Crafting St. John's Wort Infused Oil: A Comprehensive Guide
St. John's Wort infused oil is a prized herbal remedy, valued for its topical skin benefits. While known for its potential mental health applications (depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders), this guide focuses on its skin-healing properties. This oil's anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and analgesic qualities make it ideal for treating wounds, burns, sunburns, and soothing muscle aches or nerve pain.
Unlike most infused oils which utilize dried herbs, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is uniquely effective when infused fresh. This is crucial for optimal extraction of hypericin, its key active compound, resulting in a more potent oil. The author recommends foraging or growing your own fresh St. John's Wort, noting that finding fresh sources commercially can be challenging. Northeastern US foraging typically peaks around mid-July.
Creating St. John's Wort Infused Oil:
Ingredients:
- Fresh St. John's Wort (flowers, leaves, and stems)
- Carrier oil (olive oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, etc.)
Instructions:
- Lightly wilt the freshly harvested St. John's Wort for 12-24 hours.
- Chop the herb into small pieces.
- Fill a glass jar (at least 2/3 full) with the prepared herb.
- Cover the herb completely with your chosen carrier oil.
- Seal tightly and place the jar in a warm location (using a seedling mat is suggested) for 4-6 weeks.
- After 4-6 weeks, strain the oil through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer.
- Store the finished oil in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dry place. It should remain potent for up to a year.
The resulting oil will have a vibrant red hue, a hallmark of successful fresh herb infusion. Using dried St. John's Wort will yield a darker, less intense color.
Uses for St. John's Wort Infused Oil:
- Wound healing (salves for scrapes and burns)
- Sunburn relief
- Facial oil addition
- Eyebrow growth stimulation
- Body oil ingredient
- Massage oil for sore muscles
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