DIY St. John’s Wort Infused Oil

St. John’s Wort Flower in bloom and St. John’s Wort macerating in the sun in extra virgin olive oil

Solstice time means St. John's Wort time! 

Don't let this golden gem of summer pass you by - making St. John's Wort Infused Oil is easy, and the sun does most of the work! You can use your St. John's Wort Infused Oil in topical blends and massage oils for sprains, bruises, painful swellings, nerve pain, and in salves for varicose veins and skin irritations.

First, locate and identify St. John's Wort herb, usually growing along roadsides, trails, and sunny slopes. You know it's ready (and that it's St John's Wort!) when you squeeze and rub the yellow flowers between two fingers and they leave a stain like dark red wine or blood. Clip off the flowering tops, 10" or so, including some of those flavonoid-rich leaves. The plant reproduces underground by runners, so picking the tops is fine. Don't forget to give the plant some gratitude and love!

Take it home, weigh it out, and note the weight. Then chop it up nicely with a sharp knife, bruise it and mash it a bit with your hands, and put it in a jar. Or bruise and mash it in the jar with a wooden spoon.

For every 1 part weight of herb in grams, add 3 parts by volume of carrier oil by ml (a 1:3 ratio). For example, for 100 grams of herb, add 300 milliliters of organic extra virgin Olive Oil. You could also use Sunflower Oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil. Stir well.

Cap your jar. Find a sunny spot to let the herb macerate in the sun-warmed oil for 2 weeks. Shake it daily.

After 2 weeks, strain well through cheesecloth or muslin. The oil should be a beautiful deep wine red. If you used a light-colored oil, it might be bright red! The redder the better. Bottle the oil, label and date.

Here is a recipe for my Sciatica Massage Oil:

1 oz St John’s Wort infused Oil

10 drops Lavender essential oil

8 drops Helichrysum essential oil

8 drops Frankincense essential oil

Add to a glass pump bottle.

Oh, and if you are wondering where the herb got it's name... it's because it usually blooms around the celebratory feast of Saint John the Baptist (right now!). Incidentally, it is also said to help protect wanderers of the forest from the mischief of faeries and fey folk. Now, that's my kind of mischief!

Want to learn more about plant and aromatic medicine and essential oils? I offer public classes or private aromatic parties and events at your home or business.

Or book a private session with me to get personalized assistance through my Soul-Level Healing and Botanical Alchemy holistic approach.

Enjoy your St. John's Wort Infused Oil!