Calendula oil

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UKHerbal-listDear All,

Feedback from anyone with experience of making their own Calendula oil would be

much appreciated! For the last two years I've tried my hand at making Calendula

oil and Hypericum oil. I pick the flowers from my allotment once the morning dew

(or the rain) has evaporated and macerate them in organic sunflower oil for 5 to

6 weeks under glass in the sun. I leave the lid of the jar off but cover the

opening with clean muslin, adding more flowers once or twice a week. The

Hypericum oil always turns out really well, with that wonderful, deep red colour

and good smell, and last summer's harvest kept well for a almost year before

beginning to turn rancid. But both last year and this year the Calendula

developed a very unpleasant smell while still macerating..hard to describe it,

kind of half musty half sour and really puts me off bottling it and using it.

Earlier this year I tried some Calendula oil from a mainly essential oil

supplier. He says his Calendula flowers are macerated in soya oil (from non-GM

sources he says). It has no unpleasant smell at all and works well and makes me

wonder if it has been deodorised and, as it's a deep orange colour (unlike mine

which fades to a very pale yellow, despite the almost hallucogenic vibrancy of

colour of the living flowers!). I wonder if he might add a colouring or perhaps

Carrot CO2 extract. Anyway, he insists it isn't deodorised and that nothing is

added to it.

So...any ideas anyone? Am I doing anything glaringly obvious wrong? Would it be

better to harvest and dry the Calendula petals before macerating them in oil,

perhaps? Could the very hot spring followed by, so far, a very wet summer have

something to do with it?

Thanks in anticipation!

, MNIMH

Digest Number 3906

UKHerbal-list

Messages In This Digest (7 Messages)

1a. Re: reduced decoctions From: Cristina Cromer

2a. Re: childrens herbal camp From: PALMER REBECCA

2b. Re: childrens herbal camp From: Fiona Shakeela Burns

3. Glycerites From: Menzies-Trull

4. Nasal Polyps From: Janet Alton

5a. Re: glycerites From: Herbs and Helpers

5b. Re: glycerites From: erica hollis

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1a. Re: reduced decoctions

Posted by: " Cristina Cromer " crissi@... cristinacromer

Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:23 am (PDT)

Hello ,

The answer to these questions are covered in the

essay, which I am happy to send to you if you

would like me to. Contact me off list if you'd

like me to send it.

But briefly:

I use one ounce of each herb. I use enough water

to allow the herbs to " swim " freely. The volume

of water depends therefore on the amount of herbs

used.

I use the soft aerial parts as well as roots,

seeds, barks... the lot. The decoction is cooked

at a low temperature and so compounds are not

destroyed; or at any rate, they don't seem to be.

You last question is not covered in my essay...

Hmmm... I think perhaps the thing to do would be

to use a prescription with which you are already

familiar, and make it up as a deep decoction so

that you can then make a comparison between the

Rx that you know, and the deep decoction. That

would be an interesting exercise, I think.

Bets wishes

Cristina

>

>

>Hi Cristina,thanks for your answers. Can I ask

>further what proportions of herb to water do you

>start with and what dosage do you use

>afterwards, I would be very tempted to

>experiment with some herbs. Would you say that

>roots/barks/seeds are more suitable then leafy

>herbs for such decoctions? Any particular herbs

>that you would recommend to start with?Thanks

>and best regards

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>>>> Hi All

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>>>> Just had a patient who is a recovering alcoholic.

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>>>> I was wondering about availability of herb

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>>>>combinations within capsules/tablets now with

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>>>>all the e.u legislation.

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>>>> Or whether anyone makes up powdered herb capsules?

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>>>> Many thanks

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>>> > Non

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