How to Make Medicinal Oils

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How to Make Medicinal Oils> "From Herbal Healing For Women"> by Rosemary Gladstar:> > There are four common methods used for making oils.> Each of these methods is highly effective and is used> professionally as well as for home use. I myself> prefer the methods that employ a long, slow heating> process, such as the solar, oven-extraction, or> Crockpot or roaster-oven techniques, over the> double-boiler method. But there are times when I've> been thankful to be able to make a medicinal oil in> the short time made possible by the stovetop method.> > Solar Infusion Method> > Using the simplers' measure, place the desired amount> of herbs and oil in a glass jar. Cover tightly. Place> the jar in a warm, sunny spot. In Europe and the> Mediterranean the jars are placed in sandboxes to> attract greater amounts of heat. When traveling in> Switzerland, my daughters and I were fascinated and> excited to find jars of St. John's Wort flowers> steeping in oil on the porches and balconies of may> people's homes. The beautiful yellow flower of St.> John's wort turn the oil a bright red. It is truly> beautiful and amazing!> > Let the oil/herb mixture infuse for two weeks. People> always ask why the oil doesn't go rancid sitting out> in the hot sun. According to natural laws, it should.> But for some magical reason, it seldom does. I believe> it's because of the alchemical fusion of the sun, the> herbs, and the oil. But once strained, the oil will> definitely go rancid very quickly if left in the hot> sun.> > At the end of two weeks, strain the herbs, rebottle> your beautiful herbal oil, and store it in a cool dark> area. If you wish a stronger oil, add a fresh batch of> herbs to the oil, and infuse for two more weeks. This> will double the potency of your medicinal oil. Using> the solar method for making medicinal oils is my> favorite method. I learned it from the wise old Gypsy> herbalist, Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Though a bit> more time-consuming than the other methods, it has the> added benefits of the sun, the wisdom of the elders,> and a delightful array of bottles sitting in a sunny> spot in the garden or windowsill of your home.> > > Oven Extraction Method> > Place the oil/herb mixture in a pan with a> tight-fitting lid or in glass canning jars. Put the> pan and/or jars in a larger pan with sufficient water> to cover up the bottom half of the container. Turn the> oven on the lowest temperature possible and allow the> herbs and oil to infuse for several hours. Check> frequently to prevent the oil from overheating and> burning.> > > Double Boiler Method> > Place the herbs and oil in a double boiler, cover with> a tight-fitting lid, and bring to a low simmer. Slowly> heat for one-half to one hour, checking frequently to> be sure the oil is not overheating.> > The lower the heat, and the longer the infusion, the> better the oil. This is a quick and simple method that> appeals to many modern-day herbalists. One word of> caution, however: oil heats up very quickly. Be> mindful of the temperature. Your preparation can> quickly go from a nice herbal oil infusion to> deep-fried comfrey leaves.> > > Crockpot and Electric Oven Roaster Method> > Both Crockpots and electric oven roasters allow for a> long, slow cooking process. The roaster is most often> used by small professional companies making quality> herbal products. The herbs can macerate in the oil for> a long period of time (two to four weeks) and the> resulting oil is of a superior quality. Electric> roasters can often be found quite inexpensively at> bargain shops and second-hand stores. They are in hot> demand by herbalists!> > Place the herbs and oil in the Crockpot or roaster and> turn to the lowest heat. Place the lid on and let the> mixture steep for the desired length of time. The heat> is generally higher in the Crockpot and usually two to> four hours is sufficient to prepare good-quality> herbal oils. Check frequently to protect against> overheating and burning. In the roaster, the herb/oil> mixture can steep for two to four weeks. It gives a> superior, dark-green herbal oil.

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist." -- St. Francis of Assisi

 

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