![]() ![]() Shake gently to cover all herbs with oil, then infuse using one of the following methods. Also leave at least one inch of headspace to allow for the herbs to expand. Place your herbs in a jar, then pour over enough oil to cover the herbs by at least one inch. However, if you desire fresh herbs, wilt them first for 12-24 hours to remove some of the moisture (too much water will cause your oil to go rancid and can allow for dangerous bacterial growth), cut them into small pieces, then strain the oil within a few days. Please note: I strongly recommend using dried herbs. Interested in getting the most out of herbs? I go into greater detail in my book, The Thinking Parent's Guide to Natural Remedies, which will be released in mid-May 2017! (Unless you choose cod liver oil as a base for a lotion and end up smelling like fish… I jest, of course!) The usual common sense rules certainly apply.įirm oils, such as coconut oil, may also be used, but ONLY if they remain liquid the entire time they are infusing, so the Countertop Method (see the methods below) won't work for firm oils. I personally prefer to stay away from any oil that has been extracted using hexane or other solvents and prefer pressed oils simply so any chemical residues won't be rubbed into the skin or ingested, but that's entirely up to you.Īnd that's the crux, really – there's really no right or wrong oil to choose. Or, if I'm infusing an oil that will specifically be used as the base of a healing salve, I like to use grapeseed oil or olive oil, as they're lovely on the skin.Īnd of course, there's the personal preference of which oils you source. I like to keep in mind the final use: if I'm infusing a massage oil, for example, I like to use oils like almond and jojoba that quickly rub into the skin without being greasy. Which Oils Can I Use to Infuse Herbs?Īny oil that remains liquid can be infused with herbs. Sometimes it's alcohol for a tincture, sometimes it's water for a tea or an infusion, and sometimes it's in oil for the use in salves and ointments, as well as to drizzle over food simply for the dazzling flavor it provides. So we use various menstruums to extract the benefits from the plant so we can use them. For example, taking echinacea, which is a common weed, at the onset of a cold or flu is well-documented as shortening or lessening the effect of the illness.īut we can't exactly just pick up a plant and start chewing on it to receive the best benefit from it! Herbs contain a lovely array of beneficial properties. Thus, this is an effective technique to use regularly in your home – and as you can see in the instructions below, is blissfully simple. This is lovely in the kitchen, say with a garlic-and-rosemary infused olive oil that you drizzle over a salad or a steak, as well as medicinally, such as when you infuse grapeseed oil with calendula or arnica to then use in a healing salve or cream. ![]() ![]() While there are many ways in which to use herbs, one common way is to infuse the oils with herbs. Herbs are potent and wonderful, both in flavor and in their ability to bring healing and relief to our bodies. ![]()
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