Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 At 12:31 PM 5/3/2004 -0700, you wrote: >I wonder how much of the anti-viral properties, which I knew about from >melissa EO reading, are captured on one round through blending. Melissa infused herbal oil is antiviral, the alcohol tincture is antiviral, the tea is antiviral (very!), the compresses are antiviral, the EO is not. From a book review of Jane Buckle's book: http://www.acemake.com/NORA/bucklereview.html ># " Melissa oil is antiviral " . It is not. The paper actually quoted in two paragraphs (p130) states that tannins are the active components. These are in the water-soluble fraction and do nut occur in the volatile essential oils. This is repeated on several pages, eg. pp204,2I6,217.< (The water-soluble fraction does extract in an herbal infusion in oil, or in an alcohol tincture (preferable)). I have many other references, but this one was at hand because it is linked from my " Aromatherapy debunked and defended " bad books page. I have only >done one round through and have found that even that is very healing to >surface cuts and scrapes though perhaps the lavender I add helps! Also you >said " over and over again " . Is that two or three times or more? If I am >going to do that this year I would have to start now! Many herbalists learn over the years to stop when the oil is 'full' of the active ingredients. It is subjective. Just do it until you feel it is right. Also wondering if >blending and setting and shaking for 2 weeks rather than six would >work? Michael Moore has a great, funny description of making infused oil >from Oregon Grape in Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West (very green! Very >messy!). He heats it. I hesitate to do that with lemon balm. It is so >fragile. YOUR opinion? It is usually never recommended to blend an herb (I'm assuming you mean in a blender) as the first step in maceration. Releases too much chlorophyll. This is also true when macerating or tincturing for perfumery. Who told you lemon balm is fragile? It is very hardy. The scent may have nothing to do with the overall medicinal qualities if that is what you are looking for as an indicator or its medicinal properties (see above.) You might want to visit Henriette's website and read up on making herbal infusions. She is the expert, and you will be shown step-by-step. http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/ Just search for infusions or macerations. A week on that site is like a year-long herbal education. HTH.http://member.newsguy.com/~herblady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 I am enjoying this thread...out of all the herbs I planted last year (which were a few, but not a lot), the lemon balm is coming up full force along with catnip and comfrey. :-) Do you wash the herb before infusing? Do you let it dry completely or just kind of wilt? Thanks for any info! :-) Kelly Beers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 When infusing oils, some I use fresh, such as plantain and comfrey or SJW, but dried herbs work too..one can speed up the process by putting the oils in a bain marie on VERY low heat for some time. If the herbs get crisp and brown, it was too much heat or too long.. C-M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2004 Report Share Posted May 5, 2004 Thanks for all the input about infusing lemon balm! I can't wait until my little plant gets full enough to give it a hair cut! *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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