My favorite herbs to infuse in oil

If you are looking for directions on making an herbal infused oil, check out our post below:

Herbal Oils

Fat is the medium for most external herbal medicine. ‘Fat’ = lipids, and the kinds of fat we use in medicine making are mixtures of triglycerides (similar to what we find in body fat, animal fats, and what we’ll be speaking most about here: plant-based oils). Fat absorbs the fat-soluble

Greenspell Virtual Garden & NewsletterAlex Williams

If you want some ideas for herbs to infuse in oil, read on!

I placed herbs into different categories based upon how I use them in my practice and where I feel like they best belong. This doesn't mean their virtues don't spill into other categories. You will find that most of these herbs are 'vulnerary' and 'anti-inflammatory', just in different ways. I think this just speaks to the profound breadth and depth of impact on our physiology any single herb can have.

With all herbs, consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using during pregnancy and lactation.

Wound Healing (Vulnerary) & First-Aid Herbs

Calendula flower (Calendula officinalis)

Called for most in cases of basic wound healing, tissue toning, and lymphatic support.

Actions: Anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulant, emollient, lymphatic, vulnerary

Safety considerations: Generally considered safe!

Comfrey leaf (Symphytum officinale)

Called for more in cases of injury, where musculoskeletal tissues are in need of healing.

Actions: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, emollient, vulnerary

Safety considerations: For external use only. Contraindicated for deep cuts, deep wounds, puncture wounds, dirty cuts. Not for prolonged use.

Other Vulneraries & First Aid Herbs to infuse in oil:

• Plantain leaf (Plantago spp.)
• Creosote Bush, aka 'Chaparral' leaf & twig (Larrea tridentata)
  • add to infused oil blends or salves to increase shelf stability
• Yarrow flowering tops (Achillea millefolium)

Pain Relieving (Analgesic) Herbs

St. John's Wort flowering tops (Hypericum perforatum)

More so indicated for nerve pain (indicated by sharp/shooting pain or numbness/tingliness)

Actions: analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antiviral, vulnerary

Safety considerations: Most contraindications for St. John’s wort (medication interactions, photosensitivity, risks during pregnancy and lactation) are associated with internal use. Topical use most likely does not have the same effects.

Other Pain Relieving (Analgesic) Herbs

• Solomon's Seal rhizome (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Poplar bud / Cottonwood bud (Populus balsamifera, Populus deltoides)
  • add to infused oil blends or salves to increase shelf stability

Arnica flower (Arnica montana, A. chamissonis, A. cordifolia)

For pain associated with injuries to muscles, joints, connective tissue, ligaments – particularly when pain is exacerbated by movement and cold but helped with heat.

Actions: Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Circulatory Stimulant, Vulnerary

Safety considerations: For external use only. Contraindicated on open skin, broken skin, mucous membranes. Not for long-term use. Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Not for use with small children or elderly. If you have allergies with some Asteraceae family plants (like chamomile), Arnica may cause redness or itching. Just discontinue use if you find this to be the case.

Herbs for Tension / Spasm in Musculoskeletal Tissues

Lavender flowering spike (Lavandula angustifolia)

Actions: anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, relaxing nervine, vulnerary

Safety considerations: Not for use on open wounds

Other Herbs for Tension / Spasm in Musculoskeletal Tissues

• Kava Kava root (Piper methysticum)
• Chamomile flower (Matricaria chamomilla)

Emollient Herbs for skin nutrition and moistening

• Violet leaf (Viola spp.)
• Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) (or leaf & flower which are less moistening than the root)