Topical St. John’s wort preparations such as oils or tinctures are used for the treatment of minor wounds and burns, sunburns, abrasions, bruises, contusions, ulcers, myalgia, and many others. Pharmacological research supports the use in these fields.
Equipment
- 1 quart-sized mason jar
- sauce pan or candle making pot
- soup bag or fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh St. John’s wort flowers
- 3¼ cups grapeseed oil
- 2 cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Snip fresh St. John’s wort flowers and buds off from the top of the plant until you have approximately 4 cups of flowers. If you have less, you can make a smaller batch.
- Make sure the flowers are dry. If they’re damp, lay them out in a single layer on a tray and air dry them for an hour or so. Add St. John’s wort flowers to a sterilized mason jar and pour enough grape seed oil to fully submerge them.
- Screw cap onto the jar, write the date and contents of the jar, then place in a sunny location. Shake daily during the first week to redistribute the flowers and keep them submerged. After that, shake once a week or when you remember.
- After 4 to 6 weeks have passed, strain the oil using a fine mesh strainer, or a soup bag, then pour into one or more sterilized jars. Your oil is now ready to use on your aches and pains. It also makes a great message oil! If you would like to make St. John’s wort salve with the oil, see the direction in the post.
Notes
- If you’re unsure if the variety of St. John’s wort you have access to will be beneficial, try crushing the flowers between your fingers. They should stain your fingers red; the more red pigment, the more beneficial it will be!
- In this recipe, we’re using 4 cups but you can make a smaller batch, for example, 1 cup of flowers to 1 cup of oil.
- You can increase the flower-to-oil ratio to make the oil even more potent.
- Some herbalists recommend infusing the oil in a dark location while others recommend keeping the jar in sunlight. I’ve found that either will work.
- If some sediment remains in the oil, you can strain it again using a coffee filter.
- St. John’s wort oil should be good for at least one year. Adding vitamin E can help lengthen its stability.
- Store the oil in dark bottles in a cool, dark location. Refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.
