Oil and Alcohol Based Infusions
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Oil Based Infusions
Macerate - oil based macerate is best if you want to extract herb’s essential oils. It can be eaten (if intended for this, like garlic oil) and used externally for rubbing (warming, pain relief), cosmetics or anointing. There are two ways for oil macerate:
“Hot method” - good for thicker matter. Chopped/crushed matter sprinkle with 40% alcohol (it helps the oil work with the herb). Place in a jar and pour over the oil. Place the jar in a pot of water, heat it to 40-50 C/ 104-122 F. Close the jar and set aside for about a week.
“Cold method” - Chop or crush the material a little, sprinkle with 40% alcohol (it helps the oil work with the herb). Place in a jar and pour over the oil. Leave for 2-3 weeks. Every day, rock the jar to wake up the herbs.
For each method, after the appropriate time, drain and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
Enfleurage - the oldest method of obtaining essential oils. It's hard to do it at home without special equipment. A good quality oil must be called an essential oil (it is nautical) and not a fragrance oil (synthetic). To make sure it's best to check the composition, it should be short, preferably the essential oil itself. You can use them for aromatherapy, add them to cosmetics and ointments, and include them in spells.
Salve - also known as ointment, for external application. To prepare you need base oils (like Argan, Avocado or Jojoba oils, Coconut or Shea Butter). Melt it with beeswax and essential oils. You can also infuse base oil first with any herbal matter for specific purposes.
Alcohol Based Infusions
There are two ways to prepare stronger alcohol based infusions:
Tincture (cold method) - for this one you can use fresh or dried herbs. Put in a jar, pour over the alcohol and shake it. To prepare a stronger infusion you can use a bigger part of ready tincture in the same process and add a part of new alcohol.
Intract (hot method) - use fresh herbs. Heat the alcohol to 80 C/ 176 F and pour over the herbal material.
For both methods leave for 7-10 days and drain (this is for herbal tinctures). Use 40-70% alcohol and keep 1:5 proportion (herbal matter : alcohol). For stronger infusion you can use 1:10 proportion. Liniments - alcohol based herbal infusion intended for rubbing.
