Homemade St. John's Wort Oil and Salve Recipe

Homemade St. John's Wort Oil and Salve Recipe

Making St. John's Wort Oil and Salve: A Comprehensive Guide

St. John's Wort, a versatile herb with a rich history, can be used to create oil and salve that have various applications beyond depression treatment. This article will guide you through the process of making your own St. John's Wort oil and salve.

Preparing the Oil

To make St. John's Wort oil, you will need a clean, dry jar with a lid, a double boiler, a fine mesh strainer or a funnel and cheesecloth, and your choice of carrier oil. Fill the jar with fresh St. John's Wort blossoms, leaving 2 inches headspace at the top. Cover the herbs with the carrier oil, leaving 1 inch of headspace, and seal the jar tightly with a lid.

Place the jar in a double boiler and infuse for 4 to 6 hours, keeping the jar's contents at roughly 120 degrees F for the entire time. It's important to keep an eye on the water level, as it will likely need to be replenished. Once infused, pass the contents through a cheesecloth-lined funnel or a fine mesh sieve, using your fingers to gently press on the St. John's Wort to extract as much of the liquid as possible.

Making the Salve

For the salve, pour the oil into a heatproof bowl and place it in the same double boiler used to make the St. John's oil, adding about an inch of water to the boiler. Next, add the beeswax to the oil. White beeswax is recommended for a bright red salve, as yellow beeswax can make the finished salve appear less vibrant. One heaping tablespoon of beeswax pistils is roughly one ounce of beeswax. The amount of beeswax added will depend on whether you like a firm or more spreadable salve, but one ounce of wax (weighed) for every cup or 8 ounces of herbal-infused oil is a common ratio.

Gently heat the mixture until the wax has completely melted, and then pour the liquid salve into the container of your choice and allow it to firm up. Small salve tins with lids are a popular choice due to their portability and gift-worthy appearance.

Alternative Methods and Sources

If the St. John's Wort oil infusion doesn't work out, high-quality oil can be purchased from either Herb Pharm or Mountain Rose Herbs. Another option for making St. John's Wort oil is to use a professional oil infuser.

Uses of St. John's Wort Oil and Salve

St. John's Wort oil and salve have been used historically and continue to be used for purposes such as soothing nerve pain, bruises, burns, wounds, and sore muscles or joints. Its distinctive red oil has been applied topically to relieve various skin injuries and nerve discomforts for centuries.

Beyond these physical applications, St. John's Wort preparations are traditionally used to calm the nervous system, help with nightmares, support emotional balance, and even in dreamwork practices as a gentle way to bring one back into bodily awareness after emotional distress. Modern formulations often combine St. John's Wort oil with other healing botanicals like comfrey and cayenne pepper in salves designed for joint and muscle pain relief.

In summary, St. John's Wort oil and salves have a long-standing history and modern application in wound healing, nerve pain relief, muscle and joint soreness, and emotional and nervous system support.

[1] Herbal Academy (2021). St. John's Wort: A Comprehensive Guide. [Online] Available at: https://theherbalacademy.com/st-johns-wort-a-comprehensive-guide/

[2] Mountain Rose Herbs (n.d.). St. John's Wort. [Online] Available at: https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/st-johns-wort/profile

[3] Herb Pharm (n.d.). St. John's Wort. [Online] Available at: https://www.herbpharm.com/products/st-johns-wort-liquid-extract

[4] Aromahead Institute (n.d.). St. John's Wort Essential Oil. [Online] Available at: https://www.aromahead.com/blog/2015/06/16/st-johns-wort-essential-oil-uses-and-benefits/

[5] Wellness Mama (2018). St. John's Wort Oil: How to Make and Use It. [Online] Available at: https://wellnessmama.com/44299/st-johns-wort-oil/

1. In the realm of health-and-wellness, St. John's Wort oil and salve are traditionally used for treating nerve pain, bruises, burns, wounds, and sore muscles or joints, and modern formulations often incorporate other healing botanicals for joint and muscle pain relief.
2. For those interested in making their own St. John's Wort oil and salve, this process involves using carrier oils, beeswax, and either fresh St. John's Wort blossoms or commercially available oils from Herb Pharm or Mountain Rose Herbs.
3. In addition to physical applications, St. John's Wort preparations have been employed to calm the nervous system, help with nightmares, support emotional balance, and even used in dreamwork practices as a gentle way to bring one back into bodily awareness after emotional distress.
4. The use of St. John's Wort oil and salves extends beyond traditional practices and has found applications in various therapies and treatments, such as skin care, mental health, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition, due to the herb's versatility and potential benefits.

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