Thieves®, an essential oil blend by Young Living, is a beautiful fragrant oil with a pretty fantastic story. There are many versions of this oil by different companies, some just as beautiful as the next, some, not so much. So, if you are going to purchase, I recommend Exodus II™, Young Living® or Edens Garden® who has a variation called the Fighting Five™, previously known as Four Thieves, which is very pleasant indeed.  The blend is made up of cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, and rosemary. This blend can be rather expensive, so if you’re looking for a smaller amount or you’re not confident about your blending percentages with a carrier oil, I have some options just for you at the end of the article.

How I use this blend
My preference is to diffuse this scent throughout my home, but many people use it directly on their skin. I recommend diluting it in coconut or almond oil and applying it to the feet and chest during cold and flu season, 7 days on, 2-3 days off. It helps fight off any nasties that threaten your good health.
 
The Story Behind the Blend
There are a few versions of the story they all center around one event, the Bubonic Plague. Out of fear that they might catch the plague, no one wanted to remove the bodies of those that fell victim to this merciless killer, so many bodies were just left unburied. However, it is said that during that time, four thieves went from house to house to rob those who had succumbed to the illness. After the thieves were captured and tried for their acts of robbery, the king offered leniency (actually a demand under pain of death) that they share how they were able to be around those afflicted so long and often enough to rob them, but not be affected by the illness. The king quickly realized that these ‘thieves’ were actually perfumers, who have concocted herbs, essential oils and vinegar. Guess what the herbs were? Right, you guessed it! Cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, and rosemary. They put this concoction into their weird beak masks, rubbed vinegar over their bodies and went out a lootin’.
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It’s interesting to note here that, during this time of the plague striking Europe, physicians were seen wearing long black robes, wide brimmed hats, and masks that appeared to have a beak (see image above). The reason for doing this is that the masks were said to have contained a combination of herbs, spices, and essential oils that the physicians would breathe in order to keep themselves safe from those afflicted with the illness. Their long black robes were also said to be doused in a similar fragrant concoction.

What we do know for sure, through extensive use and trial with the Thieves™ essential oil blend from Young Living®, is that a powerful combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and rosemary have been found to be strong enough to reduce bacterial cultures by 99.96%! This blend was created after years of research results indicated that most viruses, fungi, and bacteria cannot live in the presence of some essential oils.

How wonderful essential oils are. They are unique, beautiful, and most of all effective at getting through the blood brain barrier, where pharmaceuticals cannot. They are safe when used appropriately, and take almost no time to use. In fact, many people are now realizing how special essential oils are and use them daily to treat a variety of chronic illness and problems. If you’re tired of popping pills, or you ‘have tried everything under the sun’ and you find you are still suffering, you might want to look into essential oils and see if they would be a right choice for you.

(Sources: Healing oils of the Bible by David Stewart PH.D., picture by Alchin, L.K. rhymes.org.uk (Nursery Rhymes lyrics and Origins) e.g. Retrieved November 16 2007 from www.rhymes.org.uk)
 

I realized how special arnica was when I had to use it myself after a pretty bad car accident I had in the summer of 2016 (I’ll explain more about that later) First, Arnica, in my opinion, is one of the greatest herbal gifts God has given us. Arnica, or Arnica Montana, when used topically is very effective for the treatment of bruises, painful injuries, aches, pains, torn ligaments and strains. Arnicas biochemical constituent is Sesquiterpene Lactone Helenalin and it is what gives arnica its great anti-inflammatory action. It’s my go to herb for all the bumps, bruises and various other complaints my 7-year-old throws at me, because I know more than likely, it will do the trick. When made into an oil, it works fantastic on a variety of problems ranging from bruises to arthritic joints. I am always amazed when I see an herb work the same or sometimes even better then prescription medication for pain. Better because it’s safe, effective and natural.
Ok, back to my bad car accident. I was driving home one sunny afternoon on a remote stretch of road here in Vermont.  I was a few towns away from my home. Initially, when I got into the car, I knew I didn’t feel well. I had a bad stomach ache and I didn’t feel like myself at all. I figured I could get home as it wasn’t that bad yet and started on my way. As I drove, the all too familiar feeling you get when you are about to lose your lunch crept up on me. It intensified so bad that I knew I had to pull over quickly. I looked for a place to pull over but there was no time. My brain wasn’t piecing things together in any straightforward way, so I began to just slowdown in the middle of the road, trying to come to a complete stop so I could put the car in park, but I didn’t get the chance before I passed out. Now, I have never passed out before. I woke up to find a very nice gentleman (whom I did not know but I now just call him my guardian angel), cutting the airbag that deployed from my door and when I found out a few minutes later that I had rolled the car, I couldn’t believe I was, for the most part, alright or at least alive and mostly alright! I had never even gotten into a car accident before, let alone roll the car! However, the next day the pain and discomfort hit me. I could not turn my head and was pretty locked up from my neck down. Thank goodness, I had recently made a batch of arnica compound. I rubbed it on my neck and back. Within minutes, (really) I starting to feel like the tightness was loosening. I had a little more range when I turned my head, and my headache started to lessen. I applied the salve about three times a day until the pain was gone. That was the first time I was so grateful for this herb. Since then, I have used it for a variety of problems and it has never let me down.
Some things to consider:

• Be very careful where you purchase your arnica salves and creams. Some arnica products have very little or low infused arnica in them. Ask questions about the length of infusion time and how much arnica is in the product.
• It’s important to be patient when starting any herbal regiment. Sometimes herbs take time to produce the desired effect. The key is to stay with it and be consistent.
• Arnica should not be taken internally or be used on broken skin.
• If you are going to make your own arnica products, great! Make sure you buy your herbs from a reputable dealer. The dried flower heads should be a nice yellow color and billowy in texture. Arnica can be a rather expensive herb and making an arnica oil can be time consuming, so if you would rather buy your arnica products, that’s ok too.  Make sure the product you purchase is from someone who has lovingly and thoughtfully produced it.

My Deep Ache Trauma Compound has arnica and comfrey and is available by clicking here www.pureandsimpleherbals.com . This salve is what I used after my accident and the only thing I use when I am suffering with muscle and other painful injuries.
Thank you so much for reading this post. I sure do enjoy spending time with you! Spring time is here and I hope you get a chance to enjoy all that the pleasant weather has to offer!

Many Blessings!
Michele Thurston