Oil Crafting

Forums ► Herbalism ► Oil Crafting

Re: Oil Crafting
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 11

I'm not sure where you got that information. Oils, speaking in regards to essential oils, can break down and lose their composition when exposed to moisture, light, and heat. That's why essential oils are stored in brown colored glass. This helps protect the oil from light. Even cooking oils can break down and go rancid if they aren't stored properly. Heat causes the molecules in the oil to break down and this causes rancidity. Adding herbs and other items to the oil is fine, but the items are generally cooked over a very low heat on a stove, just enough to get the herbs or peppers (for example) warm so that the oils in the plant or herb are released. These are then added to the oil to infuse them with their essence. These go rancid faster than processed oils and should be checked regularly to make sure that they are fresh.

References & Resources:

The Fragrant Pharmacy: A Complete Guide to Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Valerie - Ann Worwood

Essential Oils for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy - Staff of Althea Press (2013)

Encyclopedia of Essential Oils - Julia Lawless

The Beginner's Guide to Essential Oils: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started - Christina Anthis

Essential Oils Natural Remedies: The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing -Althea Press

https://www.canitgobad.net/can-cooking-oil-go-bad/

http://vickisarnoff.com/essential-oils-and-extreme-temperatures/#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20it%20is%20best,in%20an%20%E2%80%9Cincomplete%E2%80%9D%20form.

https://hebaelhakim.com/sp_faq/how-does-temperature-affect-essential-oils/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12006

https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-flavored-herbal-oils-for-cooking-4846282#:~:text=Add%20the%20herbs%20to%20the,the%20bottles%2C%20over%20the%20herbs.

https://www.treehugger.com/how-to-know-your-olive-oil-is-rancid-and-how-to-prevent-it-4868792

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/store_olive_oil_to_avoid_spoilage_and_maintain_nutritional_quality

https://info.achs.edu/blog/do-essential-oils-have-a-shelf-life

https://tobyamidornutrition.com/2013/07/does-oil-spoil/

Login or Signup to reply to this post.

Re: Oil Crafting
By:
Post # 12
Thank you for those links! I got my information from a magazine that had a special on herbal medicine and I thought it was weird they said to keep it in the sun but being a beginner I didn't want to assume I knew better.
Login or Signup to reply to this post.

Re: Oil Crafting
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 13

Always double and triple check your sources. Never take the first thing you see at face value. Just because you didn't get sick from using improperly stored or handled oils doesn't mean that someone else won't see your post, do it , and then get sick or have a bad reaction to it. Please be mindful of the information you post and do proper research before sharing information.

Login or Signup to reply to this post.

Re: Oil Crafting
By:
Post # 14
So I actually did some further research and the sun method IS a oil option. However what isn't always warned is its for topical infusion. Not internal. Or at least not recommended due to the higher chance of botulism poisoning.

http://www.handmadeapothecary.co.uk/infused-oils-sun-method

https://theherbalacademy.com/herb-infused-oils/

https://pebblemag.com/magazine/living/how-to-make-a-solar-infused-herbal-oil

In the end it is defiantly a thing but not always warned (Like in the magazine Hobby Farms) that a product may not always be safe for ingestion.
Login or Signup to reply to this post.

Re: Oil Crafting
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 15

Something important you might also want to point out, the articles you used suggested specific oils:Comfrey, Lavender, Chamomile, Rose and Calendula because those oils tend to have a higher temperature at which the molecules in them break down. It also suggests placing the jar in a brown, paper bag or wrapping it in a opaque cloth. This prevents the contents from getting over heated (as glass can get very warm) and it prevents direct sunlight from hitting the contents of the jar, i.e. the oil which prevents breakdown. Those articles are also perfect examples of why you should always double check your sources. Botulism can be deadly and if someone had read your previous post and took it at face value, they could have died. I do applaud you though for doing the proper research and realizing the mistake.

Login or Signup to reply to this post.