As the growing season continues so does the weekly herb drying, tincture making, glycerite making and hydrosol and hot infused oil making from the plants.
This week I was infusing Ruta graveolens (Rue) leaf and flower and also Plantago lanceolata (Plantain) leaves.
It’s always a pleasure to be working with fresh plants just as they reach their peak in the growing year. Each year we make small batches of oils from our plants to use in a variety of herbal remedies made for external use for our patients in clinic and for use by students coming on our herbal medicine making and skincare courses.
Being able to make a simple remedy for topical use for everything from inflamed joints to eczema is very impowering for people to learn for themselves and for us, it’s always a pleasure for us to make remedies for our patients.
Ruta graveolens (Rue) is a fascinating and often overlooked medicinal plant with so many uses internally as a tincture or tea. This Ruta infused oil will be used in lotions and balms for painful joints affected by arthritis, rheumatism or gout.
Plantago lanceolata (Plantain) leaf infused oil is a classic go to for insect bites or stings, and any itchy inflamed skin rashes or bruises. This oil features a lot in external remedies made by herbalists. You can also simply use Plantain leaves fresh on bites and rashes by chewing a leaf and rubbing it on the area. There are many common wild plants that are highly effective when used in this way as a ‘spit poultice’
