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By Root 895 0

lotions, ointments, and other forms of surface medication based upon fresh plant oil infusions may be preferred to dry plant preparations.”…“Because of its greater oleaginous property, Olive oil is preferred as the basis for these, whereas infused oils intended for liniments or rubbing oils are better prepared from rape-seed oil which is less greasy.… Where it is desired to avoid the use of heat in preparing the infused oil, and this especially applies to preparations from flowers the following method is used”:

1. Fill a canning jar with alternate layers of cotton-wool and flowers, each layer not exceeding ¼ inch.

2. Layer these lightly and do not compress them, so that inter-spaces are left.

3. Fill up the jar with Olive oil.

4. Seal the jar with cap and screw lid.

5. Set aside in a cool dark place for one month.

6. Remove the contents of the jar, keeping the layers of cotton-wool and flowers together and intact as far as possible.

7. Place in a press and press out the oil by slow steady pressure. This removes the plant material and cotton-wool.

8. Filter the oil infusion if necessary to remove particles and dust.

9. Store in brown glass bottles.

As a precaution, I suggest that you refer back to method l, The “Herb School Method,” and proceed with steps 8 through 12.

HERBS ON THE “35 HERBS AND A FUNGUS” LIST

THAT ARE WELL PREPARED AS OIL INFUSIONS

DRY PLANT OIL INFUSIONS

Burdock root

Calendula

Cayenne

Comfrey leaf and root

Elder flower

Ginger

Golden seal leaf and rhizome

Marshmallow root

Mullein leaf

Nettle leaf

Plantain

Yarrow

FRESH PLANT OIL INFUSIONS

Mullein flowers

St. John’s Wort flowering tops, especially in the flower bud stage

Garlic*

Arnica**

* Garlic is included in this list because it works so well when blended in equal parts with Mullein flower and Calendula flower oils for making an earache remedy. One or 2 drops of this blend are dropped into the ear canal and the ear is plugged with a small cotton ball. Please note that I am recommending here the use of an oil infusion of Garlic, not Garlic juice.

**Arnica is included in this list because it works so well when blended in equal parts with Calendula and St. John’s Wort oils to make an excellent application for soothing traumatic injuries (from very little traumas to major ones). Rub the blend of oils directly onto the injured parts, especially bumped, bruised, and/or crushed parts. If the injury includes an open wound, rub the oil compound around it; it is not advisable to put Arnica directly on an open wound. Arnica is equally well prepared as a dry plant oil.

Salves (also called ointments or unguents) are semi-solid fatty herbal mixtures normally prepared as external healing mixtures. They soften when applied to the skin, and provide a healing, emollient, protective, nourishing, or counter-irritant effect. Salves can vary in consistency from greasy to thick and hard, depending on the base used, the elements mixed together, and the purpose intended for its production. A balm is simply a salve that contains a relatively high amount of volatile oils. Upon application it delivers a notably intense cloud of aromatic vapors.

The base for most salves is a mixture of a wax and a fixed oil, usually mixed or infused with medicinal plant substances (see Chapter Seventeen, “Oil Infusions”). The oil enhances the absorption of the medicinal substances into the skin, and the wax gives firmness to the finished salve for ease of application. I prefer to make my salves with vegetable oils, although some people use animal fats. Often, essential oils and/or other solid or liquid materials are incorporated during the salve-making process.

Body heat melts the wax, and the oil fosters quick absorption of the plant’s medicinal constituents into the skin. Generally, it is best to massage the salve into the skin. With counter-irritant salves high in Cayenne, or salves that incorporate stimulating or warming essential oils (like Ginger, Peppermint, or Camphor), massage is not normally required, unless, of course, it