While there are a few narratives of the story, the story of "The Four Thieves" all center around the Bubonic Plague.
During the Plague, four thieves or criminals, who happened to be spice traders, were caught robbing the homes and bodies of the dead and seriously sick people. While they robbed the seriously ill, they did not get sick.
WHY?
This was a question the authorities wanted to know. Once caught, their secret use of botanicals was divulged and given to the authorities that captured them. This concoction of ingredients proved to be quite useful and protective against the Plague, as miraculously none of the four thieves contracted the disease, even though they were in very close contact with it.
What were the ingredients these thieving spice traders used that protected them?
"The Four Thieves" were said to have used a blend of Eucalyptus Oil, Clove Oil, Rosemary, Lemon, and Cinnamon that provided protection and allowed the men unfettered access to those dying and buried, as no one else wanted to go near them. During this time period, Doctors had thought that disease was spread via bad odor and so they would wear a mask that had crude goggles and a beak-like protuberance that they would stuff with "posey", or a blend of good smelling herbs to protect them against infection. Doctors used this formula and found that it worked well to keep the Plague at bay while they treated their patients. This became a well-known folk remedy for protection against the illness that lasts to this day. Now that modern science has studied these ingredients, they have found that each of these ingredients does in fact improve immunity and they are anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral.
Clove - is warming, soothing, comforting and relieves respiratory conditions, calms digestive upsets, is anti-microbial and relieves pain such as toothache by numbing the area and killing off bacterial infections.
Lemon - is refreshing, boosts alertness and mood, helps heal wounds, and stimulates appetite.
Cinnamon - is warming, comforting, and energizing, is anti-bacterial, increases circulation, reduces stress, and relieves pain similar to clove oil.
Eucalyptus - is revitalizing, invigorating, and clarifying as it helps open bronchioles and thereby improves breathing, disinfects wounds, soothes cold sores via anti-viral properties, keeps bugs away, and silences coughs.
Rosemary - is known to boost memory and brainpower, is purifying, uplifting, and stimulates hair growth via improving circulation. It can also relieve minor pains, eases stress, reduce joint inflammation, repel certain bugs, and has anti-fungal properties.
Sagework Organics is a team of herbalists, botanists and firm believers in the powerful healing properties of herbs. The majority of our products are formulated with them. We have several therapeutic-grade essential oils among our product collection....including a Four Thieves Blend.
This blend is a powerful addition to your health regimen, including the daily use of your face mask or covering. You can use the oil on the mask for added protection and benefits.
