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tin of salve surrounded by fresh saint johns wort flowers
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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!
14 days
Total Time1 hour
Yield: 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)

Materials

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.