Oil and Butter Infusions
Oil and butter infusions unlike others are excellent for the skin! Where other types of extract may be abrasive to the skin, oils/butters nourish as they deliver compounds through our skin and into our bodies. When treating muscles or bones topicals are great modes of administration. They can provide instant relief when formulated for such. Using mint or chilies can add cooling or warming effects, aiding in the instant relief (be careful when working with chilies though, don’t touch your eyes or any other sensitive parts!).
Menstruum Properties
Oils and butters unlike water and vinegar only extract oil soluble compounds. Large organic compounds and volatile oils dissolve easily in oil but many vitamins and minerals fail to do so. So choose your herbs accordingly! Herbs such as calendula and comfrey extract excellently in oils, but others like ginger and horseradish are amazing when ingested but a bit abrasive when applied to the skin.
Just as it is important to choose your herbs wisely it is essential to choose your carrier oils wisely too. Not all oils are made the same! Mineral oils and other petroleum derived oils are not recommended for oil infusions. They tend to clog the pores and inhibit the positive effects of the herbs. Instead look for natural oils, ones that absorb relatively readily.
Oils and butters are thicker in nature and thus require a bit of assistance, usually heat, to initiate the extraction; especially butters, many of which are solid at room temperature. Heat and agitation are essential when extracting in oil.
Plant Parts:
Softer materials like leaves, flowers and other aerial parts work well. Roots need to be finely chopped or ground and heat is recommended, see below to learn how to utilize heat assisted extractions.
Oil- room temp
How to…
Obtain your plant material, make sure it is finely chopped and fully dry.
Place your herbs in a glass jar and fill with oil to your desired ratio.
Seal your jar and shake daily for at least 10 days, 4-6 weeks is recommended.
Shaking daily agitates the plant matter allowing for a more efficient extraction.
Once fully extracted strain and press into a new clean jar.
Oil & Butter- heat assisted
How to…
Obtain your plant material, once again finely chopped is preferred.
Place your herbs in a jar.
Weigh out your desired amount of butter and add it to the jar.
To initiate the breakdown of the plant material and melt your oil, apply heat to the sealed jar. A water bath works well! fill a pot halfway with water and carefully place your jar into the water, make sure that the jar is sealed so that no water enters your mixture.
Heat on medium to low heat until the water is just steaming, turn the heat to low at this point to prevent any stress on the glass.
Once the liquid in the jar is sufficiently heated take the jar out and let cool. You can tell that you have heated it enough because the solution will start to take on color. If leaves are being extracted the solution may turn green! This may take anywhere from 30 minute to 6 hours depending on your temperature and how strong you want the extract. Just keep monitoring the oil/butter until the color you want is achieved!
Strain the material quickly if it is a butter, you’ll want it fully stained before it begins to solidify. Using a metal strainer is helpful if you have a heat gun or hair dryer. By gently warming any butter that hardens you may continue straining!
Freezing your butter is recommended if it is to be used in further formulations. Pouring the liquid butter infusion into a mold and placing it into a freezer works well. Just allow the butter to fully freeze before taking it out. This process prevents wax crystals from forming in final products!
If you are extracting an oil simply pour the strained oil into a jar and seal!