I’m almost positive it was wheat straw. Oat straw has a lot of purported benefits (which I did not know until now):
“Exactly how oat straw works is one of nature’s mysteries. However it seems to provide deep nourishment in a way our bodies can easily assimilate and use.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, consuming oat straw alleviates conditions related to anxiety, mood imbalance, and sleep. Some of the many reported benefits of oat straw include: calming and strengthening the nervous system; nourishing and circulating Qi; relieving stress and calming emotions; reducing depression; enhancing clear thinking; aiding digestion and stabilizing blood sugar; reducing inflammation; nourishing the heart and circulatory system; and encouraging a deep and restful sleep.
Interestingly some of the key Western actions and medicinal (biochemical) uses for oat straw are as an antioxidant and anti-depressant; as a rich source of carbohydrates; lowering cholesterol and blood sugar; preventing heart disease; increasing blood flow to the brain (via increased nitric oxide synthesis); and stimulating estrogen.
Oat straw is a deeply nourishing herb filled with vitamins and minerals. It’s a herb that works immediately but is most effective if used regularly over time helping to strengthen those who may be sleep deprived, exhausted, weak or anxious.”
https://www.treeofqi.com/2018/02/herbal-spotlight-oat-straw/
Interesting. We exclusively used oat straw for our goat bedding for 25 years. The goats never tried to eat it, but it is really soft and absorbent bedding compared with wheat straw. We used all that bedding and manure on our garden all those years. Our “girls” were always relaxed and mellow and chewed their cud frequently. They ate the best 2nd cutting alfalfa we could find year round and increased grain when in milk. Thanks for the info.
I always read that all straw was nothing but cellulose