The method of making infused oils has changed very little in the past few thousand years.
You take your chosen plant or flower material and cut it up or shred it--then put the plant material into a wide-necked glass jar like a gallon clear jar.
Make sure you pack it down in the jar.
To this shredded material you add an oil such as sunflower or jojoba oil.
Now here is the key--stir the mixture and place it outside in the sunlight for a few weeks.
Every once in awhile you will need to turn the jar to make sure the heat and light from the sun are distributed evenly across the mixture.
Summertime is of course the best time for making these infusions.
Eventually the cells containing the precious essential oils begin to break down and all the wonderful healing properties of the plant are infused into the oil.
When it is done, filter the mixture to remove all the plant material.
The result is a natural remedy that contains all the active principles of the plant ready to use and alredy diluted.
How simple is that? Here Are Three Examples of Infused Oils Marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis)-I use calendula to soothe red, irritated or sensitive skin.
Now this is not the "marigold" flowers you buy for your gardens but is a different variety of large yellow/orange flowers.
Calendua is a great carrier for maintaining joint mobility and is good for veins.
You can use it by itself for skin conditions, or add it to almond oil for massaging.
Borage(Borago officinalis)-borage oil is the richest source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA).
This is more than twice as much as is found in evening primrose oil.
GLA helps to encourage good joint mobility, and when used regularly on the skin will help to soften lines and wrinkles.
St.
John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Some will identify this as either a wildflower, weed or an herb.
This plant has interested herbalists for hundreds of years.
I personally have always wondered about the name.
It seems that it was named for St.
John's feast day which is June 24th.
That was the time they usually gathered this plant.
It's an excellent oil for wound healing and for treating menstrual disorders.
You can use it for externally treating wounds and decreasing the pain of bumps and bruises.
Today it is used for bruises, sprains, burns, skin irritations, and lacerations.
St.
John's Wort has been called the "red oil" or "hypericum liniment.
" You may still find it in some pharmacies.
What a Great Delivery System for Essential Oils! Infused oils do carry the essence, the essential oil of the plant.
Marigold, borage and St.
John's Wort are all wonderful examples.
But have you considered using one of these already infused oils as a delivery system for a pure essential oils like lavender, Roman chamomile, rose, or geranium for skin care? For bruises, St.
John's Wort can be used with hilichrysum, cistus, or geranium.