What’s better than smelling those flowers? Rubbing them on your skin! Well, ok, not literally haha. Let’s take some delightful herbal flowers and make something useful!
If you would like to go more in depth about herbal infusions, tinctures, and extracts, send me a message - I teach a class a few times a year if you want a more in depth training (and you are local to me in Massachusetts). But for today, let’s keep it fun and simple!
How to make an infused oil with St. John’s Wort “Hypericum Perforatum”
Things you’ll need:
St. Johns Wort
Mason jar
Cheesecloth or sprouting lid (for venting the jar)
If you don’t know what this delightful ray of sunshine is growing everywhere - you should!
It blooms most of the summer starting in June (around St. John's Day, hence the name) around the summer solstice.This is an infusion best done with fresh flowers, and here’s why explained by the Herbal Academy:
“The active constituents include the red dianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin), essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, resins, plant acids, alkaloids, phloroglucinols (hyperforin), and vitamins A and C, among others. The red pigment of the bioactive constituent hypericin are extracted well in alcohol or oil, but are not preserved in the dried plant.”
Was it necessary to use all those big words??? Well, yes… yes it was. Truth is, if you are in to making your own herbal salves or anything you need to do a little bit of homework. There’s more to this plant that you should know. St. John’s Wort is such and incredible herb - it’s great for depression, it’s uplifting while it is also calming to the nerves, soothing to the skin… BRAKES!! (Insert screeching tires if needed)
**SAFETY THINGS**-- It does contain constituents which MAY cause photosensitivity to sunlight. And also certain drug interactions may occur if taken internally - always consult your doctor when taking anything you think may interfere.
Are you getting to the fun stuff yet???
Ok ok ok!
So you’ve got your plant matter, usually just the tops of the plants (please share with the bees, don’t take all of it). You’re going to give it a rough chop and put it in a jar and cover it with an oil of your choice.
My personal preference is safflower oil, it feels wonderful and absorbs nicely on the skin if you're just keeping the oil or you can make a salve with it. Make sure to have mixed the herb matter well in the oil and that there is enough covering it. Here’s where the magic comes in!!! Eeeeee!!!
Wait… magic you say? Hmm…
The red pigment starts coming out into the oil within a couple hours, which is really cool! It comes out faster, like minutes, if you were to do an alcohol extraction.
So fascinating! Especially because it’s a yellow flower right?
The magic of nature never ceases to amaze me. I like to let mine warm in the sun during the day and remember to bring it in at night. Or you can leave it by a sunny window for 4-6 weeks. If you are gently warming the oil, it can be done much quicker.
This is not something you cook! High heat will destroy all the lovely things you’re trying to accomplish.
As long as you vent the top of the jar with cheesecloth or even a sprouting lid (way easier, I say) make sure to give it a stir now and then. When it's all done in a few weeks make sure to strain the plant matter out really well (Cheesecloth is good for that) and you are left with such a beautiful oil that is great to soothe most skin issues. Maybe add a few essential oils to it and even use it as a nice massage oil for tired muscles.
Remember, nature takes its time, so be patient and appreciate the flowers around you.
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