HERBAL SKIN OIL: CALENDULA OIL

4 oz oil, 2-3 hours

INGREDIENTS

• 1 oz organic dried calendula flowers (I like Starwest Botanicals or Mountain Rose Herbs brand if living in the USA)

• 6 oz oil (you can use coconut oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, sesame oil)

• 16 oz water

DIRECTIONS

1. Simmer the herb & water over low heat until 75% is reduced and 25% of the liquid remains, stirring occasionally. Do NOT boil.

2. Strain the herb, keep the liquid (I have seen some methods that leave the herb in at this step, but to me, it ends up being a mess - straining at this point makes it easier to work with).

3. Add the oil to the liquid and simmer on very low heat until the water is removed (this will take a while, maybe a couple hours).

4. Allow to cool and strain using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth (if you see brown droplets or any brown liquid, that is water; you need to put it back in the pot and simmer it more - it may take multiple straining times to see how much more water you need to cook out).

5. Store in a glass jar (see storage notes below).

Recipe adapted from my mentor - the great Eleni Ayurveda

Notes

• Always talk to your doctor before using medicated oils such as these.

• This is essentially how you can make any herbal oil that is not using a sun infusion method.

• Always use a low flame. DO NOT increase the heat to make the process go quicker in any of these steps. You may burn the oil.

• Calendula is a flower that actually works better as a sun infusion because flowers are delicate. BUT, sun infusions take a while to make - at least 6 weeks. This is a quicker method that you can use on the day. This process can also be used with roots, barks, and stems. I have used powders with this method before, and they do not work as well - they end up burning on the bottom of the pan.

• Calendula: has cooling, anti-inflammatory, alterative (clears blood and lymph), and anti-microbial properties. Calendula is typically used for skin conditions such as sunburns, heat rashes, bug bites, acne, eczema, ringworm, itchiness, and most types of skin inflammation/ irritation. I have even used it for wound healing. It can be pacifying for all doshas, especially pitta.

• Shelf life & storage:

  • Store in a sealed glass jar.

  • Room temperature: 3-6 months

  • Fridge: around 6 months - 1 year

  • Freezer: 1-2 years

  • If there is water still left in the oil (brown spots or small brown deposits), it will not last as long because water makes it susceptible to mold, bacteria, yeast growth etc. A healthy oil should smell fresh & mildly herbal, no cloudiness, no visible mold, no sour smell, and no unusual separation.

  • Use a clean spoon rather than dipping your fingers in it every time to keep it clean and prolong the shelf life...I too am guilty of this :).