 Home | Problem-Solving | Goal-Setting | Mind-Management | Free E-book | SiteMap |
||
|
Making Your Own (Medicinal) Oils 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. Some people prefer the methods that employ a long, slow heating process (such as the solar, oven-extraction, Crockpot, or roaster-oven techniques) over the double-boiler method. But there are times when it's handy 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 many people's homes. The beautiful yellow flower of St. John's Wort turns 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 magickal reason, it seldom does. I believe it's because of the alchemical fusion of the sun, the herbs, and the oil. 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 want a stronger oil, add a fresh batch of herbs to the oil and infuse it 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 top 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. Source: Herbal Healing For Women by Rosemary Gladstar |
||