I picked a lovely bunch of clean, dry Plantago leaves (better known 'round these parts as plantain). Stupid people poison them.
I chopped the leaves.
I packed them loosely in a glass jar. I covered them with olive oil.
I placed them in my dehydrator, set at about 100 degrees F and set the timer for 3-4 hours.
I'll continue this process every day for the next several - until it FEELS ready to strain. But more on that when the time is ripe.
So that's how I started this oil today, for there really are as many ways to make an infused oil as there are herbalists to make them, or as there are moods of any one herbalist. Like I like to say:
Follow your inner knowing.
Listen to the seed of wisdom within.
Now - go make some oil!
8 comments:
Thank you for sharing your way!
So are you saying that you put the jar in the dehydrator? I will have to get creative if that is the case, maybe a shallow bowl. Interesting I would have never thought of using a dehydrator, I guess it is a low heat method.
I would be happy to clip the arnica montana and send you some, it is everywhere! No kidding.
HELLO...........I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE WON ONE OF YOUR JOURNALS.....THANKYOU SO MUCH..........I HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT PLANTAIN WAS A HEALER...BUT NOT ABOUT THE OIL.........HOW CLEVER OF YOU....WILL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOUR USE WILL BE....THANKS AGAIN......CHATR
Tammie - yep, THIS time it is a low-heat method. It not only speeds up the process (I'm out of plantain oil!), but it makes a "cleaner" end-product. Slower, room-temp processes make a perfectly good oil over a two-week-or-so period, but often get a bit "stinky" (a technical herbal term! LOL). They are perfectly good to use, but if you're making product for others, it kinda looses that broader appeal. :D
CHATR ~ I'm glad too! It went out in yesterday afternoon's mail ... so it's making it trek to the west coast as I type! I hope you enjoy it!
As for the plantain - in short ('cause I go go on-n-on!) it is a great skin soother, esp. for dry itchy skin. It also promotes healthy tissue growth, so I will take this oil and make it into a salve that I use in my rough, often nicked-n-cut garden hands. More on that to follow ...
Thank you again!
Sounds like I could use some plantain salve.
I think I will try this method with the arnica montana.
YOU ARE SUPER ORGANIZED......THANKYOU....LOOKING FORWARD.......SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL OIL TO USE...THANKS FOR EXPLANATION.......WISH I HAD IT GROWING HERE.......I FIRST SAW IT WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6 OR 8 ON MY GREAT GRANDPAS FARM AND AS IM 70 THAT WAS MANY LIFETIMES AGO.......BUT I HAVENT SEEN IT HERE FOR EONS.....ENJOY YOUR OIL
hello,
when you write: I'll continue this process every day for the next several - until it FEELS ready to strain. But more on that when the time is ripe.
Do you mean you will add fresh plantain to the same jar daily for a few days, and dehydrate a few more hours each day?
thank you! I have my first batch in the dehydrator. Yea.
I mean I run the dehydrator for a few hours each day. Funny - too - you should leave this comment now - for it is ready for the next steps!
I have a class tomorrow morning and will likely take care of this afterward. Could be a new post!
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