Avena sativa Common Names: Oatstraw & Common Oat Oatstraw is a grass with blade like leaves that produces edible seeds known to most of us as "oatmeal". The stalks, leaves and premature flower florets have been used medicinally for over 3000 years as a soothing nerve tonic. Oatstraw is a nervine herb (meaning it calms the central nervous system) which makes it useful for soothing symptoms of numerous ailments, most notably Shingles, Multiple Sclerosis and migraine head ac