Herbal Oils; To Eat and to Treat... Fridays Edition 4-4-2008

Herbs aren't just for mixing with oil and vinegar to make vinaigrette for a salad, even though this is a wonderful way to use herbs. There are so many uses such as in sauces, dips, on meat and vegetables. Herbs can also be made into herb oils for cooking, for aromatherapy and for medical uses.

Tasty Herb Oil Recipes:

Herb oils are wonderful to make, they add such a great taste to your foods. Most will last two weeks in the refrigerator.

Herb Oil -

½ cup fresh basil
¼ cup fresh oregano
¼ cup fresh cilantro
2 cloves of garlic
½ teaspoon of black pepper
1 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Put all ingredients in to a blender or food processor and set on chop, until all ingredients all well mixed. This oil is great with tomato based meals or is great on Italian bread, with a slice of tomato, feta cheese and grilled a minute or two.

Rosemary Oil -

½ cup of rosemary
½ cup of extra virgin olive oil
Chop rosemary up finely and mix with olive oil. This oil is wonderful on potatoes, lamb and veal.

Herbed Vinegar and Oil -

½ cup of basil
½ cup of thyme
¼ cup of oregano
¼ cup of parsley
1 cup of balsamic vinegar
1 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Chop herbs finely; mix with vinegar and oil. Put in bottle or covered container, refrigerate 1 hour and serve over salad or vegetables.

Making of Essential oils:

One way to make your own essential oil is to start with a clean glass jar. Put in 3 oz. to 4 oz. herbs to every cup of oil in jar. Any good quality olive oil or vegetable oil will work. Put the lid on tightly and set the jar in a sunny window for at least three weeks, shake daily.
The quickest way is to mix the same equivalence of herbs and oils in to a crock-pot on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Either process, when finished; take a piece of cheese cloth and set it over a funnel and pour in to a clean bottle. Keep the bottle in a cool, dark place; shelf life of homemade essential oils is 6 months. Essential oils are wonderful for aromatherapy and for using in herbal remedies.

Medical Benefits of some Herbs:

Basil is used for such things as headaches, nausea, soothes itching, gout, muscular aches and pains, coughs and colds. Basil also helps aid the lowering blood pressure.

Rub basil leaves on insect bites to relieve itching.

Echinacea is known to help the immune system, helping prevent colds and flu.

An Echinacea compress can help in the relief of sties.

Garlic can be used for joint pain, rheumatism and arthritis; is used to help aid diabetes and can help reduce cholesterol. Garlic is also said to help prevent cancer and heart disease.

Oil of garlic can help with ear infections.

Oregano is a good antioxidant. It is used in treating arthritis, asthma, and emphysema; and can help in lowering blood pressure.

To help with sinusitis, inhale the vapors of oregano and water steam.

Lavender is good for treating burns, fainting, and insomnia and can help with psoriasis.

Lavender made in to essential oil rubbed on burns is said not only to help with the pain of a burn, but also help prevent scarring.

Parsley other than being good for bad breath contains fluorine that helps to strengthen bones.

Crushed parsley leaves will help to clear up black and blue marks.

Rosemary (as well as Ginkgo) is known for helping prevent memory loss. It can also help treat arthritis, body odor, fainting and pain.

Put two ounces of rosemary in to a washcloth, closing with a rubber band and put in to your bath water helps reduce pain.