Avena Sativa, oats extract, promoted as an aphrodisiac herb and included in many sexual enhancing products - How effective is an Avena Sativa extract for libido enhancement and is it effective as a treatment for impotence or erectile dysfunction? by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Do avena sativa supplements improve sexual pleasure? What is the right dosage and are there more potent herbal alternatives?

Avena Sativa supplement product information
Passion Rx - effective sexual enhancer for men and women with avena sativa extract and more than a dozen potent sexual enhancing herbs.

Avena sativa is the scientific name for the grass commonly known as oats. Avena sativa has been used medicinally since the middle ages, yet I have not come across any reference to any aphrodisiac benefit that has been noted or documented in several hundred years of use. In recent years extracts have been marketed as sexual enhancers.

Claims regarding avena sativa herb extract
Promoters say avena sativa extract frees up bound testosterone to free testosterone in the blood, making it more active. However, I have not come across any published studies that prove this point, nor have I come across any studies published in the medical literature regarding the effectiveness of avena sativa as a sex booster. However, some anecdotal evidence from users indicates the herb to be a mild and gentle sexual enhancer, not as potent as tribulus terrestris, tongkat ali, horny goat weed, and other sex herbs. Avena sativa therefore may be a good herb to use in combination with stronger aphrodisiac herbs.

Passion Rx with avena sativa extract --- Medical Doctor formulated for men and women

 

In recent years science has made breakthroughs in the understanding of sexual dysfunction. But, for hundreds of years, civilizations around the world have known about locally grown herbs that achieve wonderful results with far fewer side effects than prescription drugs. Now, renowned physician and herbal expert Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of Natural-Sex-Boosters, has discovered a combination of exotic herbs from the Amazon jungle, India, China, Malaysia, and Africa, that provides a natural solution for those seeking an alternative to synthetic drugs.

The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include Ashwagandha, Avena sativa, Catuaba, Choline, Cnidium, Damiana, DMAE, Horny goat weed extract, LJ00, Maca, Muira-Puama, Passion flower, Rhodiola, Tribulus, and Tongkat Ali, and Yohimbe.  A version of Passion Rx is available without yohimbe.

Buy Avena Sativa, 200 mg, 5:1 extract, top quality
Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Avena Sativa Supplement Facts:
Amount Per Serving:
Oats (Avena sativa) - 200 mg per capsule
   5:1 extract - about 5 times as potent as regular avena sativa powder

Avena Sativa benefit summary
I don't have a strong opinion yet regarding the aphrodisiac properties or benefit of avena sativa capsules or tablets, but my limited experience indicates avena sativa is a mild sexual enhancer. I'll have to wait for more research before I solidify my opinion. If you were to take an avena sativa extract supplement, one capsule a few times a week should be sufficient for most people. Take a week off each month.

High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
Consider highly popular all natural products. These top quality products include Mind Power Rx with for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women.
 

Avena Sativa research
Most sexual enhancement claims for avena sativa rest on research conducted during the 1980s by the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, which marketed a line of avena sativa products. According to an article in Nutrition Action Healthletter, the one study on men and women that compared avena sativa to a placebo was never published in a peer-reviewed journal.
   Avena sativa (oats) is a healthy addition to one's diet and could provide cardiovascular benefits.

Avena sativa and cholesterol
Effect of Avena Sativa (oat bran) enriched diet on the atherogenic lipid profile in patients with an increased coronary heart disease risk. A controlled randomized lifestyle intervention study.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2003;47(6):306-11.
To study whether an avena sativa bran enriched diet has a specific effect in lowering total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols, in addition to caloric and fat restriction. We performed a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, single-centre study in which 1,994 patients from the Wehrawald Hospital were screened and 235 met the criteria male gender, hypercholesterolemia, and overweight. All patients in the Hospital took part in a 4-week standardized inpatient lifestyle health program consisting of dietary intervention, increased physical activity, and health education. Caloric restriction, fat modification, and avena sativa bran supplementation were part of the nutritional regimen within the lifestyle health program. Ninety-nine patients were randomized to a fat-modified diet with caloric restriction and a daily intake of 35-50 grams avena sativa bran and 136 patients to a fat-modified, oat bran-free diet with caloric restriction. The most significant decreases in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B were found with the combination of the fat-modified and avena sativa enriched food. Added to a fat-modified diet, oat bran within a practical range of intake significantly reduces total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B.

Celiac patients and avena sativa
Adult celiac patients do tolerate large amounts of oats.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jan;57(1):163-9.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether adult patients with celiac disease in remission could include large amounts of oats in their daily gluten-free diet for an extended period of time without adverse effects. Twenty adult celiac patients in remission included large amounts of uncontaminated rolled avena sativa in their daily diet for a prolonged period. No adverse effects of a large intake of avena sativa were seen in small bowel histology, serology nor in nutritional status in the 15 subjects who completed the whole study period. The median intake of oats was 93 g/day and the compliance to the avena sativa diet was found to be good. Examinations of the patients after drop-out did not show any deterioration in small bowel histology or nutritional status nor raised levels of antibodies. Results from this study indicate that adult patients with celiac disease in remission can include large amounts of controlled wheat-free rolled oats for an extended period of time without adverse effects.

Recent studies indicate that patients with celiac disease in remission are able to tolerate avena sativa.

Safety and adverse events
Are you aware of any avena sativa side effects or any concerns with safety, toxicity, or risks?
    As of June 2010, I am not aware of any significant avena sativa side effects or toxicity. Very high doses could increase heart rate and cause insomnia.

Avena Sativa supplement emails
I have been taking avena sativa extract on and off for about one year. I think it does boost my sex drive but my goal with this product is to complement my weight lifting by increasing free testosterone thereby increasing muscle. I would never take steroids. I understand that steroids could potentially shrink the testicles, and I was wondering if avena sativa extract works in the same manner as steroids thereby causing testicles to eventually shrink?
    Long term human studies with avena sativa in relation to its effects on hormones are not available, so we really don't know. However, based on my knowledge, I would seriously doubt if avena sativa extract had effects even remotely similar to taking steroids.

I know you don't carry it on your website but do you have an opinion on Swiss Oats A111 and the clinical data showing it raises free testosterone levels?
    I have not seen any research on this product.

In the book, A Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2000 Edition, in the Impotence article, there is a reference to a Dr. Robert Frankt of Budapest University in Hungary having used avena sativa (green oats) and stinging nettles to treat men who suffered from low sexual desire and diminished performance. The action and chemical composition of each of these herbs is described in the list of Herbs and Their Uses in the same book above. Whether this means the combination is actually a kind of cure for (some aspect) of impotence (ED) is not clear.

This web page was updated in June 2010. As of this date, I am not aware of any published human avena sativa supplement research regarding its benefits for sexual enhancement.