Anybody into folklore? The
following story (indented below) is a
rendition on the thieves story that has been around for quite some time. I think it has relevance to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and I use the preventative remedy it mentions to help protect myself from becoming infected.
I became aware of this story many years ago, and then had an interesting experience with a plumber who came to the house to swap out a hot water heater. I immediately smelled what I thought was a cologne, but he assured me it was only essential oils.
When I asked him for more information about it, he explained that plumbing is a
really dirty job, and he used to get sick all the time. He then heard about the thieves story, and decided to try it. He said once he started applying it before going to work, he never gets sick any more.
I make some up in a mist bottle, and do a few sprays into my mouth and nose, so that it gets into my lungs and sinuses. I also do the same with a dilute mist (2%) of food grade hydrogen peroxide. I then rub the mist that's left on my face all over my whole face and neck, and even into my ears (where infections can take hold). I do this every time I come out of a store, or other indoor places where people congregate.
I'm going to start using the thieves blend before going into indoor places, as I think the oils will become absorbed into the sinuses and remain there for a period of time. I strongly believe that if everybody did these simply preventative measures, there's a strong possibility COVID-19 could become a non-issue. Especially if combined with a targeted nutritional support, like Vit. D, Vit, C, zinc, melatonin, and others. -- Here's the story...
Used for thousands of years, essential oils have been leveraged for emotional as well as physical healing, perfumery and cosmetics, and rituals and ceremonies. Folklore has many variations of the story of thieves, an essential oil blend very popular today.
Our favorite rendition dates back to 1413. During the 15th century bubonic plague in Europe and Asia, four European thieves made it a habit to rob the deceased of anything of value. These bodies were highly contagious with the plague, which begins with severe flu symptoms and then continues with the bacteria infecting the blood system, usually ending in death (it is estimated 150 million people passed during this four year pandemic). However, these nasty villains never contracted the plague. It was reported that they wore hats and masks that smelled of vinegar and garlic and herbs and spices, namely cloves, lemons, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary.
A French version also involves the thieves. These hooligans were caught and jailed for robbing sick or vulnerable people, but never caught the deadly illness. They were to be burned alive for their crimes, but their judge told them he would spare them that if they would share how they avoided the plague. The thieves said that they were perfume and spice merchants who lost their livelihoods because of the thorough devastation of the disease. They combined cloves, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary and applied the blend to their hands, ears, feet, temples, and on a mask that they wore over their mouth.
Then they went out and about and committed their crimes, protected from the very infectious illness. Once the judge learned of their secret (and shared it among all he knew), he did spare them the punishment of being burned and he them hung instead.
The combination of these herbs and spices, especially when concentrated to an essential oil, contains properties that are antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, and antiviral - and it smells great, too! The combined scent is a warm, comforting feeling.