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