| Essential oils are a hot topic today. Just consider all the | | | | would help clear the air of the plague. |
| TV ads for air fresheners and aromatherapy candles | | | | The Four Thieves Vinegar appears in the museum of |
| which are nothing more than synthetic perfume oils at | | | | old Marseille: |
| best. Here is an interesting tidbit from history about | | | | "Take 3 pints of strong white wine vinegar, add a |
| plagues and thieves and how through aromatherapy a | | | | handful each of wormwood, meadowsweet, wild |
| bunch of thieves almost got away with robbing the | | | | marjoram and sage, 50 cloves, 2 ounces of |
| dead and dying. In the Middle Ages, thanks to the | | | | campanula roots, 2 ounces of angelica, rosemary, and |
| caravans from the East and the returning Crusaders, | | | | horehound and 3 large measures of camphor. Place |
| Europeans were exposed to many of the "perfumes | | | | the mixture in a container for 15 days, strain and |
| of Arabia." It is recorded in history that when Europe | | | | express, then bottle. Use by rubbing it on the hands, |
| was besieged with the plague (Black Death), the | | | | ears, and temples from time to time when approaching |
| herbalists, spice merchants and perfumers seemed to | | | | plague victims." |
| be immune. When the plague was in full swing, it was | | | | Thieves(TM) is an oil blend containing the oils of clove, |
| discovered that certain thieves could go among the | | | | cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary inspired by |
| dead and dying in order to rob them and never | | | | the thieves in this Medieval story. This oil was tested at |
| contracted the plague. When forced to tell how they | | | | Weber State University in 1997 for its potent |
| did it, they confessed that they lathered themselves | | | | antimicrobial properties. It was found to have 99.96 |
| with a concoction that included clove and rosemary | | | | percent kill rate against airborne bacteria. Wow! Here is |
| and many other aromatic oils. Their secret was made | | | | a story from the past that we can profit by in our |
| public and posted for all to see. | | | | modern world that is still beset by plagues. Most |
| Aromatics seemed to be the best antiseptic available | | | | noteworthy is MRSA. This is the antibiotic resistant |
| to the people at that time against the plague. They | | | | deadly disease that is spreading throughout hospitals |
| used perfumed candles to burn in their sickrooms. | | | | nationwide. How can you protect yourself from this |
| Their churches and other public building were | | | | modern-day plague? Take heed from this story and |
| fumigated twice a week with sulphur, hops, pepper | | | | protect yourself with medicinal or therapeutic grade |
| and frankincense and aromatic plants were strewn on | | | | essential oils. Educational courses in aromatherapy can |
| their streets. Fires made with pine or woods that gave | | | | help you understand the science behind therapeutic |
| out a pungent smell were set in the streets every | | | | grade essential oils. We can arm ourselves with |
| twelve hours. It was believed that these measures | | | | protection against deadly diseases. |