Summer is full of swimming, warmer weather, and getting outdoors more! But it is also a time for Summer colds. We are getting out more and are subject to coming into contact with bugs. I am not speaking of mosquitos, but the tiniest of the no-see-ums, bacteria and viruses that are transferred from others enjoying the great outdoors!
As we have said many times before, proper eating, rest, etc is very important to health but so are essential oils when needed. Many of us use Young Living’s Thieves Oil this time of year when we have come into contact with those who appear to have some virus or bacteria on board. Sometimes Thieves, which is a wonderful product, isn’t available (sold out, etc) or there are others who just don’t like Thieves oil or YL oils, for whatever reason. What is a good alternative?
All of these oils are based off of the original stories and recipes used during times of plague (of which there wasn’t just one big plague that everyone thinks of, but several). The story of the four thieves is popular but there isn’t actual conclusive evidence this is where the recipe came from. The truth is there were many recipes which were indeed used by many different doctors, healers, and looters of those times regardless of the origin. And there was more than one recipe, created in several countries, including England, France, and Germany. All of these oils were very effective for their use at the time for many, but not ALL peoples.
There are other companies who carry essential oils that are alternatives to the Thieves oil sold by Young Living. Gritmann is a wonderful therapeutic grade oil that carries an oil called Bandit. And doTerra makes one called OnGuard. This isn’t about what is best as these all are good. The point is that there are alternatives, should you choose something different. Knowledge is power.
The essential oils used commonly in these blends are: Clove: analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, a strong antiseptic, an immune stimulant and much more. Lemon: antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, antidepressant and more. Cinnamon: antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-infectious and more. Eucalyptus: analgesic, antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiviral, has been used as an expectorant as well as more. Rosemary: analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, and much more. (Please check out safety of ingesting eucalyptus oil here, Tibbals, J. 1995. Clinical effects and management of eucalyptus oil ingestion in infants and young children. Med J Aust. 1995 Aug 21; 163 (4): 177-180)
Check for yourself on these. Don’t just take my word for it but go to each one of these companies websites and see for yourself. Same recipes, except for the amount of drops used. That is the big secret! Below find the recipe from Mountain Rose Herb Company. I was given permission to use this recipe for our customers by Mountain Rose Herbs. For more information on the usage, etc of their Four Thieves Oil Blend, please go to their blog at http://mountainroseblog.com/thieves-oil.
INGREDIENTS
40 drops organic Clove Bud essential oil,
35 drops organic Lemon essential oil,
20 drops organic Cinnamon Bark essential oil,
15 drops organic Eucalyptus essential oil,
10 drops organic Rosemary essential oil.
Mix all essential oils together in a dark glass bottle. This blend is strong and must be diluted.
The essential oils in this blend are antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-infectious. They will stimulate the immune system, circulation and respiratory system, and help protect against the flu, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats, cuts, and more. Modern testing has shown the effectiveness of this blend and studies have found it to have a high kill rate against airborne bacteria. This is a classic recipe, but you can customize it (as some may be allergic, etc of certain oils or herbs) by adjusting the quantities or adding other antibacterial essential oils such as Tea Tree, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Ravensara, Lavender, Juniper Berry, Hyssop, Bay Laurel, or Scotch Pine.
Take care, (and good care taking) this Summer season and beyond with great alternatives!
j.m.s.
(Always consult specialists such as your own private doctor for questions about health. There has been debate by many about the safety of ingesting oils. Please do your own research on this. I personally take several oils not recommended by some companies internally. HOWEVER: all oils should be treated with care! One should never take more of an essential oil than is recommended. FDA states that essential oils are “generally regarded as safe” when used according to proper dosage. And it is possible for any individual person to be allergic to a particular essential oil, this is why Mountain Rose lists the alternatives to their recipe. If any questions please ask a health professional or someone who is familiar with or has used essential oils for years.)
j.m.s.
