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Cayenne—in fine powder 100 Gm (4 oz)

Fixed oil I liter (40 oz)

3. “Mix together smoothly, place in a closed vessel over a water-bath and digest at 140°–160° F. for 4 hours. Then remove from heat, allow to cool, and leave for 12 hours for the powder to settle. Then carefully pour off the clear oil.”

I include this method because I think it is interesting to see how different (expert) medicine-makers do their stuff. I would never take my oils up to this high a temperature, but these Physio-medicalists were passionate therapists and pharmacists, extremely competent in their practice—blessed be diversity.

National Formulary IV (1916) Method

YIELD ABOUT 1000 ml

The air-dried herb 100 Gm in No. 30 powder

Alcohol 100 ml 190-proof (grain) ethyl alcohol

Ammonia water* 2 ml

Sesame oil 1000 ml

* Ammonia water (USP Dilute Solution of Ammonia) is prepared by mixing 9-10 Gm of ammonia (NH3) into 100 cc of distilled water. This solution deteriorates rapidly in open containers.

1. Moisten the herb with the alcohol and ammonia water (already mixed together).

2. Macerate for six hours in a covered glass or enameled steel vessel.

3. Add the sesame oil.

4. Using a water bath, warm this mixture at a temperature between 120° and 140° F. in an open vessel, stirring frequently until the alcohol and ammonia water are dissipated.

5. Then transfer the mixture to a strainer, express the residue, and filter the strained oil.

OIL INFUSIONS USING FRESH PLANTS

The “Herb School Method”

1. (Optional) Wilt the fresh herb for 12 hours (do not dry it).

2. Chop the freshly cut or wilted herb to a fine pulp or grind plant in a metal Corona grain mill, or in some other suitable instrument, and place the resultant mash into a “meat roaster vat,” yogurt maker, or some other apparatus with a thermostatic control that allows you to maintain a consistent 100° F. temperature.

3. Add a fixed oil of your choice, enough to make your mixture thick-juicy-wet (Olive or Sesame oil are recommended, Sweet Almond oil will be used for skin care).

4. Stir the mixture well and smell it (make an olfactory note of the nature and quality of the aroma).

5. Set the heat thermostat at 100° F. and cover the herb/oil mixture. With some plants, I leave them uncovered for the first couple of days to allow moisture to evaporate. Ideally, you want to digest this oil infusion for 10 days and nights at 100° F., stirring and smelling it every 2 hours. Use a yogurt thermometer to monitor the temperature.

6. If this fresh plant oil begins to ferment (a change in its aroma will alert you), raise the temperature to 150° F., immediately let it fall back to 100° F., and continue the procedure. (This usually eliminates the opportunistic activities of the fermentation-inducing organisms.)

7. When the infusion is completed, strain the oil from the herb (this is accomplished more easily when the oil is still warm) and press the remaining pulp.

8. Now: At this point we have created a problem that needs to be dealt with. The juices of the undried herb introduced water into the infusion. The presence of water in a fatty oil, as mentioned before, favors fermentation and rancidity, which will ruin your medicinal oil. All the water must be removed before permanent storage.

9. So: Allow your oil infusion to sit in a clear glass jar undisturbed for 4 or 5 days.

10. The water and other impurities (gunk) will settle to the bottom, at which point you can decant (gently pour off) the oil or draw it off with a basting syringe and then discard the water/gunk portion.

11. It is advisable to let this decanted oil sit undisturbed for a few more days and check it for remaining water impurities.

12. When you are satisfied that the oil is free of all water, bottle, cap tightly, label, and store it in a cool dark place.

Physio-Medicalist Method for Making Fresh Plant Cold Oil Infusion

According to William Cook, physio-medical physician and herbal pharmacist, “Just as fresh plant tinctures are in many cases better than their dry plant counterparts, so