Infusing herbal water
There’s two methods in doing this, cold water or hot water.
“Hot” extraction is used to extract herbs from a carrier oil. As some herbs require heat to extract, this method can also be used if you need the remedy sooner. Boiling or overheating the oil will alter the chemical compounds of the herbal properties you are trying to extract.
“Cold” & “Hot” Infusions and Carrier Oils
.You should only use dried herbs when cold-infusing oil (with a few exceptions) since moisture can turn the oil rancid or moldy. It is possible to use a variety of carriers. As a salve-making ingredient, it is temperature stable, well-priced, and works well. Organic oils should be purchased from states with strict labeling laws (such as California).
Herbs all undergo the same process. The following methods are used to infuse herbs into oil. When we say “cold,” we mean at room temperature. It is a time-consuming process. Infusing herbs into a carrier oil only takes 6-8 weeks.
These drinks are usually infused hot, then chilled with ice or in the refrigerator; however, you can make cold tea and coffee by following the same method, it’s just a little slower. Cold tea and coffee take time to infuse.
Good carrier oils include sweet almond oil, coconut oil (which changes consistency with temperature), jojoba oil, baobab oil, ta-mane oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, and emu oil. In addition to bear fat, rendered fat or tallow can also be used
“Cold” Oil Infusion
1. Break or crush the dried herbs, then pack them lightly into a clean, sterilized glass jar. You can fill a glass jar about 1/3rd full with dried herb (for some herbs, like cottonwood buds, I fill the jar about half full).
2. Your high-quality organic olive oil (or other natural plant oil) should be poured over the herbs. Your carrier oil should be filled to a height of 12 inches (1.25 cm). Gently mix to ensure that there are no air bubbles. Place a date and herb label on the jar.
3. Keep your jar for 6 to 8 weeks. Do not go longer than 8 to 10 weeks or your oil may go rancid (cottonwood buds are an exception to this). I often start certain herbs with a little heat by placing them in a water bath on low for a day or two (see warm infusions below) and then storing them for 6 to 8 weeks.
4. Strain out the herbs using cheesecloth or a tincture press after 6 to 8 weeks. Use a cheesecloth to squeeze the oil out of the herbs. Place the oil in a sterile bottle. You can use it directly for medicine or to make salves. It lasts for approximately two years.
For hot oil infusions, use a crockpot with a “warm” setting or a water bath on low heat on the stovetop. This method works well if you want to infuse multiple oils at once. Here we are infusing herbal water (hot).
1. Dry the herbs and tear or crush them, then pack them lightly into a clean, sterilized glass jar. Fill a glass jar 1/3 full with dried herbs (for some herbs, like cottonwood buds or usnea, I fill it over half-full).
2. Your high-quality organic olive oil (or other natural plant oil) should be poured over the herbs. Fill your carrier oil to within 1 inch (1.25 cm) of the top. Make sure there are no air bubbles in the mixture. Place the herb and the date on the bottle.
3. Make sure the water in your water bath/crock pot stays full while you cook your glass jars on low for 4 to 7 days, depending on the herb. Make sure no water from your water bath gets into the jars if you are using fresh herbs. Leave the caps off the jars so the moisture can evaporate out.
4. When the herbs have cooled, strain them with cheesecloth or a tincture press. Pour the tincture into a clean, sterile bottle, jar, or container. You can use this oil directly as medicine or for making salves. It lasts for about 1 to 2 years.
Salve-Making
Herbal skin care that is effective. Aside from treating burns, rashes, skin irritations, bites, wounds, and eczema, they can also relieve stiff muscles, arthritis, and nerve pain. Making salves from herbal oil infusions is a good way to take herbs with you when you’re not at home. Salve can only be made after the herbs have been infused with oil.
Herbal salves are easiest to make when the infusion and mixing steps are combined. You will need a lot of dried herbs. The herbs should be covered in oil in the top half of a double-boiler, with water in the bottom half.
Let it cook for a few hours (do not overheat – about 100 degrees). Remove from heat, stir, and strain through cheesecloth. Add melted beeswax (about 1/4 cup to 1/5 cup per cup of oil) to the double-boiler.
Each essential oil should be added 15 to 20 drops to 8 ounces of oil. A vitamin E supplement can prevent rancidity. Allow to set after mixing well and pouring into containers.
To make a simple salve out of your infused oil and beeswax:
To make a simple salve out of your infused oil and beeswax:
1. Pour your infused oil(s) into the top part of a double boiler.
2. Melt beeswax and add. In my practice, I usually mix one part beeswax to four parts infused oil, using anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/5 cup per cup of oil. I use 2 oz (48g) of beeswax per 8 oz (250ml) of oil.
3. Mix together thoroughly until the beeswax has melted.
4. For each 8 oz (250ml) of infused oil, add 15 to 20 drops of each essential oil. To prevent rancidity, add 1/2 tsp of vitamin E to 16 oz (250ml) of oil. Just before pouring, add essential oils.
5. Test the consistency of your mixture before pouring into your containers (jars/tins) to set. If it’s too hard, add more oil, if it’s too soft, add more beeswax. Finish pouring, labeling, and date
