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Make an Herbal Oil (intermediary method)

Use the intermediary oil infusion method for herbs such as plantain, yarrow, and calendula, as well as other herbs used for topical ailments. Today I am going to make a yarrow & calendula herbal oil to use for a healing salve.
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Equipment

  • blender
  • coffee grinder
  • pint-sized jar with lid
  • sieve
  • cheesecloth
  • Small funnel
  • bucket-style coffee filter
  • 4-oz amber bottles for oil storage (dark bottles keep the light from degrading your oils with UV exposure)
  • 2 clean containers for catching oil as it filters (containers should be sized to fit the sieve)

Ingredients

  • 1 oz dried herbs of choice (I am using a 50/50 blend of calendula and yarrow)
  • 8 oz carrier oil of choice (I am using fractionated coconut oil because it absorbs well into the skin. Olive oil is another good choice)
  • 1/2-1 oz high proof alcohol such as Everclear (190 proof) (not your standard vodka; vodka does not have enough alcohol)

Instructions

  • We are going to start by grinding our 1 ounce of herbs into a powder. Use a clean blender or coffee grinder for this.
  • Once your herbs are ground, add 1/2 ounce of high-proof alcohol. However, if your herbs are fluffy and full, you can go up to 1 ounce. You want them damp, not dripping. I am going to use the full ounce because the calendula and yarrow are very fluffy.
  • Mix the herbs and alcohol until the herbs are completely dampened- not soaking. Think of moist potting soil or wet sand.
  • Put this mixture into a jar with a lid and let it sit for 24 hours.
  • After 24 hours, measure 8 oz of your chosen oil.
  • Add the oil and herb mixture to a blender.
  • Blend this for about 5 minutes. The mixture should be a bit warm.
  • Now, line a sieve with cheesecloth and place it over one of the clean containers.
  • Pour the blended oil and herb mixture into the lined sieve and let the oil drain into one of the clean containers.
  • Squeeze the remaining oil out by bringing the corners of the cheesecloth together as shown in the photo.
  • Now line another sieve or with a coffee filter and place it over the second clean container. This second filtering will help remove extra herbal sediment.
  • Take the strained oil and run it through this filter. The oil may take a while to pass through the filter, and you may need to change the filter due to herbal sediment buildup. You can also use a spoon to push aside sediment on the bottom so the oil can seep through.
  • Using a small funnel, pour your herbal oil into a small amber bottle.
  • Put a lid on your oil and label it with the type of herbal oil and the date made. I got about 6.5 oz of herbal oil total.
  • Your oil is now ready for use in topical applications.