ST JOHN’S WORT OIL
Blooming around the Summer Solstice, St. John’s wort and summer go hand in hand 🌞
🌼 Why do herbalists love this herb so much?
Many folks know about its ability to ease mild to moderate and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However herbalists also love this herb for its topical uses! The flowers can be utilized topically to soothe sore muscles, ease nerve pain as well as mild pain and inflammation associated with sciatica, and address viral skin issues like herpes and shingles.
While dried herbs are generally used for making herb-infused oils, St. John’s wort flowers are an exception to this rule…
The fresh flower buds hold a remarkable secret: when squeezed, they release a deep red oil rich in active constituents. This color is derived from the plant’s vibrant red pigment, hypericin. Infusing fresh St. John’s wort flowers into oil captures this vivid red hue and enhances their beneficial qualities.
INGREDIENTS
🍃 Fresh St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) aerial parts
🍃 Carrier oil of your choice (olive oil, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, etc.)
DIRECTIONS
✨ Pick fresh St. John’s wort buds and flowers and let them wilt for 24 hours to reduce moisture content a bit. Then chop them finely, and place in a quart-sized canning jar, filling the jar ¾ of the way.
✨ Cover buds and flowers with organic extra-virgin olive oil, covering the herbs by 1 inch. Cap, and label with the date and ingredients. Alternatively, you can cover it with cheesecloth or a mesh top to allow the evaporation of water during the infusion process.
✨ Place the jar in a brown paper bag and leave the mixture on a sunny windowsill for 3 weeks.
✨ When the oil is deep red, strain and bottle your final product into a labeled glass bottle.
✨ Store the bottled oil in a cool, dark location.
Have you made St. John’s wort oil before?
14 окт 2024
