Oats have been noticed by the ancient Greek and Roman writers; at present they are cultivated in nearly all northern temperate latitudes. Their native country is unknown, though they are stated to be indigenous in Sicily and in a certain Chilean island.

When the seed is stripped of all its teguments, including its innermost, silky, fibrous covering it constitutes grouts; and when this is ground into fine meal or flour it is called prepared grouts. When the seed is kiln-dried, stripped of its husk and delicate outer skin, and then coarsely ground it constitutes the oatmeal of Scotland, a common, farinaceous article of food for laboring people and children (C).

Many forms of "rolled oats" are now a general article of commerce, forming excellent cereal foods. Oats are largely in America as food for horses and cattle. American oatmeal is said to be inferior to the foreign preparations.

This plant is a nerve-tonic, stimulant, and antispasmodic. It ranks among the most important restoratives for conditions depending upon nervous prostration, and for the nervous exhaustion consequent upon typhoid and other low fevers, and the accidental disorders arising from these complaints, as weak heart, spermatorrhoea, insomnia, etc. In enfeebled states of the heart muscle it acts as a good tonic to improve the energy of the organ, and is recommended by Prof Webster to prevent relapsing cardiac rheumatism.
In this condition it is not thought to be specially anti rheumatic, but rather to strengthen that debility upon which the rheumatic diathesis depends, so that the patient is less subject to atmospheric and other impressions.

In spermatorrhoea it is adapted to those cases of debility following a dynamic diseases, or in simple spermatorrhoea when not due to self-abuse.

The atonic state gives rise to a nervous erythrismerythrism or an enervated condition favorable to nocturnal losses. In cases depending wholly or partially upon prostatic irritation it is of less value, but aids staphisagria, sabal, salix nigra ailments, and other indicated remedies Spasmodic conditions of the neck of the bladder are said to be relieved by it.

A few years ago it was much lauded as a remedy to assist the morphine-consumer to throw off the habit, and to sustain the nervous system while undergoing that ordeal. We have, however, found it to exert but little good in this direction. A strong tincture may be prepared by crushing or pounding to a pulp the entire oat-plant when the grain is "in the milk," covering with strong alcohol and allowing it to macerate 14 days. The dose is from 10 to 30 drops in hot water; specific avena, 1 to 20 drops every 2 or 3 hours; Keith's concentrated tincture, 1 to 25 drops. This remedy was introduced by B. Keith   Co.

Specific Indications and Uses.

Nerve tonic,
stimulant,
and antispasmodic.
Spasmodic and nervous disorders,
with exhaustion;
cardiac weakness;
nervous debility of convalescence;
spermatorrhoea from the nervous erythrism of debility;
tensive articular swellings.

Avena - Oats Link

Avena Properties Favored by Aztec's

Pectorals(bronchitis and colds),  Diuretic,  Emollient(softens tumors and abscesses),  for side pain as in the flanks or behind the rib cage and also used as a nutritional supplement for children and convalescing patients.

Aztec Method of Use