By Kris Vaughan, CH
I recently made a batch of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) herbal infused oil to use in a salve that I love. Herbal infused oils are easy to make and give you a great way to apply herbs topically. I will often take a quiet weekend and prepare several batches of herbal-infused oils so that I can mix and match them for different needs.
St. John’s Wort is one of the most popular natural remedies for the nervous system but it also has the most potential for herb/drug interactions when taken orally. As a topical remedy, there is no worry about these interactions and it offers us the benefits of promoting normal healthy skin tissue and relief from nerve-related discomfort. For these reasons, when I am making a topical remedy for various skin conditions I will always add a bit of St. John’s Wort oil to the mix.
Make your own herb infused oil
The recipe for herbal infused oils is simple and fun. There are several methods which can take anywhere from 1-7 days to complete. Which one you choose will depend on your style and preference. I am a believer that your intention when making herbal oils, along with the quality of your herbs, will give you excellent finished results no matter which method you choose.
It is always best to use organic dried herbs that are cut and sifted very fine or ground into powder. If you are using the leaves and flowers of an herb, you can grind them yourself using a coffee grinder that you dedicate to herb grinding. The small amounts you will be using for at-home use will do well in a coffee grinder.
Solar Infusion
The solar infusion uses the warmth of the sun to gently infuse the herb’s medicinal qualities into the oil. This process can take anywhere from 3-7 days depending on how warm your weather is. If you have a nice sunny windowsill, you can do this there rather than outside.
- Grind your chosen herb to a powder if possible
- Place the powdered herb into a wide mouth mason jar and add an oil of your choice (almond, olive, sesame, etc.). I prefer olive oil because of its versatility.
- Stir the mixture well.
- Let the herb settle, then add more oil until the oil rises ¼ inch above the herb powder.
- Check your mixture 24 hours later. If the herbs have absorbed all of the oil, add more until it again rises ¼ inch above the herb powder.
- Cover jar with cheesecloth and a rubber band to hold it in place. The cheesecloth will allow the oil to breathe and not become rancid but will also keep dirt and debris out of your oil.
- Place the jar in a brown paper sack to block light and place in the sun for 7 days during warm or hot weather.
- Shake or stir every few hours each day.
- When the infusion is complete, strain the oil from the herb using cheesecloth placed in a fine mesh strainer. If you have sediment in the bottom, strain again through unbleached cotton muslin to remove as much sediment as possible. Some left in the oil is really no problem and many are of the belief that it enhances the action of the oil.
- Bottle in a jar and cap tightly, label, and store in a cool dark place.
Your oil is now ready to be used as a topical remedy or mixed as an ingredient in a salve.
Digestion Method
This method utilizes a water bath to maintain consistent temperature and can take up to 10 days.
- Grind your chosen herb to a powder if possible
- Place the powdered herb into a wide mouth mason jar and add an oil of your choice. Stir the mixture well.
- Let the herb settle, then add more oil until the oil rises ¼ inch above the herb powder.
- Check your mixture 24 hours later. If the herbs have absorbed all of the oil, add more until it again rises ¼ inch above the herb powder.
- Cover jar with cheesecloth and a rubber band to hold it in place. The cheesecloth will allow the oil to breathe and not become rancid but will also keep dirt and debris out of your oil.
- Place jar in a water bath on the stovetop and turn burner on low. Monitor with a thermometer so that the oil reaches a temperature of 100 degrees and maintain that temperature for 7-10 days. You may turn it off at night when you sleep and turn it on again in the morning.
- Stir every few hours each day.
- When the infusion is complete, strain the oil from the herb using cheesecloth placed in a fine mesh strainer. If you have sediment in the bottom, strain again through unbleached cotton muslin to remove as much sediment as possible.
- Bottle in a jar and cap tightly, label, and store in a cool dark place.
Hot Infusion
This method is the quickest and can be done in 12 hours when you need to have the oil ready quickly. This is also the preferred method if you were going to make an oil from root or bark pieces.
- Grind your chosen herb to a powder if possible. If using roots or bark it may be best to purchase them already ground into a powder or have a high powered mill or blender.
- Place the powdered herb into a wide mouth mason jar and add an oil of your choice. Stir the mixture well.
- Let the herb settle, then add more oil until the oil rises ¼ inch above the herb powder.
- Cover jar with cheesecloth and a rubber band to hold it in place. The cheesecloth will allow the oil to breathe and not become rancid but will also keep dirt and debris out of your oil.
- Place jar in a water bath on the stovetop and turn burner on low. Monitor with a thermometer so that the oil reaches a temperature of 140-150 degrees and maintain that temperature for 12 hours.
- Stir every hour.
- When the infusion is complete, strain the oil from the herb using cheesecloth placed or unbleached cotton muslin in a fine mesh strainer. 10. Bottle in a jar and cap tightly, label, and store in a cool dark place.
Whichever method you choose, you are sure to enjoy the process and learn some patience along the way. Other herbs that make excellent infused oils are calendula, comfrey, chamomile, and arnica but your options are endless. If you don’t want to make your own, you can purchase excellent herb-infused oils from our apothecary here at Herbal Wisdom Institute or other reputable herbal product manufacturers.
Happy medicine making!
Did you enjoy this article? Do you have an experience of medicine making you want to share or a question? Post it below and I will be sure to respond.