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Maya moon oil
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Shannon's Maya Moon Oil

It’s time to make an herbal oil infusion! I like to make my herbal oils using the slower solar method of infusing, but please use whichever method you wish. In the following recipe, feel free to estimate the amount of each herb used. "1 part" can equal 1 tablespoon, 1/4 cup, 1 cup, 1 ounce, etc. I am never exact with my measurements when it comes to herbal oils; rather, I just fill a jar half full of dried herbs and cover them with oil, and let it infuse in a sunny window for a couple of weeks. Simple enough!

Materials

  • olive oil
  • 4 parts damiana (Turnera diffusa)
  • 3 parts calendula (Calendula officinalis)
  • 3 parts rose (Rosa spp.)
  • 2 parts tulsi or holy basil (Ocimum sanctum)
  • 2 parts yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
  • 2 parts motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
  • 2 parts lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
  • 2 parts lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Instructions

  • Place the dried herbs in a clean jar and then fill the jar with olive oil until the oil is about an inch higher than the top of the herbs. Cover the top of the jar with cheesecloth or muslin cloth.
  • Place the jar in a sunny window and allow the herbs to infuse in the oil for about 2 weeks, rolling the jar around to thoroughly mix the herbs and oil about once per day. 
  • After 2 weeks or so, strain the herbs from the oil using muslin or cheesecloth.
  • Add lemongrass and tulsi (holy basil) essential oils to scent (amount will vary depending on the amount of herbal oil). 

Notes

Rosita Arvigo’s original recipe uses jojoba oil in addition to olive oil. Feel free to substitute a portion of the olive oil for jojoba if desired; I omitted it because I didn’t have it available at the time I created the recipe and also because it tends to be expensive. However, it is a great healing oil with a neutral scent, perfect for this type of herbal oil. The original Maya Moon Oil also contains ylang ylang, lavender, and orange essential oils, but I love the scent of lemongrass and tulsi together—I hope you do too! Feel free to play around with different essential oil combinations though and find a scent that you truly love.