To: Homestead List <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [Homestead] infused oils and healing herbs
Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:30:55 -0500
How to prepare an infused oil
You will need a clean glass quart jar that is completely dry inside.
Make sure all of your utensils are also clean and dry: the least bit
of moisture can spoil your oil. Place 1/3 cup of dried plant
material in the jar and add enough good quality olive oil to fully
cover the plant material.
Check the jar after several hours to make sure the plant material
has not absorbed all of the oil. If all the oil has been absorbed,
add another inch or so. Cover the jar with a clean piece of cotton
or an unbleached coffee filter and secure it with a rubber band or
canning jar lid ring. Do not cover with a lid yet, because the herb
will sometimes release gases that could blow a lid right off the jar.
Let the oil infuse in a sunny window or on the kitchen counter for
about 10 days.
Strain out the plant material. The remaining oil may be kept in a
glass bottle at room temperature for up to one year.
Incredible Infused Oils
Mullein: Flowers are wonderful for ear pain
Calendula: Flowers will soothe the skin
St. Johns Wort: Makes a great first-aid oil
Basil: Will aid digestion
from the book Growing 101 herbs that heal by Tammi Hartung.
Subject: Healing Herbs
guideline and what works for some does not always work for everyone...
Some people need different herbs than others to treat a dis-ease.