Making Herbal Oils
This recipe comes from our Sourcebook!
Herbal oils can be used as is or as the base of many homemade personal-care products. There are two main techniques to making an herbal oil: solar and Crock-Pot. The solar technique is generally preferred over the Crock-Pot technique because the plants have time to give their healing gifts to the oil without losing strength due to heat. Oil also has the potential to go rancid if it becomes too hot. The only time I use the Crock-Pot method is if I need the oil quickly and cannot wait the 4 weeks it takes to let it infuse in sunlight. All oils are unique. Before you choose one, you should consider the qualities of each oil and compare them to your desired effects.
SOLAR-INFUSED HERBAL OIL
The solar-infused method is by far the preferred method among herbalists to make an herbal oil. This method not only prevents the carrier oil from overheating, but also imbues the oil with the beautiful rays of the sun.
Please prepare...
- Dried herbs of choice
- Base oil of choice
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Fill a jar one-quarter to one-third full with your desired dried herbs. My favorite herb for skincare, hands down, is calendula (Calendula officinalis).
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Fill the jar the rest of the way with your base oil of choice, leaving a 1-inch space at the top.
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Cover the jar with a lid and give it a gentle shake.
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Leave the jar in a sunny window, shaking once a day to keep the plant material covered in oil.
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After 4 weeks, strain out the solids, reserving the oil. Now your infused oil is finished and ready to use in recipes or as is!