How To Make Your Own Herbal Body Care And Culinary Oils - Page 2

The basic recipe for infusions is:

• Base oil: 1 cup
• Dried herb: ½ oz or fresh herb: 1 oz

Combine the herbs and the base oil in a stainless steel bowl. Heat the bowl over a simmering water bath; the bowl should be floating in the water, not sitting flat. Stir occasionally and simmer for 30 minutes. Watch carefully. Do not allow the oil to bubble or burn. Strain the mixture through four layers of unbleached muslin until all of the herb has been separated from the oil. Additional essential oils can bee added at this point to either increase the aromatic value or the therapeutic benefits of the infusion.

STORAGE

To keep large quantities of infused oil from spoiling, add ¼ tsp of Benzoin tincture to 1 cup of infused oil. Benzoin tincture is prepared from the gum of the Indonesian tree Styrax benzoin, which will also help your infusion to blend. Or, if you prefer, you can add 500 I.U. of natural Vitamin E to 1 cup of infused oil.

The shelf life of infused oils is increased if the equipment and the bottles are clean and sterile. Prepare your infused oils using the same hygienic precautions as if you were canning food.

RECIPES

Here are some suggested combinations of aromatherapeutic infusion blends.

To make, find a jar that has a tight-fitting lid. Fill the jar with the herb or herbal blend of your choice. Then slowly pour your base oil over the top of the herb, covering the herb thoroughly. Mix to remove all air bubbles and cover tightly. For two weeks, place the jar in direct sunlight during the day and in a warm cupboard at night. Before use, strain the infusion through four layers of bleached muslin.

All-Purpose Massage Oil

• Sweet almond oil: 3 cups
• Comfrey Symphytum officinale leaves: 1 oz
• Calendula Calendula officinalis flowers: 1 oz
• Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis leaves: 1 oz

Soothing, Softening, and Relaxing Oil

• Apricot oil: 5 cups
• Rose petals (any variety, but ensure they are organic or spray free): 2 oz
• Lavender Lavandula angustifolia flowers: 1 oz
• Lemon balm Melissa officinalis leaves: 1 oz
• Chamomile Matricaria recutita (German) or Chamaemelum nobile (Roman) flowers: 1 oz

Article Author: Dorene Petersen

Dorene Petersen is President and Founder of the American College of Healthcare Sciences, which has been based in Portland, Oregon, since 1991. (The college was previously called the Australasian College of Health Sciences.) She holds a BA in Archaeology …

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