Guest guest Posted January 25, 2001 Report Share Posted January 25, 2001 Dear Elizabeth & Jack, Hi there! I understand your infusion problem a little too well. Many things can cause mold to grow on your infusion. Since I am not privy to your method I will give you the basic way that I make infused oils. Let me degress here a moment and say something about standardization. At present there is no standard method that everyone uses to make herbal infused oils. Everyone makes them according to the information that they have learned somewhere. You have as many different ways of making infusions as there are base carrier or essential oils. What is needed sometime in the near future is a standard method floating around out there in the ethers that everyone will on some level decide to use. This way we can have a consistently higher quality of infused oil available as well as a standardized proceedure for marketing and pricing that will evolve out of standardization process. Then because money can be made at some level from infusions, you will begin to see infusions on the market for sale. Now most people make infusions because they need them for several of their formulas and rarely sell them as I do. This needs to change so that if you need comfrey herbal infused oil or melissa hio (herbal infused oil) or angelica hio or any other hio, then you can go to someone who is selling them and find the hio that you are looking for. This will allow for friendly competition and growth of the herbal infused oil industry and we need this to compliment the essential oil industry. Essential oils require the use of base carrier oils and what else are herbal infused oils but the base carrier oils that are used to dilute essential oils. Now, let's make the herbal infused oils/base carrier oils do double duty by working with essential oils and working independently. The reason that I make as many hios as I do is because I need them in the many formulas that I make and I couldn't find certain herbs in an essential oil. I wanted oils that worked subtly and effectively and was not as caustic or sensitizing as some of the essentials that out there. I, also, wanted oils that were made from herbs that were either too expensive for me to buy as an essential oil (i.e. melissa, helichrysum, rose, angelica, and so on) or herbs that were not generally made into essential oils because of low essential oil content in the plant itself (mullein, lobelia, comfrey, St. John's Wort, Calendula, etc.). The basic process for making an herbal infused oil (hio) is simple: Take your herb and fill your jar with it. Pour your favorite carrier oil over it. Let it set for a specific amount of time (methods vary from book to book, teacher to teacher). Strain and use your hio. Now let's get realistic. This is great in theory but what do you really do? Well, that's up to you and your research. Have fun! Now for a look one method at how do herbal infusions. Dry Herb Infusion: 1. Prepare work space for making your oils. Put together all the things that you need such as labels, jars, stirring sticks, caps, pencil to write with, and journal to write down your formula, paper towels for clean up, several pans of various sizes, measuring devices such as spoons and cups, base carrier oils and your chosen herbs. 2. Stuff jar with the amount of herb that you want. (Dried herbs are much easier to measure because you generally know how much dried herb you have bought to use and how you have divided your herb.) 3. In a separate pan heat your oil as follows and then pour oil over your herb. 1. For berries, twigs, resins, thick leaves, woods, etc. use extremely hot heated oil 2. For medium thick leaves, berries (like juniper, holly, etc.), thick petalled flowers, etc. use warm to hot heated oil 3. For fragile leaves (melissa, violet, etc.), flowers (rose, jasmine), etc. use cold to warm oil 4. Cap your jar. Let it cool if extremely hot. Label it. Make notes in your journal. Place your jar in a cool, dark place to mature. (I use one year as my guidepost but many people use a good deal less time such as 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. I feel that one year is needed for the plant material to go through one complete earthly seasonal cycle. I do not replace my herbs as many do after a few days because I don't feel that you are getting the entire potential and vibratory rate from the plant but this is my spiritual belief after many years of trial and error in making herbal infusions.) The length of time you chose is yours but I feel like that the longer it sets with the herb in it the stronger it will get and better to use in medicinal formulas. I have some oils that were made over 10 years ago that are extremely strong and work exceptionally well and you use them by the drop and not the teasponn. Fresh Herb Infusion 1. Same as above #1. 2. Allow the fresh herb to dry a little while if the herb has a high water content. Herbs with a high water content tend to go sour (however, even sour, this mixture is still useable*) or will grow mold or fungus. Sometimes a few hours is all that is necessary or a few days. (Melissa and violet leaf have high water content and tend to go sour very quickly if they are not allowed to dry for a while.) 3. Stuff your jar full of the fresh herb. 4. Same as #3 above. 5. Same as #4 above. *Note: In the old days, herbalists who made herbal infused oils used these oils until every drop of these oils were gone regardless of how they smelled because these oils were precious and could not be replace easily. They only had herbs available to them in the amounts that they could grow or afford to buy or trade other oils for. They didn't have the luxury of having the bulk suppliers that we have availible to us today. They also let their herbs stay in the oil indefinitely so that the infusion would not go bad. Once the herb is removed you have a shelf life of anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, sometimes longer if you are lucky. I believe that we are going to see herbal infused oils become standardized and the types of hios available will vary greatly because each part of the world has local specialty hios that they alone can produce for the rest of us. This, in turn, will help to spark an even greater interest in aromatherapy and it's related areas as well as help to grow many small cottage industries for making hios. This, then, will allow more people to become interested and learn about aromatherapy. You never know whose life you can help touch and turn around just by giving them hope and a new area to investigate. I believe tat we are just beginning to learn about the benefits and many values that the herbal infused oils can impart to us. We are now just beginning to investigate the benefits and see the results. We are re-learning, in essence, about herbal infused oils and how to re-use them in our daily lives. We should remember that herbal infused oils were here before the essential oils were. These hios were the first tools available to the healers, priests, shamans, etc. because it wasn't until the 10th century that the prototype of the still that we use today came into existence. So, what type of oils, dear list members, were used before the still came into being? Herbal infused oils* (as Graham Sorenson shared with us several months ago in one of his emails.) *Another Note: When some herbal infused oils become old, they begin to become very aromatic, thick and resinous like Vetiver, Labdamnum, Guaicwood, and other resinous essential oils. Question: Could this be the type of " essential oils " that was found in the Egyptian tombs when they were opened? Interesting point to ponder and think about. I hope that this information helps you. