Homemade Bee Balm Infused Oil Recipe Plus Benefits and Uses
Learn how to make this homemade Bee Balm infused oil and the many uses and benefits of the oil made from Bee Balm. This infused oil can be used alone or in DIY beauty recipes to get the benefits of Bee Balm for natural skin care recipes.
This infused oil recipe is made with very simple ingredients, a combination of dried Bee Balm flowers and leaves and your choice of carrier oil. The oil is nourishing for the skin, you can use a variety of oils, including coconut oil, sunflower oil, and more. The wonderful part is that you can customize your oil for specific issues by infusing your oil with the plants of your choosing.
Information about Bee Balm
Bee balm also known as wild bergamot or Oswego tea, is a vibrant, clump-forming native North American perennial to the mint family. Known for its distinctive, ragged-looking flowerheads, this plant is a great pollinator which attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Once established, it will continue to spread and return year after year.
There are roughly 15 to 20 wild species of bee balm native to North America.
The main varieties of Bee Balm are:
Scarlet Bee Balm : brilliant red blooms.
Wild Bergamot: lavender or pink flowers.
Spotted Bee Balm: yellowish tubular flowers spotted with purple, resting above pinkish-white bracts.
Benefits of Bee Balm
Bee balm is known for its high thymol content, a compound with strong antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It also contains other beneficial compounds like carvacrol, eugenol, and linalool, which contribute to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Traditionally used for respiratory issues, bee balm helps relieve congestion and cough when taken as a tea or inhaled in steam form. It acts as a carminative for digestive discomfort, easing gas, bloating, and mild stomach upset. Applied topically, it supports wound healing and helps treat fungal infections.
Its mild calming effects make it useful for nervous tension, and a strong infusion can be used as a natural mouthwash for sore throats, gum issues, and mouth sores. Modern studies support many of these traditional uses, confirming its value in respiratory, digestive, and dermatological care.
Infused Oils
Infused oils are not the same thing as essential oils.
Essential oils are made by steam distilling the plant’s flowers or leaves, which results in a highly concentrated oil. This process is complex and requires a lot of plant material. Essential oils are very potent and should be diluted before use.
In contrast, infused oils, also called extract, are made by soaking plant’s flowers or leaves in a carrier oil to infuse its flavor and properties. This method is simpler and involves straining out the plant material after infusing. My many salve and lotion bar recipes involve making an infused oil.
This Bee Balm oil can be used for so many skin benefits as discussed above.
Making your own skincare products from flowers, herbs and other medicinal plants and weeds is a fun beneficial activity. This infused oil made from Bee Balm has many benefits!
Another great reason to make your own Bee Balm oil and salves, lotion bars and other DIY skin care items is that store-bought skincare products contain synthetic fragrances, harsh preservatives, and other harmful chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin and contribute to long-term health concerns. Plus making your own Bee Balm oil and other skin care items is easy to do and much more affordable than store-bought skin care products.
How to Make a Bee Balm Infused Oil
The first step is to pick the Bee Balm flowers and leaves.
Next is to dry the Bee Balm flowers and leaves. The drying process can include air drying by spreading them in a single layer on a dish towel or paper towel and letting them dry for several days. The other option is to use a dehydrator set at a low setting.
The next step is to make an infused oil with the dried flower or herb by steeping the flower or herb in a carrier oil. Different kind of oils can be used including sweet almond oil, safflower oil, avocado oil, sweetgrass oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil or coconut oil.
Add the dried Bee Balm flowers and leaves to a glass jar. I like to use a mason jar.
Add about twice as much oil as the dried Bee Balm. For example, you can add the dried Bee Balm to a pint jar about halfway and then fill the jar almost to the top. If you want less, you can fill the jar about 1/4 up with dried flowers and leaves and then 1/2 way with oil.
There are several options for making the infused oil:
Slow option: Just add the lid to the jar and put it away in a cabinet for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake the jar every once in a while. You can also put the jar in direct sunlight for a couple weeks to infuse the oil.
Fast double boiler method: Place the jar in a saucepan of a couple inches of hot water and heat the water on low for about 2 hours.
Fast crockpot method: Add your dried herbs or flowers and oil to the crockpot, make sure that the oil covers the herbs. Heat the oil slowly and keep the crockpot on warm. Try to keep the temp between 120-130 F. Let it heat for several hours.
Enjoy!
Enjoy your homemade Bee Balm infused oil that has so many benefits and uses. It is wonderful to make your own skincare items that do not have preservatives and chemicals. Plus it saves money!
More Great Recipes and Simple Homestead Information
For more of my DIY skin care recipes, favorite recipes and canning recipes, plus posts about other homestead-type activities, such as gardening and raising chickens, go to my website at www.HawkPointHomestead.com. For updates, please follow my Facebook page at Hawk Point Hobby Homestead.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. It should not be seen as medical or any other advice. I am not a medical expert so individual precautions should be considered.
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Homemade Bee Balm Infused Oil Recipe
Learn how to make this homemade red clover infused oil and the many uses and benefits of the oil made from red clover. This infused oil can be used alone or in DIY beauty recipes to get the benefits of red clover for natural skin care recipes.
Ingredients
- Dried Bee Balm Leaves and Flowers
- Carrier Oil, which can include sweet almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil
Instructions
- Slow infusion method: Just add the lid to the jar and put it away in a dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake the jar every once in a while. You can also put the jar in direct sunlight for a couple weeks to infuse the oil.
- Fast double boiler method: Place the jar in a saucepan of a couple inches of hot water and heat the water on low for about 2 hours. Or add the oil and dried herbs or flowers to a double boiler pan and let it simmer but not boil for 1 to 2 hours.
- Fast crockpot method: Add your dried herbs or flowers and oil to the crockpot, make sure that the oil covers the herbs. Heat the oil slowly and keep the crockpot on warm. Try to keep the temp between 120-130 F. Let it heat for several hours.
- When done infusing, the dried flowers and leaves can be strained out and oil kept in a glass jar.
1. To make the Bee Balm infused-oil recipe, the first step is to pick the Bee Balm flowers and leaves.
2. The second step is to dry the Bee Balm flowers and leaves. The drying process can include air drying by spreading the flowers and leaves in a single layer on a dish towel or paper towel and letting them dry for several days. The other option is to use a dehydrator set at a low setting to dry.
3. The next step to make a Bee Balm infused-oil is to steep the dried Bee Balm flowers and leaves in a carrier oil over a period of time. As the dried Bee Balm flowers and leaves infuse in the oil (later strained), the natural essential oils in the flowers and leaves are drawn out and into the carrier oil.
4. Add the dried Bee Balm flowers and leaves to a glass jar. I like to use a pint mason jar.
5. Add about twice as much oil as your dried Bee Balm flowers and leaves. For example, you can add the dried flowers and leaves to a pint jar about halfway and then fill the jar almost to the top. If you want less, you can fill the jar about 1/4 up with flowers and leaves and then 1/2 way with oil.
6. There are several options for making the oil infusion:
