Herbed Oil
HERBED Oils can be made from dried or fresh HERBS. Fresh HERBS must be wilted so that they give up some of their water content. Let them sit for several hours before making your oil. Any moisture content in your HERBED Oil will cause it to become rancid. Olive and Coconut Oil seem to have the ability to resist spoilage best. Olive oil may not be the best for bath and body oils, as it feels oily and heavy, and smells of olives; however, it does lend itself to HERBED oil that will be used for salve. Almond, Apricot, Coconut, and Grapeseed Oil are nicer for bath and massage products and for face creams as they have no smell.
Solar Infused Oil
1. Grind dried HERB to as fine a powder as possible.
OR
Wilt the fresh HERB for 12 hours; do not dry. Then chop as finely as possible.
2. Add a fixed oil. (Olive, Sesame, or Almond for skin care) Use enough oil to completely wet the HERB.
3. Stir well.
4. Let the HERB settle, then add enough oil to cover by ½ inch. Check in 24 hours and add oil to cover ¼ inch.
5. Cap tightly/wax paper
6. Place in a thick paper bag or box to keep light out, but set in the sun for 7-10 days. In the Mediterranean, jars of oil are set into sand to intensify the heat.
7. Shake or stir several times a day.
8. Strain the oil. Press the pulp for the remaining oil. There will be bits of herb in this oil- so keep it separate from the strained oil. Use this oil for a salad dressing.
10. Bottle in glass containers; Cap Tightly.
11. Store in Cool Dry place.
As long as HERBS are infusing in the oils; they usually do not become rancid. However, once the oils are strained- they will probably spoil within a couple weeks.
HERBED Oils can be made from dried or fresh HERBS. Fresh HERBS must be wilted so that they give up some of their water content. Let them sit for several hours before making your oil. Any moisture content in your HERBED Oil will cause it to become rancid. Olive and Coconut Oil seem to have the ability to resist spoilage best. Olive oil may not be the best for bath and body oils, as it feels oily and heavy, and smells of olives; however, it does lend itself to HERBED oil that will be used for salve. Almond, Apricot, Coconut, and Grapeseed Oil are nicer for bath and massage products and for face creams as they have no smell.
Solar Infused Oil
1. Grind dried HERB to as fine a powder as possible.
OR
Wilt the fresh HERB for 12 hours; do not dry. Then chop as finely as possible.
2. Add a fixed oil. (Olive, Sesame, or Almond for skin care) Use enough oil to completely wet the HERB.
3. Stir well.
4. Let the HERB settle, then add enough oil to cover by ½ inch. Check in 24 hours and add oil to cover ¼ inch.
5. Cap tightly/wax paper
6. Place in a thick paper bag or box to keep light out, but set in the sun for 7-10 days. In the Mediterranean, jars of oil are set into sand to intensify the heat.
7. Shake or stir several times a day.
8. Strain the oil. Press the pulp for the remaining oil. There will be bits of herb in this oil- so keep it separate from the strained oil. Use this oil for a salad dressing.
10. Bottle in glass containers; Cap Tightly.
11. Store in Cool Dry place.
As long as HERBS are infusing in the oils; they usually do not become rancid. However, once the oils are strained- they will probably spoil within a couple weeks.
Medicinal
Oil in 2 Hours
Using a Double Boiler makes HERBED Oil fast and simple. Keep the temperature between 95º and 110º.
1. Chop HERBS and place them in a double boiler.
2. Cover HERBS with an inch or two of oil.
3. Bring the water to a low simmer. Heat that is too high will “fry” the HERBS and destroy their quality.
4. Simmer gently 30 to 60 minutes; checking frequently. The oil will change color to green or gold and have the fragrance of your HERB when it has transformed.
5. Strain out the HERBS using muslin or cheesecloth with a stainless steel strainer.
6. Cool. Bottle. Wipe Jars. Label.
Specific Herbs in Oil
[Comfrey, marigold and St John's Wort color the oil green, orange and red respectively.]
Poke Root Oil for [Mastitis] Swollen Lymph Glands of the Neck, Underarm, or Groin. Warm THIS oil for 2 days at 110º before straining ¼ inch root slices through cheesecloth. In the case of Mastitis, the oil is applied to the nursing mother after nursing and washed from the nipple prior to the next nursing.
St. John’s Wort Oil for Peripheral Nerve Pain. Massage oil into feet and/ or legs.
Chamomile, Calendula, Comfrey Oils for baby or child’s skin. [Salve for Diaper Rash, eczema.]
Arnica Oil for muscle and joint pain/injury- NEVER on broken skin. Reduces inflammation. Athletes commonly rely on it to reduce the pain, swelling and bruising that accompany sprains and strains.
Violet, Red Clover, and Oatstraw Oil to dissolve “lumps.”
Mullein Oil soothes skin.
Cayenne (Capsaisin) Oil for sore muscles.
German and Roman Chamomile for softening, deodorizing, and disinfecting the skin.
Plantain Oil for inflammation and burns, insect bites, stings, poison ivy and sunburns.
Lavender Essential Oil can be added to any of the above for its soothing Aroma-therapeutic value.
[Any of the above can be made into salve by adding beeswax.]
Using a Double Boiler makes HERBED Oil fast and simple. Keep the temperature between 95º and 110º.
1. Chop HERBS and place them in a double boiler.
2. Cover HERBS with an inch or two of oil.
3. Bring the water to a low simmer. Heat that is too high will “fry” the HERBS and destroy their quality.
4. Simmer gently 30 to 60 minutes; checking frequently. The oil will change color to green or gold and have the fragrance of your HERB when it has transformed.
5. Strain out the HERBS using muslin or cheesecloth with a stainless steel strainer.
6. Cool. Bottle. Wipe Jars. Label.
Specific Herbs in Oil
[Comfrey, marigold and St John's Wort color the oil green, orange and red respectively.]
Poke Root Oil for [Mastitis] Swollen Lymph Glands of the Neck, Underarm, or Groin. Warm THIS oil for 2 days at 110º before straining ¼ inch root slices through cheesecloth. In the case of Mastitis, the oil is applied to the nursing mother after nursing and washed from the nipple prior to the next nursing.
St. John’s Wort Oil for Peripheral Nerve Pain. Massage oil into feet and/ or legs.
Chamomile, Calendula, Comfrey Oils for baby or child’s skin. [Salve for Diaper Rash, eczema.]
Arnica Oil for muscle and joint pain/injury- NEVER on broken skin. Reduces inflammation. Athletes commonly rely on it to reduce the pain, swelling and bruising that accompany sprains and strains.
Violet, Red Clover, and Oatstraw Oil to dissolve “lumps.”
Mullein Oil soothes skin.
Cayenne (Capsaisin) Oil for sore muscles.
German and Roman Chamomile for softening, deodorizing, and disinfecting the skin.
Plantain Oil for inflammation and burns, insect bites, stings, poison ivy and sunburns.
Lavender Essential Oil can be added to any of the above for its soothing Aroma-therapeutic value.
[Any of the above can be made into salve by adding beeswax.]