Cookbook-Oil and Herb Recipes-Herbal Oils Introduction-Willow Ragan

2 Pages·2021·0.07 MB·English

by Willow Ragan

© 2000

Introduction / Ingredients

Methods / Conclusion and References

or thousands of years, combinations of
animal fats or plant based oil and herbs
have been used in medicine and body
care around the world. The fats and oils

provide a soothing and nourishing vehicle which enable
healers and herbalist to used a wide range of plants for
external application. Herbal oils fall into two distinct
categories, essential and infused oils. Essential oils are
the concentrated distilled "essence" of the plant. They
are costly and difficult to make requiring complex
equipment. Infused oils are easily made and consist of
one or many herbs steeped in oil for a period of time.
Though not as concentrated as essential oils, infused
oils can be safely used in a number of ways. Herbal oils
are commonly used for ear infections, bath and body
oils, as a base for moisturizing or medicinal creams,
ointments and salves, as deep penetrating liniments for
sore muscles, in compresses and wraps, and as insect
repellants. This infusion process can also be used to
make flavored oils used in a variety of food

preparations.
Making infused oils is a simple process. It can take
some time depending on the method used. The herbs
may have to steep in the oil several weeks for the oil to
reach the correct degree of saturation. There are
"quickie" methods if you need the herbal oil fast, the
results in terms of flavor or scent won't be quite as good
as the longer infusions, though for medicinal
preparations they work nicely. For scented or flavored
oils it is best to use the longer methods.

Introduction / Ingredients

Methods / Conclusion and References