The Benefits and Surprising History of Thieves' Oil

What is Thieves Oil?

When reading about essential oils you have probably heard about thieves’ oil.

Thieves Oil is a blend of 5 essential oils:

• Cinnamon: Made from the bark, leaves, or twigs of several species of cinnamon tree

• Clove: Made from the undeveloped buds of the flowers found on the Eugenia caryophyllata species of clove tree

• Eucalyptus: Obtained from the leaves of Eucalyptus plants, which are native to Australia

• Lemon: Extracted from the rinds of the lemon fruit, Citrus limon

• Rosemary: Derived from the herb rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis

When combined, these oils have many reported and potential benefits: including boosting immune function, fighting infection, promoting respiratory and cardiovascular health & mood boosting to name a few.

Many of the above benefits are based off anecdotal claims, personal testimony, and experience. Researchers are still working to investigate many of the properties of the essential oils as they relate to health & wellness.

When & Why We Started Using Thieves Oil In Our Products

We began using Thieves Oil for its antibacterial and immune boosting benefits in April of 2020 during the Covid 19 Pandemic. During the early stages of the pandemic, the elderly were the most vulnerable for a few reasons. They were the most likely to become severely ill from Covid 19, and if they lived in nursing homes, they were particularly susceptible due to interaction with family, staff and each other. They were the first to go on lockdown.

We reached out to these establishments to find out what we could do to help. One thing that kept coming up was that the increased use of harsh cleansers and Alcohol only based hand sanitizers was creating problems with the elderly, causing their skin to dry out and crack and therefore creating even more problems & discomfort. In response to this we created an organic hand sanitizer “Stay Healthy Hand Cleanser” with Thieves oil, Alcohol and Aloe Vera & donated 60+ 8oz bottles to the local retirement communities and assisted living facilities in our area.

As many of the nurses and medical staff started using the product as well, they contacted us and expressed how amazing the product was! They marveled at how it not only cleansed and killed germs but also left the skin feeling hydrated and noticeably helped heal dry, cracked skin.

The History of Thieves Oil

According to history, the use of thieves’ oil dates way back to the 1400s. At that time the infamous Bubonic Plague (aka The Black Death) wiped out a large portion of France. The Black Death spread like wildfire amongst citizens and doctors alike. It seemed impossible to be in the vicinity without contracting it, and at the time, the sickness really did mean ultimate death.

During this time, however, there was a group of thieves who were taking advantage of the situation by going from home to home and stealing from the sick & dying. All the while not contracting the plague despite their being in repeated close contact with the Black Plague victims. Finally, the four thieves were captured and charged for their crimes.

At this time, the crime these 4 men committed was punishable by being burned alive. The judge was so intrigued by how these men had stayed immune to this terrible disease, that he told them if they shared their secret, they would receive a lighter sentence.

The Thieves told the judge their secret: they were perfume & spice merchants who were unemployed due to the closure of the seaports and the devastation of the plague. They had prepared an essential oil recipe that when applied to their hands, ears, temples, feet & a mask over their mouths, kept them safe from infection. The 5 oils in this recipe are what make up the Thieves Oil that we know and love today!

Introducing our Thieves Oil Hand & Body Wash

Since then, we have created a Multipurpose Hand & Body wash with Thieves Oil & Aloe Vera. Thieves Oil Hand and Body Wash is

· 100% organic

· Anti-bacterial

· Anti-microbial

· Hydrating

· Nourishing

· Aromatherapeutic

The powerful blend of Essential Oils that make up the famous "Thieves Oil" gives this Luxurious Organic all-purpose wash powerful anti-microbial properties & helps protect against bacteria & viral organisms, keeping your hands germ free and (when used on the body) effectively killing bacteria that causes body odor. The ingredients including Aloe Vera leave the skin feeling, clean, soft & refreshed. Plus, it smells amazing!!

Our Thieves Oil Hand & Body Wash is available on our website www.beautybyapothecary.com