Oats

Oats – cooked grains

Oats main function is lubrication and replenishment of bodily tissues. Oats are the perfect food for dry, fragile, and emaciated people. It is the first grain given to babies, and is beneficial for children and the elderly.

Cooked in water or milk, oats balance both Vata and Pitta. In order to be appropriate for Kapha, oats should be lightened, and thus roasted (such as in granola). The dryness of granola absorbs moisture from the GI tract, aggravates Vata, and very commonly causes bloating or gas. 

For some, the feeling of satiety after eating oats is only kept for a short while. 

Properties

Taste: Sweet, slightly astringent

Natural Attributes: Heavy, Oily, Sticky, expansive

Tissue impact (Vipak): Sweet, Nourishing

Thermal impact (Virya): warming

Dosha impact: Decreases Vata and Pitta, increases Kapha

Digestive impact (Agni): Easy to digest

Channels (Srotas): opens the channels

Feces: moves the feces downwards, lubricates the intestines

Urine: diuretic

Strength (Bala): Improves strength and immunity

Mind (Manas): Sattvic

Effect: Demulcent, nervine, sedative, expectorant, nutritive

Chinese five element impact: Nourishes the Wood & Earth element and balances the Metal element; builds and regulates Qi and nourishes yin.

Chinese medicine syndromes: Liver Yin Deficiency, Liver dry stagnation, Lung Yin Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency, Heart Yin Deficiency. 

Medicinal properties 

• Nourishment (rasa): emaciation, kids, the elderly, postpartum, lactation, recuperation from fever.
• Blood-circulation-liver: removes cholesterol from the digestive tract and the arteries, strengthens cardiac muscles, hepatitis, treats accumulation of sodium, stabilizes blood sugar. 
• Fat: high cholesterol
• Bones-joints-tendon-ligaments: lubrication of joints, renewal of bones and connective tissue, strengthens hair, teeth and nails
• Nervous system: restores and nourishes 
• Reproductive and hormonal systems: restores and nourishes 
• Immunity: strengthens the immune system, preventing infections and contagious diseases – especially in children
• Mental: relieving stress
• Skin: soothes the skin (topically and internally)
• Respiratory system: dry cough
• Digestive system: abdominal bloating, regulates bowels, constipation, IBS and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

Harmful: conditions of phlegm, diabetes (initial stage).

Varieties

• Whole oatmeal – suitable for those with  strong digestive powers.
• Quaker – whole oatmeal, steamed and pressed.  The recommended type for vata, pitta and emaciated people.
• Instant Quaker – suitable for a weak and sensitive digestive system. Should be avoided by those suffering from phlegm stagnation.