All infusions are very simple to make. Depending on the herb, it is first dried, then placed in a mason jar and covered with an oil to the top. This jar is then placed either in a windowsill or outside so that it gets direct sunlight for a month. Depending on the needs for that herb, I may double maceration or triple maceration. this entails using the same oil from the first infusion to make a second and third infusion with fresh plant material. The longer you infuse in sunlight, the stronger it becomes. I even let it sit at night so the light from the moon also infuses.
I make infusions with an assortment of herbs too great to list all of them. In this article I will merely cover a few like dandelion, calendula, plantain and yarrow. These are my main infusions. Dandelion. The majority of my customers know I have a love affair with dandelion. This herb is of the sunflower family and the benefits are outright awesome. I infuse the whole plant. Leaves, roots, flower, stems. I want the full benefit of the plant, not part of it.
Dandelions are high in vitamin C, A, B6, and K. The oil reduces inflammation and improves skin hydration. It's also high in potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Because of these vitamins and minerals, I incorporate the oil into all my soaps, salves, lotions and lip balms. The benefits for skin care is that dandelion oil helps burns heal, treats bug bites, diaper rash, sore muscles, heals chapped lips and is a facial moisturizer.
Yarrow is used in massage/body oils and salves. For the infusion I only use the leaves. Yarrow is a powerful anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, wound healing, blood coagulating. This is the one plant that if you're ever injured in the wild and your bleeding, use it. It will stop the bleeding and close the wound. This is natures Quick Clot. But if you're allergic to marigolds, sunflowers, daisies, avoid it. The oil helps with varicose veins by opening up the walls of the veins. nosebleeds, bruises, sore muscles, pelvis congestion in women, regulating menstruation, reducing symptoms of the common cold. Also helps with bee stings and rashes.
The benefits of Calendula just go on and on. I think I could write for a few hours just on this one oil. Unfortunately, I don't have that much time, so I will cover a few of the benefits. Calendula oil has high levels of triterpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, saponins, polysaccharides. It's essentially a powerful medicinal oil that helps people struggling with chronic symptoms like pain, rashes, sunburn, swelling, eczema, burns, chicken pox, cold sores, genital herpes, wounds, stings, arthritis, headaches. It's very good at boosting the immune system, is anti-inflammatory helping with swelling of injuries and sprains, and because of the carotenoids, flavonoids, the oil eliminates oxidative stress and free radicals. This oil is also highly beneficial to babies/newborns because its so gentle and treats diaper rash and cradle cap.
Plantain grows anywhere and everywhere. Chances are, you have stepped on it on the way out your door. It's overlooked for its medicinal properties and is usually pulled because it's a weed. Plantain is used in salves exclusively. Of course, I could use it in other products, but it shines in salves. It's also often mixed with other herbs like chickweed. Plantain goes along well with my skeeter shoo soap since it's great for minor cuts, bug bites, stings, poison ivy/oak, eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash. It's an all- purpose lip and body balm (moisturizer). It's literally a first-aid salve.
