Herbal Oil - Application, Benefit and Preparation

Herbal Oil - Application, Benefit and Preparation /

Herbal oils - preparation and recipes

With herbal oil can do a lot at home. It is not only a use in the kitchen possible. Herbal oils can also be used excellently for the treatment of illnesses and injuries as well as for aromatherapy. In addition, use as a massage oil is conceivable.


contents

  • Herbal oils - preparation and recipes
  • diversity
  • What is herbal oil?
  • edible oils
  • Herbal oils in the kitchen
  • Herbal oil in medicine
  • massage oils
  • Essential oils
  • Production of herbal oils
  • Shelf life of herbal oils

diversity

In the selection of herbs, however, it depends on their individual effect in oil production and, especially in the range of edible oils, on their taste. In the following guide, we would like to give you useful tips and information on the production and use of herbal oils.

Herbal oil is used as edible oil, massage oil or as an essential oil. (Image: Hetizia / fotolia.com)

What is herbal oil?

In herbalism, there are a number of extraction methods to bind the healing properties and the aroma of medicinal herbs and spices in concentrated form. In addition to tinctures, which are commonly made by placing herbs in alcoholic solutions, the oil extract is one of the most important processes here. The vegetable oils thus obtained usually have a slightly weaker active ingredient concentration than the tincture, which is mainly due to the viscous consistency (viscosity) of oil. On the one hand, it ensures that oils can not be mixed with water. On the other hand, due to the increased viscosity of oil, active ingredients are also dissolved more slowly and incompletely from inserted ingrids than is the case with alcohol.

However, especially with domestic use of herbal oils, their weaker active ingredient concentration has a decisive advantage. The active ingredients are easier to dose, which helps to prevent side effects. Also, oils are generally gentler to the skin, allowing for a variety of external applications. In cooking, herbal oil is not only helpful for refining salads, but also for searing meat, fish, seafood and vegetable garnishes.

edible oils

The German term "oil" comes from the Latin word oleum, which translates as "olive oil" means. This was already one of the most important edible oils in antiquity. In addition, olive oil was also used as a fuel for oil lamps and for medical treatment, such as skin diseases or inflammation. Especially in the medical field, olive oil was not only used in its pure form, but also as a basis for the extraction of other medicinal herbs.

Olive oil is known to be one of the edible oils. These are a special group within the herbal oils, because they are edible for humans and tolerated in larger quantities. In the food industry, as well as in the gastronomy, edible oils are therefore of particular importance in order to improve the consistency, the taste and in part the color of food. In the production of herbal oils, edible oils also serve as a base oil in which the herbs to be extracted are inserted.

Edible oil refines food or is used for searing. (Image: popout / fotolia.com)

Won are edible oils from so-called oil plants (also: oil fruits). They contain a particularly high proportion of fatty acids, which is why they can gain relatively much vegetable oil. Depending on which plant parts were used to produce the edible oils, three different oil forms can be distinguished here:

  1. Fruit oil - The edible oil is extracted from the fruits or pulp of fatty plants. Typical oil plants used to produce fruit oil are:
    • avocado,
    • thistle,
    • coco,
    • Marula tree,
    • olive tree,
    • oil palm.
  2. Kernel oil - The edible oil is extracted from the fruit kernels or seeds of the oil plant. The most popular core oil suppliers include:
    • peanut,
    • hemp,
    • pumpkin,
    • flax,
    • almond,
    • rape,
    • mustard,
    • sesame,
    • soybeans,
    • sunflowers,
    • walnut.
  3. Germ oil - The edible oil is extracted from the young germs of fatty plants. Above all:
    • Corn oil,
    • Grapeseed oil.

Those who want to use cooking oil for extracting herbs are often advised to use flavorless oils. Because base oils, which already bring an intense taste of their own, falsify the natural aroma of the herbal oil. Olive oil, although it was the standard base oil in ancient times, is now rarely used to make oil extracts. Recommended are instead:

  • safflower oil,
  • Corn oil,
  • rapeseed oil,
  • Sunflower oil,
  • Grapeseed oil.

