Making Herbal Oils
I was trying to figure out the best way to clone my Arbonne pain-relieving gel when I came across this video. I had never heard of using a little alcohol before doing an oil extraction. I think I'm going to try this method as soon as I get all my herbs together.
Comments
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I had never heard of adding alcohol to an oil until I came across an article by Kami McBride a couple of years ago. Michael Moore also mentions this. Its not in any of the older herbals, but now this "alcohol intermediary" formula seems to be everywhere on the internet.
I've been making herbal oils for a very long time and rarely have oils go bad other than too long in storage. The oils made with fresh herbs sometimes will go funky cause of the water in them but usually if you let them wilt a bit they are OK. I have never had an oil made with dried herbs go bad.
Because I have never had an issue with oils going bad using dried herbs, I see this as an extra step in my already busy life. Not to mention that powdered herbs are more difficult to strain out of an oil than coarser herbs. You would need to use a thicker muslin cloth instead of cheesecloth.
These sites also indicate that it is a quicker method than letting herbs sit in oil for several weeks. If I want an oil in a hurry, I will just use the heat infused method and it will be done in 4 hours.
There is some suggestion that you will extract those constituents that are only soluble in alcohol but I'm not sure that there are any herbs that I make into oils that would benefit from the addition of alcohol.
If you are going to try this, @Tave, I would be very interested on hearing your opinion of the finished oil. If it is any better than an oil prepared in a more traditional way.
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@torey I've never had oil go bad either. It would be interesting to see if it improves anything. I wonder if crushing the herbs instead of grinding them and then leaving them in alcohol for two weeks would make it easier to strain. I'm not in a hurry, so I can let time do its job.
Another thing I was wondering is if, since some herbs extract better in alcohol than oil, the process would extract more of the medicinal properties.
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I don't use alcohol either... but, oddly enough, I was just writing about oil preparations in the book I'm working on. If y'all have a moment, @Tave and @torey please cast your eyes over this and let me know if I missed any important points. I don't make many oils - I'm more of a tincture, tea and culinary guy.
Oil Infusions
Infusions may also be made with oil. As oils are absorbed through the sin, a good, food grade oil is usually best. Coconut oil is very versatile, and olive oil is always nice, but you do not have to use expensive oils. Any kind of oil that you are comfortable cooking with or using in a salad dressing will be fine. The old mountain folks I learned from used lard or bear grease! If you use a fat that will harden or thicken at room temperature, such as coconut oil or an animal fat, you must use a hot infusion method and keep in mind that fats can go rancid. Don't keep such infusions for too long or store them in conditions which may encourage rancidity. Obviously, it is much easier to simply use an oil. But even with a fairly shelf stable oil, be careful to only use fully dried herbs. Fresh herbs can rot. In such a low acid environment, even botulism could be an issue. Generally, oils are used externally and need only common sense to be made and stored safely.
Cold oil infusions are made by simply putting an amount of dried, crushed herbs into a jar and adding oil until the jar is full. Be sure to allow the herbs to settle and keep adding oil until all air has bubbled out .Allow the herbs to infuse in the oil for up to two months. Then, strain out your herbs. If you leave them in longer, it could cause the oil (olive oil for instance) to become rancid. After straining, the infusion should last up to two years - let you nose be the judge.
Hot infusions are made gently warming the oil before adding the herbs. Most herbalists use a crock pot. Some even use heating pads, place the oil on a hot water heater, covered with a towel to hold in heat or use sunlight to warm their oil infusions. Using the sun or placing the oil by a cooking fire was the way it used to be done before electric heat. The key is to keep your oil just warm enough (not hot enough to cook) for about a week. Then, you strain out your herbs and the oil should have the same shelf life as a cold infused oil.
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I have used the alcohol-intermediary technique for two years when making calendula or plantain oils. My sources say that it is better at extracting minerals than oil alone.
I blend the wilted herb with vodka and let it sit overnight. The oil is added and set aside for a few weeks, shaken daily. When I strain the oil, I have little sediment and let the mix sit for an hour or so before pouring carefully into the storage jar. I use the watery sediment left at the bottom in a bath soak or discard it.
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@judsoncarroll4 Sounds good. I might add the same warning that Doc Jones does. Don't get your oil too hot because deep-fried herbs are no longer medicinal.
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Definitely - thanks! Another coincidence is that I am deep frying potatoes right now... we're on similar wave lengths today!
