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Page 54
| Infused Oils |
| Infused oils can be used as a base for massage and chest rubs. There are two techniques: hot infusion and cold infusion. |
| Hot Infused Oils |
| These are made by heating 2 cups of dried herb in 1 pint of sunflower (or similar) oil in a double boiler over water for about three hours. Remember to refill the lower saucepan with hot water from time to time to prevent it from boiling dry. After about three hours the oil will take on a greenish color and it can then be strained and squeezed through a muslin bag and stored in clean glass bottles, away from direct sunlight. This method is suitable for making comfrey, chickweed, stinging nettle, or infused rosemary oil. |
| Cold Infused Oils |
| Because the oil is not heated in this method, you can use good quality seed oils that are rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) which have significant therapeutic properties. Oils high in EFAs include walnut, safflower, and pumpkin oils. The cold infused oil is made by simply filling a large screw-top jar (such as a clean instant coffee jar) with the dried or fresh herb and then completely covering with oil. The jar should be left on a sunny windowsill for at least three weeks. Then the mixture can be strained through a muslin bag. The cold infused method is suitable for St. John's wort, marigold, or chamomile flowers. |
| Massage Oils |
| The sort of massage oils used in aromatherapy are very easy to make at home by adding a few drops of essential oil to some sort of oil base. Suitable bases include sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, avocado oil, or any of the infused herb oils made from walnut or sunflower oil described above. |
| In general do not use more than 10 percent of essential oil |
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