How to Make An Herbal Infusion

Your backyard may be an oasis of health benefits. Collecting and using herbs and plant parts can make a
wonderful addition to your home first-aid kit as well as your culinary creations!

Infusing the plant parts with a natural oil allows the infusion to be used in a variety of ways. You can use it directly on the skin as a healing body oil, add it to your cooking, or create additional products using the infusion, including healing salves and creams.

The first step is to collect the flower/weed/herb that you want to make into an infusion. Fresh or dried herbs / plants will work.Second, choose your natural oil. The most common oil used is olive oil, for its longer shelf life and health benefits. Other natural oils you can use include MCT Coconut Oil, Safflower Oil, Sunflower Oil, or Almond Oil.Now, you are ready to infuse. A good rule of thumb is a 1:10 ratio by weight so your recipe will look something like this:1 oz. Herb/Plant : 10 oz. OilIf you are creating a product for healing benefits, you may want to increase the herb / plant to 3 parts / 10 parts.

Herbal Oil Infusion Using Heat

1. Place your herbs/plants and oil in a double boiler or in a clear glass jar inside of a pot of water that can be placed on your stove.
2. Cook on low heat for 3 or more hours for medicinal purposes, and 30 minutes or more for food purposes.
3. Allow to slightly cool and strain the oil into a clean glass jar or bottle. It is best to strain the herb/plant out as best you can, then strain the oil through cheesecloth to remove any remaining plant pieces.
4. Label the bottle with the name and date and refrigerate to extend the life of your infusion.

Flowers/Weeds/Herbs

Top 3 flowers that heal:
Calendula
Bee Balm
LavenderTop four naturally growing weeds that are good for you:
Plantain
Dandelion
Mallow
ChickweedTop five herbs that make wonderful oil infusions:
Basil
Lavender
Rosemary
Thyme
Mint