Going Old School... WAY Old School.

There is NOTHING like a sick child, or two, or three, to turn your entire life on it's ear...  Literally... My eldest son has succumbed to whatever nasty stomach bug is menacing school children all over the country, and it's NASTY. Enough said.  I'm all for Western Medicine, and thank God every day for the advancements that keep my children protected against debilitating and deadly diseases, but that's not to say I don't think there are other means at my disposal to help protect my little ones just a wee bit more.  So, I've decided to go old school... Enters a 700 year old recipe for Thieves Oil.  The stories of this fabled oil varies widely, and is even said to be recorded in Royal English Archives.  As I've not perused the Archives myself, I'll have to take that one on a bit of faith... But suffice to say that the stories of Thieves Oil are prolific and persistent.   Its commonly believed that during The Black Plague that ravaged Europe, a band of would-be apothecary merchants, turned thieves (for lack of breathing patrons), devised a mixture of oils, herbs and spices that protected them against the plague and permitted them to pillage the houses of the recently deceased without harm. By all reports, they were quite successful, until the news of their apparent 'immunity' reached the ears of the king.  In exchange for their lives, the merry band of thieves shared their 'formula' with the king, and the rest as they say, is history. This lovely blend of oils is VERY easy to make and require very little in the way of Essential Oil knowledge, other than the ability to measure and mix.

• The first thing you need are two dark colored glass bottles (I use a 10ml and 30ml size bottle).  The colored glass will protect the integrity of the oil while you use it, and I like the dropper because I can easily control the amount used.
• The second item is a dropper.  Oil recipes are provided in drops instead of teaspoons or tablespoons, consequently mixing the oils takes some concentration, so I find it best to do so when my one year old is napping...

Now for the main ingredients:

• Carrier oils: Almond oil and/or Jojoba Oil (You could also use Grapeseed Oil, but I prefer these two)
• Essential Oils: Clove Oil, Lemon Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Eucalyptus Oil and Rosemary Oil

As you can see from the picture, I am using Fabulous Frannie Oils.  I have used their products since starting my study of Essential Oils and they are really nice quality and are relatively inexpensive.  I am also dabbling with doTerra Oils, and will let you know what I think as I progress.  And lastly, the carrier oils pictured here are from Whole Foods.  They have a nice selection, but the prices are a bit high. The recipe I use for Thieves Oil, is seemingly pretty common and can be found on many different web sites.  This is not, a blend that I created, simply a blend that I use and enjoy. Thieves Oil Recipe:

1. 40 drops of Clove Oil
2. 35 drops of Lemon Oil
3. 20 drops of Cinnamon Oil
4. 15 drops of Eucalyptus Oi
5. 10 drops of Rosemary Oil
6. Almond Oil or Jojoba Oil

**This recipe above makes a very concentrated and undiluted Thieves Oil and SHOULD NOT be applied topically until it is diluted by a carrier oil** I mix the oils directly in the 10ml bottle. Once you have added all the essential oils, you will have approximately 120 drops or just over 7ml.  (I have found that 5ml is equal to roughly 85 drops).  Gently shake the bottle to thoroughly mix the oils. You then need to mix the concentrated Thieves Oil with a Carrier Oil so that it can be used safely on the skin.  I mix Almond and Jojoba Oil together 1:1, but you can use which ever oil you wish.  The magic ratio for Carrier Oil to Thieves Oil Concentrate is 1 drop of Thieves Oil to 4 drops of Carrier Oil.  Now, it should be noted that you can purchase Thieves Oil concentrate from any number of vendors and simply dilute it yourself.  All of the variations out there should contain roughly the same ingredients, and offer the same benefits.  Here's the Thieves Oil offered by Fabulous Frannie. I use this mixture daily: On my hands after I wash the dishes, on the children's hands and feet to help combat any nasty viruses that are lurking about and finally on the Sorcha Intention Bracelets :)  I adore the smell and put some oil on my hands whenever I need a good pick me up!!  I also make a wonderful headache eraser, but that's a topic for another post. So, I hope that you've found this interesting.  I love that there are so many natural and holistic options out there to help promote the health and happiness of my family! :)  As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Additionally, please leave a comment below if you have any wonderful recipes you'd like to share! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!! S.