Extracting Herbal Actives

The Science Behind Your Herbal Infused Oils

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The Research I Wish I'd Had 30 Years Ago

What's really happening when plant compounds migrate into your infused oils?

After decades of working with botanical infusions, I finally have the answers to the questions that have guided my work since 1996.

You know the frustration: You're making infused oils, but you're working on intuition and tradition. Someone asks "what's actually in that calendula oil?" and you give the usual answer about anti-inflammatory properties but you know there's more to the story.

What if you could understand exactly which compounds are migrating into your oils? What if you knew why certain plant-oil combinations work better than others at the molecular level?

After 30 years of formulating and 4 months of intensive research, I'm ready to share what I've discovered.

The Compound-Level Analysis You Won't Find Anywhere Else

You've learned how to make infused oils and macerations. You know which plants are traditionally used for different skin concerns. But there's been a missing piece in herbal education.

What's missing: The molecular science behind why infused oils are so potent and effective.

While others teach technique and tradition, I've been researching the chemistry. Which terpenes migrate best into different carrier oils? How do water soluble polyphenols make their way into an oil infusion? Why does your St. John's wort oil work so differently from your calendula oil at the compound level?

This isn't just academic curiosity, it's practical knowledge that changes how you choose plants, select carrier oils, and explain your work to clients.

What You'll Discover in Extracting Herbal Actives

Move from guesswork to informed formulation decisions based on real molecular science.

  • Lesson 1: Infused Oils for Healing
    Learn how healing compounds actually transfer into oils and why antioxidant + anti-inflammatory synergy is central to skin repair. Discover how solubility determines what migrates into your oil.
  • Lesson 2: Terpenes & Terpenoids
    Step inside the largest group of plant compounds. From tiny volatile molecules to larger triterpenes that support skin structure—and why carotenoids protect from UV damage.
  • Lesson 3: Squalene: The Originating Triterpenoid
    Meet the molecule at the root of all triterpenes. Understand squalene's dual role as emollient and antioxidant, plus how it acts as a transport vehicle for other compounds in your oils.
  • Lesson 4: Polyphenols: Flavonoids & Phenolic Acids
    How do water-soluble powerhouse antioxidants end up in oil? Learn the infusion techniques that encourage polyphenol migration and the visible signs of polyphenol-rich oils.
  • Lesson 5: Triterpenes in Depth
    The compounds that regenerate tissue and strengthen the lipid barrier. Study oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, and β-amyrin, and which plants supply them.
  • Lesson 6: Plant Complexity Beyond Terpenes & Polyphenols
    Discover the other bioactives in your infused oils—chlorophylls, polysaccharides, volatile compounds, coumarins, and cuticular waxes. Each brings unique therapeutic value to your formulations.
  • Lesson 7: Infusion Techniques & Methods
    Explore time, heat, solar, and solvent methods of infusing herbs into oils, and learn how each approach affects the transfer of healing compounds and the character of your finished oil
  • Plus: Applied Botanical Profiles
    Deep-dives into calendula, St. John's wort, and violet leaves. Link specific compounds to observed skin benefits so you can choose the right plant for your formulation goals.

Finally, Answers to the Questions You've Been Asking

After this course, when someone asks "what's in that oil?" you'll have real answers:

  • You'll know which specific compounds migrated from plant to oil
  • You'll understand why certain plant-carrier oil combinations work better
  • You'll make informed decisions about extraction methods based on compound solubility
  • You'll explain your formulation choices with confidence, not just tradition

My Promise to You

I've spent 30 years working with infused oils and 4 months diving deep into the molecular research for this course. I'm confident this will change how you understand and work with plant compounds.


If Herbal Actives doesn't give you the compound-level insights you're looking for, simply email us within 7 days and we'll refund your investment, no questions asked.


I want you to feel completely confident in this decision. You're here to deepen your knowledge, and this course delivers exactly that.

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Extracting Herbal Actives

The Science of Infused Oils

  • 7 Comprehensive Lessons - The molecular science behind infused oils
  • Video Presentations - Susan's detailed explanations of compound migration
  • Downloadable PDFs - Reference materials for each module
  • Lifetime Course Access - Study at your own pace
  • Applied Botanical Profiles - Deep dives into calendula, St. John's wort & violet leaves
  • Immediate Access - Start learning today

$

297

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7 day money back guarantee

FAQ

Do I get lifetime access?

Yes! Once you purchase "Herbal Actives," you have lifetime access to the core course and any updates to the existing modules.

What if you add more content later?

This course focuses on the core science of how plant compounds migrate into infused oils. If we significantly expand the course in the future (like adding extensive herbal monographs or creating advanced modules), those would be offered as separate courses or add-ons. You'll always have access to everything that's included in "Herbal Actives" today, plus any improvements or updates to this specific content.

What's included right now?

7 comprehensive modules covering the molecular science behind infused oils, delivered as video presentations with downloadable PDFs. Self-paced learning you can revisit anytime

What's your refund policy?

We stand behind the quality of "Herbal Actives" with a 7-day money-back guarantee. If the course doesn't provide the molecular-level insights you're looking for, or if it's not what you expected for any reason, simply email us within 7 days of purchase and we'll issue a full refund, no questions asked.

Your Teacher and Guide

Susan M. Parker has spent over 30 years studying and working with carrier oils, lipids, and herbal skincare. As a self-taught formulator, she launched her herbal skincare business in 1996, crafting infused oils with herbs and botanicals that became the foundation of her formulations.


Susan is the author of Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty (2014), and her passion for understanding plants, botanical families, and carrier oils remains central to her work today.


With both extensive practical experience and deep botanical knowledge, Susan brings a unique perspective to the molecular science of plant-oil interactions. Her research for Herbal Actives represents 4 months of intensive study building on decades of hands-on formulation experience.


Today, Susan's work is dedicated to researching, exploring, and teaching about the science behind lipid oils and botanical infusions through Lipid Oils Academy.

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