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Four Thieves Blend
Updated: Oct 8
Legend tells about a group of four thieves that would go through the homes and bodies of plague victims, looking for anything they could steal. When they were finally caught, the authorities wanted to know what they used to protect themselves from the plague. In order to have a less painful execution for their crimes, they revealed their secret: antimicrobial herbs and spices. Whether this story is true or not (hence the designation of a legend) no one knows, but what we do know is that the Four Thieves blend does work to kill viruses and bacteria.
This antimicrobial herb blend can be made into a simple tea, a tincture, or the traditional use of an herbal vinegar. Herbal vinegars are easy to incorporate into the diet by using as a vinaigrette on salads and in marinades or adding a splash of it into drinks. They can also be made into an oxymel for medicinal purposes.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp sage leaf
2 tsp lavender flowers
2 tsp rosemary leaf
1 tsp thyme leaf
½ tsp black peppercorns, crushed
4 cloves garlic, chopped
16 oz raw apple cider vinegar or water (for making a tea), Vodka (for a tincture)
Vinaigrette
Turn this blend into a delicious vinaigrette
1 part four thieves vinegar (above)
1 part olive oil
½ part mustard
salt and pepper to taste
Add ingredients to a blender or whisk vigorously until well blended.
Herbal Powder
Create a powder that can be turned into capsules, a sprinkle, herbal oil or any other herbal preparation.
4 parts powdered garlic
4 parts sage powder
2 parts lavender powder
2 parts rosemary leaf powder
1 part thyme powder
½ part black pepper
Essential Oil Blend
40 drops clove
35 drops lemon
20 drops cinnamon bark
15 drops eucalyptus
10 drops rosemary
*Please note that I personally do not advocate for taking essential oils internally. They are very potent medicine and work effectively by using topically or inhaling through the air.
Practical Applications
I love to use Four Thieves in white vinegar to create a multi-purpose cleaner, as an herbal oil in both food and as a rub into chest and feet for sick conditions, as the vinaigrette and sprinkle to include easily into the diet. I have used the essential oil blend (Revive Immunity Boost) as a daily mouthwash after brushing teeth, a gargle for sore throats, massage into bottoms of feet and along the spine for any illness, in hand sanitizer, and diffuser during sick seasons.
Resources
Thieves Cleaner - Mountain Rose Herbs
