This is a lovely way to transfer the medicinal qualities of plants into oil, to be used as a skin healing balm, massage or as an addition to your bath. Many of the goodies in plants are oil soluble, so this is the perfect way to extract them and use them in conjunction with the medicinal benefits of oil. The quality of your infusion will obviously depend on the quality of your raw materials, so choose accordingly.
Oils to try:
Herbs: there are so many to choose from, but here are a few suggestions:
- Comfrey
- Lavender
- Calendula
- Dandelion
- Yarrow
- Lemon balm
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Method:
There are quite a few ways to do this but this method employs the most natural, traditional way – good old sunshine, or, if you want to be more poetic – solar infusion.
- Pick your herbs first thing in the morning and let them dry in the sun for at least a few hours because you don’t want too much moisture.
- Chop them up and bruise with a pestle and mortar to help extract some of the contents. Place in a clean jar.
- Add the oil of your choice, making sure to cover all the plant material but leave a bit of space at the top of the jar for expansion.
- Stir well and cover with a tightly fitting lid.
- Find a sunny windowsill to park the jar and give it a good swirl once a day.
- Strain after about 4-6 weeks into a pretty glass bottle with a piece of muslin, squeezing out every last bit of oil. Don’t forget to label it.
The next blog: Natural Sleep Remedies with Oils
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