known the name of the actual active ingredient they have certainly been harnessing the effect of it for centuries.

Clinical Research

A research paper"published in the May 2008 'archives of Dermatological Research" found that there was significant evidence that the 'avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats exhibited strong anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity".They also found "Additionally, topical application of 1-3 ppm avenanthramides mitigated inflammation...contact hypersensitivity and neurogenic inflammation and reduced pruritogen-induced scratching.(see below for reference information)

What does this mean?

In practical terms it means that the lovely gunky, slimy 'juice' that can be extracted from oats is in fact wonderful for soothing skin which is inflammed, sensitised and damaged.

It also means that we can use this amazing substance to help soothe irritated skin... be it from eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis.

Moon Haven's Honey & Oats Soap

At Moon Haven we use Oats in a number of our products from our wonderful Facial Mask Powder with Sandalwood and Oats to our soaps including Herbalicious and Doggy Dip but it is our Honey &Oats soap that the wonderful benefits of the oat extracts come to play.

In this deeply nurturing soap we use not only our wonderful oat extract (affectionately dubbed 'oat gunk') but rich. locally sourced red gum honey. Both these active ingredients provide moisturisation and soothing, anti-inflammatory properties to our soaps.

Extracting the Oat Extract

At Moon Haven we don't purchase a bottle of oat extract for our products but much prefer to extract our own wonderful "oat gunk'' from our oats and use it immediately, fresh in our products. While this is not a complicated process - it certainly is messy!

By producing our own oat extract, it eliminates the need to use preservatives as well as ensuring the highest potency extract available. Besides we are fanatical about knowing what goes into our products and this makes sure we can be sure that the extracts have been made to our own standards.

Reference: Arch Dermatol Res. 2008 Nov;300(10):569-74. Epub 2008 May 7.

Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity. -Sur R, Nigam A, Grote D, Liebel F, Southall MD.
Preclinical Pharmacology, Skin Research Center, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, 199 Grandview Road, Skillman, NJ 08558, USA.

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