How to Make Red Clover Infused Oil
People use red clover for a variety of therapeutic purposes, from softening the skin and relieving sores to cleansing the kidneys and combating hepatitis and cancer. Making an infused oil of red clover is similar to making a red clover herbal tea, except rather than extracting the medicinal properties of the herb into water, you're extracting them into oil. Making a medicinal red clover infused oil is simple, taking only a few minutes to prepare and from two to four weeks to infuse.Things You'll Need
- 1/3 cup dried red clover
- 1-qt. glass jar with lid
- 2-4 cups olive oil
- Butter knife
- Muslin cloth or metal strainer
- Tinted bottle with lid
Instructions
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Using a mortar and pestle is one easy way to grind herbs. Chop up or lightly grind the red clover and pour it into a clean, dry glass jar. If using fresh herbs harvested yourself, you'll need to use twice as much than dry herbs bought in a store.
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Extra virgin olive oil is one of the best for herbal infusions. Pour the olive oil over the red clover to cover it completely and fill the jar. As an alternative to olive oil, by far the most common, longest lasting and least expensive option, you can use grapeseed, sesame, jojoba or almond oil instead, as well as any combination thereof.
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Air bubbles can spoil the oil. Mix the oil and red clover with a butter knife to release any air bubbles that may appear and to ensure all the red clover is completely encased in the oil.
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Screw the lid onto the glass jar and place it in a warm space to infuse for at least two weeks but preferably a month. In the summertime, you may leave the oil on the counter or a windowsill to infuse, while in the wintertime you may want to place it by the stove or a heating vent.
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Herbal infusions last longest in tinted bottles. Strain out the red clover from the oil using the muslin cloth or metal strainer. Pour into the tinted bottle and secure the top. Keep the oil in a dark, dry space and it could last up to a year or more.
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