How to make herbal oils?

Question

i have alot of herb that i would like to make in to an oil the sites i have been get to off track.

Answer 1

Could you please list the herbs you'd like to use?  That would give me a better sense of how to tell you to proceed.  The simplest method would be to warm some olive or almond oil, about a quart's/liter's worth.  Have a sterilized quart mason jar ready with your herb or herbs.  Pour the oil over the chopped or minced herbs, cover, put in a dark place, and let set for at least two weeks, preferably a month or more, checking every couple of days to see how things are going, ie no mold on the herbs--they should remain covered and submerged in the oil at all times.  Not all herbs are best this way; some of the active constituents/principles in some herbs are best gotten by vinegar or wine tincturing, glycerine tincturing, syrup or alcohol tincturing.  This is where I would need your herb(s) list to best see what's what.  I would also want to know if you wanted your herb-infused oil for external, internal or culinary purposes only, so please clarify as to that as well.  Best and blessed be.  Additionally, in response to the first poster's words:  I am completely unfamiliar with the active principles in herbal medicine EVER being released using butane as a solvent.  Nor would I EVER considering using such a "medicine" if for no other reason than its great flammability and toxicity issues.  Additionally, the alcohol used in tinctures is the same alcohol used in brandy, vodka, gin, everclear, absinthe, wine, beer.  It is NOT isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, which is NOT ingestible, so please get very clear on that as your life could depend on that fact.  The kind of flammability the first poster is talking about occurs w/ isopropyl alcohol, not so (as much) with herbal tinctures in alcohol.  Yes, they're flammable, especially those at around 85% alcohol, but they will not usually explode in the pyrotechnical manner you seem to be referring to.  Butane is what lighters are filled with.  The first poster's "karma" may be good, but her info ISN'T.

RE:  Castor oil:  I find that castor oil is too thick and too tacky to be much use in massages, so if you want an oil you can use for massage, choose something other than castor oil.  Castor oil can does have internal uses, especially in bringing on labor in women who won't seem to "go", but it does this with rather a large tendency to give one the runs when it's stimulating contractions (which occurs naturally w/ the onset of labor anyway, usually).  Warmed castor oil packs (externally) are also used in Naturopathic medicine, so I would like to clarify that it's not poison internally, more an irritant or a, ehm, bowel and smooth muscle, uh stimulant...not the deadly poisons internally that butane and ethyl alcohol would be.

Answer 2

I know that if you use oils sold in stores. You can go to shops like the co-op where they sell herbs and experiment with different scents and oil bases.

Answer 3

we cook theirs,like in vegetable oil,like infusioning a herbs.

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Answer 4

Calyx gave good advice on making oils. Haelma mentioned a Castor oil infusion and i just want to clarify that Castor oil is not ingestible! It is not for internal use, it is okay to use topically.

Answer 5

you can blow up making it .it require 99% alchohal or butane

Im not telling ya... its dangerous kid

Answer 6

Use cold-pressed, extra-virgin, first pressing, olive oil or cold-pressed castor oil, just depends on how think you want your oil.  Pack a jar tightly with the fresh herbs and then pour the oil slowly in the jar.  Tighten lid and put on a dark shelf for a few weeks.  Open the jar periodically to taste the oil to see if it is as strong as you want it.  You can then strain it and rebottle in pretty jars as gifts if you want.  Or, for your personal use, strain and rebottle and put back on the shelf.