Worth knowing: Although soybean oil is also tasteless, it is not recommended to look at the high allergy potential. Also in bean sprouts are plant hormones that are similar to the female estrogen. Again and again it is reported that this vegetable estrogen (phytoestrogen) can lead to hormonal disorders. This is especially true in interaction with other herbal ingredients, which is why it is not recommended to use appropriate mixtures in herbal oil.

Herbal oils in the kitchen

In contrast to pure edible oils, the individual flavor of the added plants is desired for herb oils for kitchen use. Again, the taste of the base oil is more of a hindrance, which is why it should be pointed out again to use only tasteless edible oils for the production. The natural taste of the herbs should then also be chosen wisely, as some herbal flavors are much better for the flavor refinement of food than others. For example, lavender or rose oil are rather unsuitable here, as the aroma hardly harmonizes with culinary dishes. Instead, one should rely on the taste of traditional herbs. Your plant parts are already used in the fresh or dried state for tasting and therefore can contribute as an oil extract much to the aromatic refinement of meat, fish, vegetables or salads.

A particularly popular ingredient for herbal oils in this regard are Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary or thyme. In addition to a culinary flavor, these herbs also bring considerable health benefits. For example, thyme is a traditional herb used to treat colds. Rosemary, on the other hand, is often used to stimulate digestion and alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms such as flatulence, which makes the oil of the plant wonderfully suitable for sucking away bloating foods such as peas or beans. The same goes for the savory. Another spice plant from the Mediterranean region, which is almost forgotten in our name and owes its name to the fact that it upgrades just bean dishes taste and prevents unpleasant bloating after eating the beans.

Edible oil is the most widely used herb oil. (Image: Gerd Gropp / fotolia.com)

Speaking of forgotten spice plants. Even herbs such as borage or dandelion were formerly much more often used as kitchen spices than today. Just Borage oil is also relevant in natural medicine, as the ingredients of the plant are considered extremely beneficial for itching and inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema. In addition, borage strengthens the immune system. Dishes that contain the spice or oil of the herb are therefore particularly beneficial to health.

Worth knowing: Borage also bears the epithet cucumber herb, because its taste harmonizes well with cucumber dishes. Borage oil is therefore perfect for a delicious cucumber salad!

Caution is advised with regard to herbal oils in the kitchen with particularly flavorful herbs! Not that spices like chili or garlic are less suitable for making an aromatic oil. On the contrary, the aroma of such herbal oils is even very intense. It should therefore be dosed only very sparingly and at the beginning rather use less than too much. Overall, the following aromatic herbs are suitable for the production of herbal oil:

  • Savory (Satureja hortensis),
  • Borage / cucumber herb (Borago officinalis),
  • Chili (Capsicum annuum),
  • Garlic (Allium sativum),
  • Caraway (Carum carvi),
  • Dandelion (Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia),
  • Marjoram (Origanum majorana),
  • Melissa or lemon balm (Melissa officinalis),
  • Clove or clove (Syzygium aromaticum),
  • Oregano (Origanum vulgare),
  • Pepper (Piper nigrum),
  • Peppermint (Mentha piperita),
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis),
  • Star anise (Illicium vernum),
  • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris),
  • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus).

Herbal oil in medicine

From a naturopathic point of view, the smell of herbal oil is first of all irrelevant. What is paramount here are medicinal herbs. Two of the major main uses of herbal oils are skin conditions and injuries. Because the oil can be easily applied to the skin and then pulls quickly into the tissue, which can accelerate the healing process. The oil also makes the skin smoother and can help to strengthen the skin barrier. Many herbal oils are also processed for this purpose to ointments or creams in which the healing properties of pure oil are added to other ingredients for skin care and skin regeneration. The classic medicinal herbs that are often used for dermatological treatment and skin care include:

  • Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense),
  • Real Aloe (Aloe vera),
  • Arnica (Arnica montana),
  • Comfrey (Symphytum officinale),
  • Birch (Betula alba),
  • Nettle (Urica dioica),
  • Spruce (Picea abies),
  • Oats (Avena sativa),
  • Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla),
  • Mullein (Verbascum thapsiforme),
  • Lab herb (Galium verum),
  • Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris),
  • Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis),
  • St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum),
  • Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis),
  • Marigold (Calendula officinalis),
  • Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum),
  • Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides),
  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium),
  • Chicory (Cichorium intybus),
  • Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
Herbal oils heal gently and are easy to dose. (Image: PhotoSG / fotolia.com)

By the way: Some herbal oils from the kitchen sector, such as borage, lovage or clove oil, can help with skin problems. Base or edible oils such as walnut, sesame or almond oil are also very popular in skin care, because they tighten the connective tissue and so for example, unpleasant stretch marks to deal with.

massage oils

Another medical use of herbal oils is as a massage oil. Mainly used for strains, muscle soreness or joint complaints, in particular an oil for wound treatment is mentioned here: comfrey oil.

The comfrey bears his name not without reason, because the plant has made a good reputation when it comes to discomfort in the bone and joint area. Even fractures should be corrected faster thanks to comfrey. The oil of the herb offers here the advantage that it can be quickly applied to its place of application from the outside. Even with muscle problems, this mechanism of action can be used and further accelerated by massaging into the skin tissue.

Like all herbal oils, massage oils are produced on the basis of edible oils, preferably almond oil, coconut oil, avocado oil or sesame oil. An exception is the jojoba oil - a seed oil variant that is not suitable for consumption, but is long-lasting and has a particularly skin and connective tissue strengthening effect. This effect also plays an important role in the other mentioned base oils for massage oil. They are all characterized by a more or less strong

  • antioxidant,
  • to stimulate blood circulation,
  • Skin and connective tissue tightening,
  • skin moisturizing back,
  • skin cleansing,
  • and cell-regenerative effect.

In addition, the oils mentioned have a weak to slightly aromatic odor, which is perceived as invigorating and relaxing. For an additional flavor enhancement and an intensification of the healing effect of massage oils, essential oils are often added to the chosen base oil.

Essential oils

If you take a look at the classic medicinal herbs, which are often used for dermatological treatment purposes as well as for skin care, then in addition to traditional plants such as marigold or witch hazel in particular some tree species, such as the birch or spruce. This is because birch leaves and spruce shoots are rich in essential oils. Behind it lies the natural variant of highly concentrated plant compounds.

Aromatic oils have a soothing and relaxing effect. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com)

Essential oils are the hallmark of so-called scented herbs. They are not only found in medicinal herbs, but they are especially abundant in many medicinal plants. Unlike edible oils, they have no fatty acid content. Instead, they are composed of substances such as alcohols, esters, ketones and terpenes. Numerous essential oils can be obtained only by steam distillation in appreciable quantities from their vegetable source. This is especially true when the essential oil is in very woody plant parts such as the tree bark or the branches of shrubs. However, a certain proportion of these oils can usually be elicited from the plants by extraction or squeezing. Sometimes the mere rubbing of the plant leaves is enough to release the oil and to be able to smell it.

Odor and healing properties are equally important with essential oils. Perfume-suitable flavors are often typical of these oil variants, which is why they play an important role in the production of care products and cosmetics. On the other hand, the natural healing process of aromatherapy builds on the health-promoting effect of the essential scents. In particular, tree resins and balms like

  • benzoin,
  • myrrh,
  • balsam of Peru,
  • Styrax
  • or incense

are used in this regard because of their high essential oil content for incense. In addition to the aromatic fragrance of the oil, this also includes a wealth of terpenoid active ingredients to which, depending on the nature of the plant, various health problems respond positively.

