How-to Create Herbal Infusions: To blend or not to blend?

Using oils to create an herbal infusion is both an art and a science. But, how many herbs should you use? If you can make a tea blend from two or three herbs, should you use several herbs in your infusions, too? The answer is: it depends. If your goal is to make a great smelling aromatherapy body oil for personal use, then go for it - use the herbs you most enjoy in an aromatic blend.

But, if your goal is to make an infusion for medicinal purposes, you will want to consider each individual herb, including the solvent (i.e., oil or water) that best extracts the active constituents from the herb(s) you are using. For example, flavonoids and condensed tannins are poorly soluble in cold water; ethanol and ethanol water are much better. In addition, saponins dissolve well in an ethanol/water combination (80% ethanol, 20% water), while terpenoids dissolve well in ethanol or olive oil.

Check out this article “How To Make Your Own Herbal Body Care and Culinary Oils” by ACHS President Dorene Petersen for more information: http://blogcritics.org/tastes/article/how-to-make-your-own-herbal/

What are your favorite infused oil blends for personal use? Leave a comment and feel free to include recipes for exchange.

Interested in learning more? Check out upcoming herbal medicine classes from ACHS here: http://www.achs.edu/academics/herbal-medicine

Image by American College of Healthcare Sciences. 2005. Making an infusion at ACHS Summer School in Greece.

Revitalize Your Skin for Spring with Dry Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing is an easy way to help keep skin smooth, soft, and healthy. Dry skin brushing stimulates the sweat and oil glands, which decrease production with age, and helps stimulate collagen in the skin. Dry skin brushing also exfoliates the layers of dead cells, improving skin’s appearance (our skin's ability to shed the outermost layer of cells decreases with age), and can help break up areas of cellulite.

To use the dry skin brushing technique, use a natural bristled brush, preferably a long-handled bath brush. Note that it must be of natural bristles because nylon can tear the skin and disturb the electro-magnetic balance of the skin. Never wet your brush; dry skin is important as water acts as a lubricant and the beneficial affects of the friction are lost.

Using small circles, move your brush all over the bare body. As you move through each area, it may assist lymphatic flow to begin in the lymph node for that area, then work from the outer extremities towards that lymph node. Begin at the feet and work towards the heart to stimulate venous circulation. Do not brush the face or any tender or inflamed areas, but do brush the soles of the feet.

The brush may feel rough to begin with, so use gentle pressure until you become used to the sensation. Increase the pressure as needed. Dry skin brush at least once a day for best results.

It can also be helpful to follow dry skin brushing with a salt scrub (use ½-cup of sea salt or Epsom salt, add sufficient olive oil (you can also use sweet almond oil) to made a paste. Add a few drops of essential oil if you want). Rub all over the body, avoiding the eyes, mucous membranes, and any broken skin. Then rinse off in the shower.