Infused Oils

Infused herbal oils are made from a carrier oil that has been infused with herb material to extract its therapeutic value into the oil. Infused oils are great for skin & body care, and they are the base for herbal preparations like salves & lip balms, but they can also be used in the kitchen! Dried plant material is almost always used to keep the water content low to avoid spoilage.

Ways to used infused oils

• Culinary – think rosemary, oregano, & basil oils to drizzle over pasta or meats, or use as bases for salad dressings.
• Skin & body care – use as moisturizers or massage oils, bases for lotion bars, lip balms
• Herbal preparations – bases for skin healing salves and massage balms for sore muscles, bruising, or for pain

Types of Carrier Oils

There are many, many options for carrier oils! Depending on the intended purpose, we have so many choices. Here are a few:

• Sunflower – quicker wound healing, anti-inflammatory, ideal for herbal infusions
• Olive – rejuvenative, eczema & psoriasis, cradle cap, nourishing to hair, skin, nails, cuticles
• Jojoba – controls oily skin, emollient, anti-inflammatory, acne control, dry lips, hands, cuticles, & feet, controls hair loss & dandruff, conditions dry hair
• Hemp Seed – anti-itch, astringent & toning, eczema, psoriasis, acne, protects skin from free radicals
• Argan – toning & astringent, emollient, anti-itch, increases oxygenation
• Castor – germicidal, disinfectant, soluble in pure alcohol
• Coconut – antimicrobial (especially anti-fungal), protects and nourishes skin & hair, moisturizing, anti-Inflammatory
• Avocado – hair and scalp health, dry, cracked skin, wrinkles, sun damage
• Rosehip Seed – scars & stretch marks, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging

Herbs for Infused Oils

There are so many herb choices for infused oils! It is truly dependent on the desired effect and/or fragrance. Great vulnerary options include:

• Chickweed
• Calendula
• Marshmallow Root
• Plantain
• Yarrow
• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Violet
• Gotu Kola
• Aloe Vera (also antimicrobial and analgesic)
• Comfrey

Other possibilities include antimicrobial herbs like Bee Balm or Lemon Balm, and analgesics like Arnica (also a vulnerary), Cayenne, or Willow Bark. Infused herbal oils offer a versatile range of options!

Preparing Infused Herbal Oils

There are several ways to prepare infused herbal oils. My preferred method is a room temperature infusion, but it takes longer than a heat-based version:

• Fill a pint mason jar 1/2 full of dried herb material.
• Add 2 cups carrier oil.
• Gently stir with a clean spoon to release air bubbles.
• Cap and label.
• Store for 4-6 weeks, stirring every few days.
• Strain the oil infusion through cheesecloth into another container, squeezing the cheesecloth to fully extract as much oil as possible.

Other methods include heat infusion, solar infusion, double-boiler infusion, stovetop infusion, crockpot infusion, and oven infusion. These are good options because the infusion takes hours versus weeks, but you do have to watch that the the temperature doesn’t get too high. Here is how to make a double-boiler infusion:

• Place about 3/4 cup dried herbs in a double boiler and cover with 2 cups of preferred carrier oil.
• Heat the mixture over very low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Ensure mixture does not become too hot but stays slightly warm (120-140 degrees) creating a mild fragrance. 
• Carefully strain the herbs out of the oil using the cheesecloth into a dry sterile container. It will be hot.
• Use as intended.

References

Adelmann, M. (2013, May 6). How To Make Herb-Infused Oils. Herbal Academy. https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/herb-infused-oils/