A famous medicinal herb that perfectly reflects an interplay of soothing aroma and medicinal herbal effect is lavender. The number one herb in depression, pain, sleep disorders, and a range of other health conditions attributable to neurological causes. Both lavender oil based on edible oils and the plant's pure essential oil are very versatile in use today. In addition to massage oils from lavender, there are also aromatherapeutic sachets, scented candles, room fragrances or oil bottles for the domestic Duftölständer to buy. Some similarly popular scented herbs are:

  • Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa),
  • Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus),
  • Jasmine (Jasminum officinale),
  • Lime (Citurs aurantiifolia),
  • Mimosa (Mimosa pudica),
  • Neroli (Citrus aurantium),
  • Orange (Citrus sinensis),
  • Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin),
  • Rose (Rosa damascena),
  • Sandalwood (Santalum album),
  • Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia),
  • Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata),
  • Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum),
  • Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).

Caution: Essential oils are not suitable for consumption! They may therefore only be used for external application or for inhalation purposes!

Production of herbal oils

The steam distillation of essential oils is unfortunately very difficult to do in the private sector. For this reason, the oils are mainly pre-distilled in small vials to buy, for example, in the pharmacy, drugstore or in the specialist shop for incense. The pressing of edible oils usually also requires a lot of expert knowledge and professional equipment, which is why they - also because of the degree of purity - are also best bought in the trade. The production of the herbal oil itself works but then relatively uncomplicated.

Herbal oil can be extracted cold or hot. (Image: Visions-AD / fotolia.com)

Cold extraction process

The cold extraction method is used in the production of herbal oils for extracting active ingredients from soft, non-woody herbs or their flowers. These include, for example, nettles, marigold or lime blossom.

Ingredients and aids:

  • desired herbs,
  • suitable base oil (e.g., sunflower or safflower oil,
  • large undyed screw jar (for oil extraction),
  • clean linen cloth (undyed),
  • drip tray,
  • funnel,
  • dark glass bottle or vial (to store the oil),
  • and, if necessary, essential oils (for example with massage oil).

Preparation:
Step 1: At the beginning, the herbs are first put into the screw jar. You can safely fill the jar with dried herbs before you fill it with a suitable base oil.

2nd step: Next, the jar is tightly capped and set aside for about four to six weeks in a light-rich place (e.g., sill) to mature. The vessel should be shaken daily so that the active ingredients of the herbs mix well with the base oil.

3rd step: After the ripening process, the oil mixture is then placed in a clean linen cloth and filtered into a sufficiently large Auffanschale or a pot. Gradually tighten the linen cloth until the oil flows down through pressure.

4th step: If a massage or fragrance oil is planned, you can now enrich the herbal oil with essential oils. As a rule of thumb, here is a dose of ten to 15 drops.

5th step: Finally, the oil is filled via a funnel into the container provided for storage. This should be dark (preferably blue) and must be kept cool, as light and heat accelerate the decomposition process and thus the rancidity of the oil.

Hot extraction process

The hot extraction process mainly produces herbal oils from woody plants and root extracts. Also, fresh, very moist herbs should be hot extracted to avoid a knapsack by residual moisture. It should be noted that the hot extraction process is a fast process, which is why the drug concentration is slightly weaker than the cold extract.

Ingredients and aids:

  • 250 g of dried, fresh or root herbs,
  • 600 ml base oil,
  • heat resistant glass bowl,
  • big cooking pot,
  • Linen cloth to flake off,
  • funnel,
  • dark glass bottle for storage.

Preparation:
Step 1: Heat a large saucepan full of water. Meanwhile, place the herbs in a glass bowl and pour over the base oil.

Step 2: The oil mixture in the glass bowl must boil for about three hours on a low flame in a water bath. Make sure that no cooking water gets into the glass bowl.

Step 3: Allow the herb oil to cool well after the water bath before filtering it through the linen cloth and finally funneling it into the storage container. Storage is then cool and dark again, preferably in the fridge.

Shelf life of herbal oils

Depending on the care taken during extraction and storage, herbal oils are stable for half to one year. Another decisive criterion is the ingredients chosen. For example, you can store garlic oil for a little longer, because garlic cloves are naturally preserving ingredients. Almond oil tends to rancid much faster. However, at least for herbal oils that are not suitable for consumption (massage and fragrance oils), there is a little trick to increase the shelf life: the preservative antiranz. It is used by default for oily cosmetics and massage oils to make them last longer. With a herbal oil, two or three drops are enough. (Ma)