53. Healing Herbal Oils: How To Make and Use Them - Kami McBride
Every woman throughout time has taken some kind of plant and some kind of fat, put them together and used it as medicine. Herbal body oils are the One Remedy to Rule Them All. And no one knows more about making and using them than Kami McBride.
IN THE INTRO:
Ancient sacrament, modern necessity
Handcrafted Healing Herbal Oils online course
IN THE INTERVIEW:
How herbal oils came into Kami’s life and immediately replaced petroleum based products
If you wouldn’t put it in your mouth, don’t put it on your skin
Kami’s favorite herbs for oil making
Mugwort as a deepening, driving, carrying herb
St. John’s Wort for bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, growing pains, inflamed skin, muscle pain, nerve pain, neck tension, spasms, back pain, insomnia, anxiety, relaxation, children’s health, smashed fingers and a million other things
How oiling nourishes and calms the nervous system
If the skin is dry, then the nerves are dry- this dehydration makes us feel agitated and irritated and anxious (and is exacerbated in summer and fall), “Oil is the antidote to nervousness”
The skin is an immunological organ- why oiling is so important for supporting optimal lymphatic and immune system health
Using oils with kids
Earlobe oiling! Game changer
Herbal oils for sleep support- goodnight insomnia
When you study herbalism you’re also learning about the earth and the human body
No one can tell you how much of an herbal preparation to take- even doctor’s dosage recommendations are guesses (know thyself!)
How herbal body oiling helps you develop deep listening to and knowledge of your body
Embedding self care into the culture
All the places where Kami keeps little bottles of oil for immediate access
How oils helped revive Kami’s ailing great aunt
The skin as a reflection of internal health
How making an herbal oil is different from making an herbal tincture
MAKING OILS:
Learning to make shelf stable and potent herbal oils
How to know which herbs to use fresh and which to use dry
Preventing spoilage when making fresh plant oils: the 5 things to pay attention to (FLAHM)
Using alcohol in your oil making for greater potency and preservation
The most controversial of all oil making questions- should you solar infuse your oils?
There’s not just one way to make your herbal medicine- herbalism is vast
If you’re making a blend, should you make separate oils and blend later or just put all the herbs into one jar?
Should you oil your face? And our skin care practices
“Every woman throughout time has taken some kind of plant and some kind of fat, put it together and used it as some kind of medicine”
Why making your own oils will save you SO MUCH MONEY
Oils are the least amount of effort for the most return home remedy and are such an effective and easy place to start your herbal journey
All the first aid uses for herbal oils
LINKS:
Kami’s online course
Mythic Medicinals St. John’s Wort Oil
Dr. Vasant Lad and the Ayurvedic Institute
Take my fun Which Healing Herb is Your Spirit Medicine? Quiz
Medicine Stories Facebook group
Mythic Medicine on Instagram
Music by Mariee Sioux (from her beautiful song Wild Eyes)
GET THE PDF TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE HERE.