Go Back
–+ servings
tin of salve surrounded by fresh saint johns wort flowers

St. John's Wort Oil & Salve

Learn how to turn St. John's wort flowers into an herbal oil and salve that's helpful for tired muscles, sciatica, cold sores, shingles, or general aches and pains!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
14 days
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 ounces

Equipment

  • 1 canning jar for infusing (use half pint jar for small amount of herb, use a pint or quart if you have a lot of herb)
  • a square of folded cheesecloth, old scrap t-shirt, or coffee filter
  • 1 rubber band
  • kitchen scale
  • small saucepan
  • tins or jars for the salve (fills about 2 1/2 two-ounce tins; you could also pour the salve into a half-pint jar, or repurposed jelly jar)

Ingredients

For the Infused Oil

  • fresh St. John's wort flowers
  • oil of your choice (olive, sunflower, rice bran, apricot kernel oil, etc)

For the Salve

  • 3.5 oz St. John's wort infused oil
  • 0.5 oz beeswax (grated or pastilles)
  • up to 48 drops essential oil (2% dilution rate) - optional, see notes below

Instructions

To make the infused oil:

  • Pick the flower buds and flowering tops (approximately the top 6 to 8 inches of the plant – this can include leaves and stems) and either use them right away, or spread them on a screen or paper towel for a few hours to slightly wilt them.
  • Next, place the flowers in a glass canning jar and fill about 3/4 way.
  • Mash, chop, or bruise the flowers/flowering tops to expose more surface area to the oil. (We like to use a pair of scissors with blades placed down in the jar, so we can snip into pieces in the same container that we infuse in.)
  • Pour your favorite oil into the jar, almost to the top. (If in doubt about what kind to use, you can't go wrong with olive or sunflower oil.)
  • Cover the top of the jar with a piece of cheesecloth or a coffee filter secured with a rubber band – to allow excess moisture to evaporate – and infuse for two weeks. The oil will turn a pretty shade of red as the beneficial components are infused into the oil.
  • Some herbalists like to infuse St. John’s Wort in the sunlight, while others prefer a dark area. Both ways will work!
  • Strain after two weeks and let the oil settle for a day or two. You’ll likely notice a layer of residue settle to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully pour the oil into a fresh clean jar, but leave behind that sludgy residue at the bottom of the infusing jar – this will help remove excess water and extend shelf life.
  • Store the finished oil in a cool place. Many herbalists like to store the oil in the refrigerator to extend shelf life. If stored in a cool area and out of light, your oil should be good for at least 6 to 9 months, or longer. (Discard immediately if signs of mold, spoilage, or a bad smell develop.)
  • Use the oil to make salves and creams. (Don’t use this oil internally or for food purposes.)

To make the salve:

  • Weigh the infused oil and beeswax into a heatproof jar or container. (For easy cleanup, you could also use an empty tin can.)
  • Place the jar down into a small saucepan filled with a few inches of water, forming a makeshift double boiler.
  • Place the pan over a medium-low burner until the wax is melted.
  • Remove from heat and let the mixture cool a few minutes then stir in the essential oils, if using.
  • Pour into tins or glass jars. This recipe fills about 2 1/2 two-ounce tins, or you could pour the salve into a clean half-pint jar or repurposed jelly jar.

Notes

Essential oil options for St. John’s wort salve:

  • Leave out the essential oils if using on your lips, or add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil (for scent & cooling sensation) and optionally, 2 drops of clove bud essential oil (for pain relief).
  • Leave out the essential oils if making an all purpose healing salve for using on wounds, scrapes, rashes and other itchy skin conditions, and general first aid.
  • Cooling pain relief salve (2% dilution rate): 30 drops peppermint essential oil, plus 10 drops juniper berry (or cedarwood or fir needle) essential oil, plus 8 drops rosemary essential oil.
  • Warming pain relief salve (2% dilution rate): 30 drops cypress, 10 drops juniper berry, fir needle, or cedarwood, plus 8 drops rosemary or lavender essential oil.