Harnessing the Magic of Non-Essential Oil Herbs: The Advantages of Infused Herbal Oils

If you’ve explored herbal medicine, chances are you’ve encountered essential oils—those highly concentrated plant extracts that have become a staple in wellness, skincare, and aromatherapy. By definition essential oils are aromatic, volatile liquids extracted from plant material through steam distillation, cold pressing, or resin tapping and are named after the plant from which they are derived. These oils contain the plant’s fragrant and bioactive compounds, but they do not include water-soluble components like minerals or polysaccharides. But while essential oils are powerful, they capture only a fraction of a plant’s therapeutic properties. The misconception that essential oils represent the “whole plant” often leads people to overlook herbal-infused oils, which provide a broader and more balanced extraction of certain plant compounds.

Not only that, but not all plants produce volatile oils, which means some of the most powerful healing herbs can never be distilled into essential oils. However, these same herbs can still be infused into carrier oils, making herbal-infused oils the best (and often only) way to extract their skin-healing, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Some of the most valuable non-essential oil herbs include:

🌿 Plantain (Plantago major) – Anti-inflammatory and wound-healing, great for soothing bites, burns, and irritated skin.
🌿 Arnica (Arnica montana) – Excellent for reducing bruising, swelling, and muscle pain.
🌿 Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – Antimicrobial, skin-nourishing, and deeply restorative for dry or damaged skin.
🌿 Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) – Used for its skin-repairing properties, helpful for sprains, bruises, and minor injuries.
🌿 Chickweed (Stellaria media) – Cooling and anti-inflammatory, ideal for soothing itchiness and irritation.
🌿 Cleavers (Galium aparine) – Supports lymphatic drainage, making it great for detoxifying and reducing swelling.
🌿 Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) – Contains silica, which supports skin elasticity and tissue repair.
🌿 Violet (Viola odorata) – Moisturizing, calming, and beneficial for inflamed skin conditions.
🌿 Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) – A rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which supports skin hydration and reduces inflammation.
🌿 Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) – Emollient and soothing for dry, irritated skin.

By working with herbal-infused oils, we can unlock the medicinal properties of these plants in a way that essential oils simply can’t provide.

A Balanced Approach: When to Use Infused Oils vs. Essential Oils

Both essential oils and herbal-infused oils have their place in plant-based healing. Understanding their differences helps us use them more effectively and safely.

💧 Use essential oils for: Immediate aromatherapeutic effects, antimicrobial properties, and spot treatments (always diluted).
🌿 Use infused herbal oils for: Daily skincare, wound healing, muscle relief, and long-term support.

Can they be used together? Absolutely! Many herbalists blend herbal-infused oils with essential oils to create well-balanced salves, balms, and massage oils that harness the best of both worlds.

If you want to harness the full power of herbs, it’s essential to look beyond essential oils and explore infused oils, teas, tinctures, and vinegars—each offering a unique way to extract different beneficial compounds.

Want to make your own herbal-infused oil? Try this beginner-friendly DIY infused oil recipe and experience the full potential of plant medicine for yourself!

Would you like to learn how to make your own herbal-infused oils?