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@judsoncarroll4 While you could leave the herbs for as long as you suggest for a heated infusion, I often do mine in as little as 4 hours. Especially if I am doing it in a controlled heat environment like a crock pot. Sometimes I will leave it for longer if I have it sitting on the cooler edge of my wood cookstove. Depends on how busy I am.
@Tave I'm having a bit of difficulty wrapping my brain around the idea that the alcohol will extract constituents that the oil doesn't and then transfer them to the oil. Oil and alcohol are miscible but it is the oil dissolving in the alcohol, not the other way around. I'm not sure how the constituents extracted by the alcohol will get into the oil, although I can see the constituents in the oil combining with the alcohol.
Perhaps there is someone on TGN with more of a science background that can explain the scientific principles behind this method?
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@torey That makes sense. And it's an extra step and expense.
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Thanks!
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I have tried this method. It was actually pretty easy. However, as my body seems to ignore a lot of things that work well for others, I saw no difference.
I would love to hear what others who use this method or try it think.
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@Tave I had another thought about this. Perhaps the alcohol helps break down or open up the plant tissues somewhat to make the constituents more available for the oil.
At any rate, it would be an interesting experiment to make a two batches of oil at the same time, with the same plant material, using both methods. If I can find the time I might try it, but probably not until much later in the year when I can find the time.
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@torey That's a great idea. When I finally have all the herbs, I'll split them up and do it both ways.
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I just got an email from Kami McBride with a new oil-making video series (free!). She explained how the alcohol makes the constituents more bio-available to the oil. She uses fresh herbs and puts the alcohol in right before the oil, no waiting, then she lets it sit for a month.
She did an excellent explaining the entire process. I'm going to try this.
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@Tave Thanks for sharing. I will be doing this asap. Stress kind of rules my life right now
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I've started the experiment with eucalyptus. A friend suggested that I do each ingredient separately, then mix them after instead of putting them altogether from the start. Now waiting four weeks.
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I'm halfway through the experiment. The eucalyptus in the above photos still has three weeks to go. The eucalyptus with the alcohol seems to be getting darker.
In Kami's second video (available at the same link as the lavender), she ground calendula, added alcohol, then 12 hours later added the oil and ran it through the blender to warm it. She left it steeping in the oil for 48 hours, then strained it. I tried that with ground cayenne and honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two. I had enough eucalyptus left to try it, and it came out nice and dark and smelled really good.
I didn't have enough of the other herbs to do separate batches. However, I'm thinking the effectiveness of the alcohol depends on whether the constituents in the herb are easier to extract with a little booze.
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@Tave Kammi McBride has a great video happening at the moment all about the number 1 question she is asked, do I use fresh or dried herbs. I guess people think they get more bang for their buck using fresh herbs. They’ve either grown or foraged it and know its history. Then with dried you either do that yourself or buy. She speaks about energetics, plant nature, climate, season and synergy. The thing to keep in mind is water and oil don’t mix.
The last oil I infused, I used vodka ( the way Kammi did) and I got to say, very happy with the result. Good luck with the eucalyptus.
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I like Kami's videos. I tried to watch it, but the sound was so bad I could barely hear it. I don't know if it was the internet or her video. My computer sound is fine.
@JodieDownUnder Do you have matico (Buddleja globosa) where you are? I've noticed that many herbs in South America are also used in Australia and New Zealand. I can't get arnica here and thought it might be a good replacement, but I'm not sure the best way to extract it.
Doc Jones has a salve and lotion class in the Acadamy, and he uses herbal tea instead of water to make lotion. Hmmm, still thinking😎.
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@Tave gotta say I had never heard of matico, until you mentioned it. Orange ball buddleia, I’ve never seen one but you can buy it from nurseries. I’ll do some more research.
Yes, I’ve done Doc Jones’ course and I use cold herbal tea to make my lotion. Cold comfrey tea 250ml into 250ml of warmed calendula oil, 30g beeswax and 50 drops of rosemary EO. It’s my go to wound dressing for humans and animals.
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@JodieDownUnder Sounds good. I can't get comfrey here, but I might try bringing some dried leaves back on my next trip. A lady at the market gave me a small bunch of matico and told me it was for stomach aches.
When I looked it up, it's also for healing wounds. And unlike arnica, matico can be used on open wounds. The first time I smelled it, I thought, "This is what I've been looking for." It's not strong, but it is pleasant.
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OK. The verdict is in. I got a little impatient and did this two days earlier than I should have. Here's the proof that it does indeed extract better with alcohol. I did another one by grinding it first, and it extracted even better, but I forgot to take pictures.
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