Re: QUESTION - Herb-infused oils LONG

[Guest guest]

Hello Lori,

You might find the following to be useful.

Nerys

My latest books at:

www.neryspurchon.com

Infused Oils

Infused oils are produced by soaking the plant material in warm oil over a

period of time. It is probably the oldest method of extraction and was used

thousands of years before distillation and other methods were devised.

Infused oils have many of the properties of essential oils but also have the

benefits of other plant substances not present in essential oils.

The resulting oil isn't as strong as essential oil and can usually be used

without further dilution. One of the main advantages of this method is that it

makes it possible to utilise many plants that yield either very little or no

essential oil but which are immensely useful.

Well dried or thoroughly wilted herbs are the best to use to make infused oils

as the water content in fresh herbs could cause bacteria to grow and spoil the

oil. Examples of useful infused oils are as follows:

Turmeric

For massage in the treatment of sprains, cramps, bruises, and muscle pain.

Arnica

The pure essential oil contains a high percentage of toxic constituents.

However, the infused oil or homeopathic tincture or ointment is a most valuable

addition to any home first aid box.

When applied externally, the oil stimulates the peripheral blood supply making

it one of the best remedies for sprains, strains, bruises, RSI and similar

problems. It may also be used in blends to relieve rheumatism and other

inflammatory conditions.

Caution. This oil must never be used on broken skin.

Calendula

Calendula infused oil has powerful skin healing properties. This makes it

useful as the main oil in creams and ointment for cracked skin, burns, eczema,

inflammations, rashes, work-rough hands, nappy rash, grazes and wounds. An

excellent treatment for sore nipples - use the oil alone rather than a cream. It

also helps to fade old scars and can be used in the treatment of ulcers and

varicose veins.

Comfrey

Known variously as Knitbone, Boneset, Bruisewort and other descriptive names.

Comfrey oil is impressive in its healing powers for wounds, ulcers, strains,

sprains, muscular injuries and fractures. May also be used to good effect on dry

eczema, itchy skin and rough skin.

Echinacea

Already very well known as an internal treatment echinacea flowers also makes

a valuable oil for healing skin conditions of all types and cosmetically

softening wrinkles, stretchmarks and scars.

Elderflower

The flowers are the parts to use and I make and keep a good supply of this oil

for blending with calendula oil to make moisture lotions and creams. The

resultant oil is softening, anti-inflammatory, healing and good for all skins.

Mullein

The yellow flowers and olive oil make a very valuable infused oil for the

treatment of simple earache. Prolonged or severe earache needs urgent

professional treatment. Use also for painful and inflamed conditions such as

wounds and haemorrhoids.

Plantain

I use a double quantity of this herb when making healing creams. It has

strongly astringent and soothing properties, helps to reduce the pain of wounds,

stings and insect bites, reduces the itching of haemorrhoids and also helps to

stop bleeding.

St 's Wort

Also known as Hypericum oil. When steeped in warm oil the yellow flowers

release a rich, ruby-red oil with analgesic, astringent and antiseptic

properties. The oil is excellent for easing the pain of minor burns, muscle and

joint inflammation, nerve related pain such as neuralgia, fibrositis and wounds.

The infused oil is available in most good health food stores but if you can find

the plant in flower it's really exciting to make this oil yourself.

Orange Blossom (Neroli), Rose, Chamomile, Jasmine, (Lemon balm)

are all very expensive oils. Beautiful, effective and inexpensive massage oils

can be made from these plants using the infusion method. If you want your

finished oils to have a stronger aroma and action you can add a few drops of

essential oil.

Store the oils (carefully labelled) in a cool, dark place.

Refrigeration of the oils will ensure a much longer life as oxidation and

rancidity will be retarded.

Other Herbs to Use in Infused Oils

Skin oil: chamomile, calendula, elderflower, lavender, rosemary, rose, jasmine.

Massage oil: chamomile, geranium, jasmine, lavender, marjoram, rosemary, rose.

Healing ointments: calendula, comfrey, lavender, mallow, plantain, rosemary,

sage, thyme, valerian, violet, wormwood, yarrow.

I make very small amounts of triple strength oils ready to blend into specific

massage oils or ointments and make a large quantity of triple strength calendula

oil that I add to most of my blends.

Hot Method of Making Infused Oils

1.. Half fill a jar with dried (or wilted), crumbled (not powdered) plant

material or three quarters fill with wilted plant material.

2.. Add 1 tablespoon cider vinegar to the herbs (1 tablespoon for each 2 cups

of oil that you will use), stir well, place a lid on and shake vigorously.

3.. Leave for a few hours without heating, shaking often. The vinegar releases

properties that aren't released into oil.

4.. Fill the jar with good quality oil - sunflower would be excellent (as it

tends to oxidise more slowly than other oils), that has been warmed only to

blood heat. Fasten the top down firmly and put the jar in a warm place; hot sun,

a pan of hot water, a crock-pot containing water, a radiator or the top of the

refrigerator at the back for 24 hours. Shake the jar occasionally.

5.. Heat should be no more than 45C; if the oil overheats you will lose some

of the important volatile properties of the herbs and oxidation of the oil will

happen more quickly.

6.. Strain the oil first through a sieve and then through coarse muslin or a

coarse weave tea towel and squeeze to get as much oil as possible out of the

plant material, if you want a single strength oil you can go to stage 8.

7.. Pour the strained oil back into the jar, add more plant material and if

necessary, top up with a little fresh oil to keep the quantity the same. Fasten

down the top firmly again and repeat the procedure. You can continue to repeat

the process several times (omitting stage 2 after the first extraction) until

you are satisfied with the strength.

8.. Strain the oil through a kitchen sieve to remove most of the plant

material and then through the finest cloth you have. Pour the finished oil into

a jar. After a few days you will see sediment at the bottom of the jar.

9.. Carefully decant the oil into a clean jar, leaving the sediment behind or

remove the sediment with a meat baster.

Refrigerate the oil until needed. The addition of a couple of Vitamin E capsules

to every cup of finished oil will help to act as an antioxidant. I refrigerate

or even freeze the sediment and use it in packs, compresses and masks.

Cold Method of Making Infused Oils

The following is a method that has been employed by herbalists for centuries and

is called the 'Simplers' method, it feels very 'alchemic' and earthy but works

best if you live in a country where there are long, hot sunny days.

The above Hot Method tends to lose a lot of the natural perfume of the plant

material while the Cold Method retains more of the scent.

a.. Put the lightly bruised flowers or leaves in a jar and cover to about 5cm

(2 " ) above the plant material with a slightly warmed, delicate, scentless oil

such as sunflower or almond. Unless the herbs are completely submerged they will

go mouldy.

b.. Cover closely with a well fitting lid. Have as little air space as

possible in the jar or mould may be encouraged to grow in the condensation that

will form on the glass and the inside of the lid.

c.. Put in a sunny spot for one week. Bring the jar in at night (if you

remember!).

d.. Repeat as for stage 6 of the Hot Method until the oil smells as strongly

as you desire. Strain well through a sieve and then through double cheesecloth

and follow stage 7 of the Hot Method.

Use the finished infused oil to incorporate into massage oils, ointments, bath

oils, skin care preparations, insect repellents or to use alone.

Nerys Purchon