How to Make Oat Extract

An easy way to create a home-made extract is to make a tincture. A tincture uses a solvent, such as alcohol, to extract the oils, nutrients, phytochemicals and other compounds in a plant. Tinctures are usually taken orally as medicine. An oat extract tincture is useful in treating a number of conditions. Herbalists report that oats can improve depression, chronic pain, nervous system disorders, vaginal dryness and skin disorders. Oats are also a great source of calcium and are even rumored to be an aphrodisiac.

Things You'll Need

• 8 cups organic oats
• Blender, food processor, or coffee grinder
• Two 1-gallon glass jars with lids
• Permanent marker
• 1.75 liters vodka, at least 80-proof
• Cheesecloth
• Paper coffee filter

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Instructions

• 1

  Grind 8 cups of organic oats for 10 seconds in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder until roughly ground. If using a coffee grinder, grind the oats in small batches. Put the ground oats into the first 1-gallon glass jar. Label the jar with the date and contents using the permanent marker.

• 2

  Pour 1.75 liters of vodka over the ground oats. Put the lid on and shake the jar to mix the oats and vodka.

• 3

  Store the jar in a cool, dark place. Shake the jar every day to mix the oats and vodka. Let the extraction sit for two weeks.

• 4

  Put the cheesecloth over the mouth of the second glass jar. Pour the oat extract through the cheesecloth, so the larger pieces of oats are filtered out. Bundle the cheesecloth and lightly squeeze to remove excess liquid. Discard the oats. Let the oat extract sit overnight, so the remaining particles can settle.

• 5

  Pour the oat extract slowly through the paper coffee filter into a clean jar. Pouring slowly ensures that most of the particles settled on the bottom will stay there.