DESCRIPTION
Botany: Avena sativa (cultivated oats) developed from wild oats. A. sativa is commonly grown in northern temperate regions, as it needs more water and humidity than wheat and dislikes dry weather in early summer. A. sativa is both a food and a herb, known to medical herbalists as a “trophorestorative”. Plants are cut in summer before fully ripe and threshed to separate the grains, which are then dehusked and rolled for use as cereals, and liquid extracts, and tinctures. Dried stalks are sometimes included in tonics. The useful part of oat is the endosperm.
Biochemistry: Oats are a good source of essential vitamins such as thiamine, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin E. They also contain zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oats also contain alkaloids such as gramine, and glycosides. Oats are the cereal with the highest lipid content (about 7-8%), most of which is located in the endosperm. Endosperm also contains xanthophylls, phytosterols, terpene alcohol, hydrocarbons, and tocopherols.
Products:
Avena sativa fixed oil
Oat oil is extracted from whole oat kernels by a gentle process that retains all of the important biologically active components. It contains a very high level of important natural antioxidants, including several forms of vitamin E (tocopherols). It is rich in essential fatty acids and natural emollients. It has a good skin affinity and has a moisturizing action that is particularly visible in skin dehydrated by excessive exposure to solar radiation and sea water
USES
Traditional use: oats are good for sores, inflammations and rough skin (helps to soften the skin, and a good healing poultice for the skin (drawing out splinters and foreign bodies).
Clinical studies have proven that oats heal dry and itchy skin, reduce inflammation and alleviate redness.
Avena sativa Oil fixed oil
Oat oil has excellent softening, smoothing and hydrating properties for both skin, cosmetics and hair products. This ingredient is used in children`s protective preparations and emulsions and pastes for problem skin conditions, especially in cases of dryness and itching (for sensitive skin or skin prone to inflammation/redness). It can be generally used in skin creams, lotions and oils. It is also used as scalp care.
TOXICOLOGY
Few data suggest oat-based cosmetics may cause allergic reactions in atopic subjects, especially when sensitized to cereals. One study showed that sensitization to cereals does not increase the risk of allergic reactions to oat-containing cosmetics.
Another study showed that oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis seen for allergy testing is higher than expected. It may be the result of repeated applications of cosmetics with oats on a predisposed impaired epidermal barrier. They suggest avoiding topical-containing oat proteins in infants with atopic dermatitis.
ESSENTIQ PRODUCTS CONTAINING OAT
Kids care