Medicinal herb infused oils are one of the first herbal preparations that I learned to make. You can use infused oils to make salves, sugar scrubs, lotions, lip balms, and body butters. They are also great to use by themselves. Infused oils are for external use only. Tinctures and extract are for internal use. Fresh or dried herbs can be used for infused oil, but I find that dried herbs are typically easier to work with and more readily available. Making an infused oil only requires two ingredients, carrier oil and herb. It’s that simple!

Types of Herbs

Some of my favorite herbs to infuse are chamomile, calendula, arnica, lavender, comfrey, shepherd’s purse, plantain, yarrow, cramp bark, chickweed and lemon balm. This is a very short list of the herbs you can infuse. There are thousands of medicinal herbs in the world to choose from. Grab a great herbal book to learn more about each medicinal herb, or combination of herbs, so you can decide which one will work best for you. Be sure to order your herbs from a reputable company that does not use chemicals as part of their growing practices.

Carrier Oil

The most commonly used carrier oil used to make an infused oil is olive oil. It is great for all skin types and typically safe for people with sensitive skin. Some of the other popular favorites are jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, argan oil, sunflower oil, and sesame oil. Just like with herbs, be sure to purchase your carrier oil from a trusted company that does not use GMOs or chemicals in their products.

Supplies Needed to Make Infused Oil

Dried herb

Carrier Oil

Mason jar with lid

Cheesecloth

Solar Infused vs. Heat Infused

There are two different methods for infusing your oil. The solar method is the traditional way and it takes 4-8 weeks depending on the herb that you are infusing. If you are needing your infused oil faster, then you can use the heat method by using either the stove or a crockpot.

Solar Method: The solar method has been used for thousands of years. It infuses the herbs in the oil by the power of the sun for 4-6 weeks. Be sure to shake the jar at least once a day to ensure all of the herb continues to stay covered by oil. You may need to add more oil every once in a awhile as the herb absorbs the oil. This is my preferred method for making all of my infused oils. I enjoy creating my medicinal herb combinations using methods that have been passed down from the wisdom of our ancestors. If it was good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me!

Heat Method: As I mentioned above there are two different ways to infuse your oil with heat. Using a crockpot on low will take 2-3 days or you can infuse it in a double boiler on the stove at 125 degrees farenheight and it will be ready in 2 hours.

Recipe for Making an Infused Oil

Now that you have chosen your herbs, carrier oil and which method of infusion that best suits your needs let’s make an infused oil!

Supplies:

8 ounce jar

12-15 Tablespoons of Dried Herb (1/2 a jar)

Cheesecloth

Bowl

Directions:

1. Fill your jar half way with dried herb.
2. Now fill your jar to the top with your carrier oil. Making sure that all of the dried herb is covered oil.
3. Place your lid on the jar and begin infusing it with the method that you have chosen.
4. When your infusion is complete it is time to strain the herb from the oil. Place your cheese cloth into a bowl and pour all of the herb and oil into it. Gather the ends of the cheesecloth making a pouch and continue to squeeze the herb until oil no longer drips from the cheesecloth.
5. Now you can pour your herb infused oil into a mason jar, amber or cobalt tincture bottle, or any other type of glass jar of your choice.
6. Store in a cabinet where sunlight cannot reach it, at room temperature, for up to 1 year.