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me privately or to the list. If personal, for the sake of others, email me privately. Thanks. Rhavda Cooper Emison >Hi >I have been having the same problem as Jack - in fact my infusion actually >developed a mould at the bottom! I was so careful to make sure I did >everything as sterile-y as possible too.... >Elizabeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2001 Report Share Posted January 29, 2001 Donna, I possibly could assist you if Rhavda is unable too. Linda S. Brewer ieelsb - " Donna Groom " <donnag Tuesday, January 23, 2001 11:42 AM [AX] infused oils > Hi Rhavda, > > I am interested in the Helichysum inf oil, Do you sell it? > > Donna > > <sos1 > > Monday, January 22, 2001 3:46 PM > Re: [AX] Jack and oil testing > > > > Dear Elizabeth, > > Hi there! I grow herbs to make herbal infused oils and creams to > > sell in my business. Helichrysum, Melissa (lemon balm), violet leaf, and > any > > of the other mints as well as lavenders are great to grow. I went to > making > > and teaching about herbal infused oils because of the potential that they > > have in working with essential oils. Currently I am working on an article > > about how to use herbal infused creams and oils. The problem at present > with > > herbal infusions is that there is no standardized method used for making > and > > pricing of herbal infusions. At present herbal infusions can be made in as > > little as 3 days (this means very little healing qualities are transferred > > into the oil) or they can set for years and be extraordinary strong and > will > > melt plastic the same as essential oils and you would also use them by the > > drop. They are not as concentrated as essential oils but you use the herbs > > for infusions that are either hard to get essential oils from or herbs > that > > are not generally cost effective to make into essential oils. These > > infusions greatly broaden your scope of use in aromatherapy into areas > that > > along essential oils don't generally work in. (By the way, my infusions > set > > for 1 year or longer in order to get the strenght that I need in preparing > > my oils and creams.) Also, by making infusions you can make smaller > amounts > > and see if you want to grow larger amounts for either infusion or > > distillation and believe it or not, you can get some very nice aromas. I > do > > a Texas Oak Moss herbal infusion that I will put up against any Croatian > or > > Eastern European Oak Moss essential oil for perfumery and varicose veins. > > Helichyrsum, African Queen Basil, and Melissa oils also come out quite > > nicely for working with. If you have any more questions, please email me > > either privately or to the group. > > Rhavda Emison > > >Hi Jack > > >and welcome... > > >Try contacting Charles Wells of Essentially Oils in the UK - he buys and > > >Re which plants to grow for oils - just take a look at his oils pricelist > > >will give you some ideas. > > >We too are hoping to grow plants for oils extraction (down in the south > > >island of New Zealand - North Canterbury area) - perhaps we can exchange > > >notes! > > >Any other growers out there prepared to help us newbies?? > > >Elizabeth > > > > > > ************************************************** > > UPDATE: > > Sig Lines: Commercial Sig lines are equal to advertising. Please do not > display your link to your commercial website in your Sig line. > > Your can add your commercial site to the " links " section only. It is there > for you so please use it. > > www./links/ > > > > QUICK TIPS: Send your quick tips to > > -owner > > > > The intention of this list is to provide up-to-date information concerning > the safe use of Aromatherapy, and is not intended to replace the advice or > attention of the proper health care professionals. > > > > > > > > > ************************************************** > UPDATE: > Sig Lines: Commercial Sig lines are equal to advertising. Please do not display your link to your commercial website in your Sig line. > Your can add your commercial site to the " links " section only. It is there for you so please use it. > www./links/ > > QUICK TIPS: Send your quick tips to > -owner > > The intention of this list is to provide up-to-date information concerning the safe use of Aromatherapy, and is not intended to replace the advice or attention of the proper health care professionals. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2003 Report Share Posted July 14, 2003 The best thing I have found by far to strain through bar none is clean panty hose. The oil easily flows through by the residue does not. I sometimes strain it twice depending on the size of the herb I am infusing. HTH MAKE A HAPPY MEMORY EVERY DAY: Evelyn Alternasense Skin Design Products www.alternasense.com - J Mission Sunday, July 13, 2003 11:52 AM Re: Re: infused oils Let me ask this: The residue, the gunk at the bottom of the bottle, is that the place that diminishes shelf life? My tinctures sometimes have that residue, and I have not filtered it out, thinking that the residue was part of the tincture, making the tincture stronger. Would it be worst to go back and filter the residue out especially when some of the tinctures are a year or more old and have not been opened. I remember vaguely reading about herbs in alcohol oxidizing after a certain amount of time, but when I do research, I tend to look for more than one reference on a subject and I had only seen this one. But then, I mainly make my tinctures from dried herb. The fresh plant material in oil is part of my continuing fascination with herbs. Coffee filters are wayyyyy to slow to filter through, though, I have had some success using tea bag paper. Would anyone know where to get a small amount of tea bag paper? j SJW oil is one of the few that does well in the 'fresh' method. Perhaps this is because of the antibacterial properties in the herb, and the leaf properties (see below)? One of life's mysteries. Still, you have to be careful with SJW, make sure you decant off all the residual gunk and water in the bottom of the jar, etc. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.498 / Virus Database: 297 - Release 7/9/03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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