Re: how do you make it?

Posted by P.J. on January 15, 2000 at 17:55:43:

In Reply to: how do you make it? posted by Eliz on January 15, 2000 at 15:38:30:

Oil isn't hard to make at all. Normally, I make herbal infusions,
which is just a fancy-schmancy name for a tea. You boil about an
ounce of fresh or freshly dried herb in a cup of boiling water.
(I've found that in one mehndi kit, the catalyst solution that you
heat up and mix into the henna powder was nothing more than a clove
infusion with maybe a little eucalyptus infusion added to it.) But
anyway, back to oil. . . I use a book called "Herbal Remedies for
Dummies", and these are the insructions from the book. They've
always worked well for me, though I must admit I haven't used infused
oil, OR any of my infusions yet for henna.

These are the basic steps to making infused or MACERATED herbal oils
for the skin:

1.) Grind fresh or freshly dried herbs into a coarse powder and then
stir them into an oil (virgin olive is preferable, but you can use
almond or apricot oil) that is heated to about 100 degrees
ferenheit.

2.) To make a strong oil, macerate the oil for three to five days,
stirring daily for a few minutes each day. A crock pot is best
because this can put constant heat on the herbs and oil without being
a real fire hazard. If you have to use a stove, leave the oil and
herbs on the burner at low. Put it on first thing in the morning, and
take it off right before bedtime. This will give it a good 12 hours
to macerate.

3.) Strain the oil with a fine strainer, or if you have powdered the
herb, let it strain through a coffee filter.

I grow my own mint, or rather, it grows itself. Be careful if you
plant it, it will take over All the room you have! I'm waiting for
summer to come so I can try out mint oil with henna. If you happen
to try it out, let me know the results!! Good luck!

P.J.

Follow-ups:

• Re: how do you make it? Eliz. 17:37:33 1/16/00 (2)
  • Re: how do you make it? P.J. 23:47:58 1/16/00 (1)
    • not rubbing alc - vodka Eliz. 02:45:25 1/21/00 (0)