Making Hypericum (St. John's Wort) red oil at home is worthwhile as it is very good for relieving the nerve pain associated with shingles.The key to a good oil is using fresh flowers and a good quality carrier oil, along with patience.
Here's a guide to making your own Hypericum red oil:
Important Considerations Before You Begin:
- Identification: Make sure you are correctly identifying Hypericum perforatum. Look for the bright yellow flowers, and most importantly, hold a leaf up to the light – you should see tiny translucent "perforations" (small dots) and possibly some dark red/black dots on the edges of the petals or leaves. Crushing the fresh flowers or buds should also release a red stain on your fingers. Many ornamental Hypericum varieties do not have the same medicinal properties.
- Harvesting Time: The best time to harvest St. John's Wort is around the summer solstice. The key here is in the name as the feast of John the Baptist is June 23rd and Hypericum is at its best at this time. Pick the flowering tops, including the flowers and a few inches of the upper leaves.
- Fresh vs. Dried: It's important to use fresh or freshly wilted St. John's Wort. Dried herb will produce a less potent oil and may not turn as red.
- Photosensitivity: From a safety point of view it is important to remember that St. John's Wort can increase photosensitivity in some individuals when taken internally. While topical application is generally safer, it's wise to apply the oil to a small patch of skin first to check for any reaction, especially if you have sensitive skin or plan to be in direct sunlight after application.
What You'll Need:
- Fresh St. John's Wort flowering tops: Gather enough to loosely fill your jar.
- Carrier Oil: A good quality, cold-pressed oil that is stable and has a long shelf life. Excellent choices include:
- Sunflower Oil: Another popular and effective option.
- Jojoba Oil: A good choice, especially for facial or sensitive skin, as it's technically a liquid wax and closely resembles skin's natural sebum.
- Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil: Other good options.
- Clean, Sterilized Glass Jar with a Lid: A Mason jar or similar glass jar works well. Ensure it's very clean and dry to prevent spoilage.
- Cheesecloth or Fine Mesh Strainer: For straining the oil.
- Dark Glass Bottles: For storing the finished oil. Dark glass helps protect the oil from light degradation.
- Labels: Essential for noting the contents and date of preparation.
Steps to Make Hypericum Red Oil:
- Prepare the Flowers:
- Gently shake the harvested St. John's Wort flowers to dislodge any insects.
- Spread the flowers out on a clean cloth or tray in a single layer for a few hours to allow any surface moisture to evaporate. This "wilting" step helps reduce the water content, which can minimize the risk of spoilage. Do not fully dry them.
- Roughly chop or bruise the flowers and flowering tops to break open the plant cells and expose more surface area for oil extraction. This is important for getting that vibrant red color.
- Fill the Jar:
- Loosely pack the prepared St. John's Wort material into your clean, sterilized glass jar. Fill it about 3/4 full. You want to leave some space at the top for the oil and expansion.
- Add the Oil:
- Pour your chosen carrier oil over the plant material, ensuring that all the plant matter is completely submerged. This is crucial to prevent mold. If the plant material floats, you can use a clean, sterilized glass weight (like a small, clean stone or marble) or a piece of parchment paper to keep it submerged.
- Fill the oil almost to the top of the jar, leaving about an inch of headspace.
- Infusion Process (Sunlight Method):
- Seal the jar with its lid.
- Place the jar in a sunny location – a sunny windowsill or even outdoors in a safe spot (like a garden shed or on a porch) is ideal. This is necessary as it is the sunlight that facilitates the chemical reaction that turns the oil red.
- Shake the jar gently daily for the first week or so to ensure the plant material remains fully submerged and to help with the infusion process. After that, shaking every few days is sufficient.
- Over the next 2 to 6 weeks, you will observe the oil slowly transform from its initial yellowish hue to a beautiful deep red. The longer it infuses (up to 6-8 weeks is often recommended), the darker and more potent the oil typically becomes.
- Strain the Oil:
- After the infusion period, place a cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer over a clean bowl or measuring cup.
- Pour the entire contents of the jar (oil and plant material) into the strainer.
- Allow the oil to drip through naturally. Once most of the oil has drained, gather the edges of the cheesecloth and gently squeeze out any remaining oil from the plant material.
- Let the strained oil rest for two days or so before bottling. This is to allow any water to settle at the bottom. Once it has settled, decant the oil very carefully, making sure that you are only decanting the oil and not the sediment that has settled on the bottom.
- Bottle and Store:
- Pour the strained red Hypericum oil into clean, dark glass bottles. This protects the oil from light, which can degrade its beneficial compounds over time.
- Cap the bottles tightly.
- Label your bottles clearly with the contents (e.g., "St. John's Wort Red Oil"), the date it was made, and the carrier oil used.
- Store the oil in a cool, dark place (a cupboard or pantry is ideal) to maximize its shelf life.
Shelf Life:
Homemade Hypericum oil, when properly prepared and stored, can last for 6 months to 1 year, or even longer if stored in a very cool, dark place. Always check for any signs of spoilage (e.g., an off smell, cloudiness, or mold) before use. Due to the fresh plant material, there's a slightly higher risk of spoilage Your homemade Hypericum red oil is good for soothing nerve pain, healing minor wounds, and as a useful addition to your kitchen pharmacy.
The same process can be followed for marigold flowers.