Thieves Oil: A Powerful Ancient Blend of Essential Oils For Whole-Body Health, Respiratory Support, and Resiliency

The Popularity of Thieves Oil

One of the most well-recognized essential oil blends for supporting immune and respiratory health is the thieves oil blend. This ancient mixture has been around for centuries and has a very intriguing background. According to Medicine Net:

Folklore has several variations about the origin of thieves oil. One of the stories says that it was used by four thieves in the 15th century to rob people during the bubonic plague. The thieves applied a mixture of several herbs, spices, and essential oils on their clothes and bodies that would allow them to rob ailing people without catching the illness. Because it was believed to be first used by thieves, the mixture of essential oils got the name “thieves oil.”

Thieves oil is a blend of several essential oils. The most commonly used constituents in thieves oil are cinnamon, eucalyptus, clove, lemon, and rosemary. The oil has a rich and spicy aroma and is thus used in various household and personal care products. You can also make thieves oil at home….

With the chiller months ahead, I thought it was a good time to share with you about the many benefits of the thieves oil blend. It is one of my favorite tools to help to keep our body’s defense and repair processes in tip-top shape. So, in this video post, I will highlight this renowned compilation of essential oils.

Topics include:

• Why I Use Thieves Oils
• Some Common Uses for Thieves Oil Blend
• The Essential Oils in Thieves Blend and Their Properties
• Basic Applications for Thieves Oil
• A Deeper Dive into All Things Thieves Oil (Detailed Applications, A Broad View of Essential Oil Science and Biochemistry, and More)

As always, all the resources, references, and sources will be available in the accompanying article.

So, let’s get started!

 

Some of My Favorite Uses for the Thieves Oil Blend

Thieves essential oil blend has multiple properties that support our overall resiliency, lung health, and our defense and repair system. I tend to use it whenever I feel run-down, have been around crowds, have been exposed to someone who has been sick, and/or for rejuvenating vitality during the change of seasons. It is one of my most preferred oil blends to diffuse to cleanse the air.

The Thieves oil blend I use is one of the more common mixtures of clove, rosemary, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and lemon oils. This combination contains various compounds that can remove impurities in the air (including mold) and provide antioxidant support (R, R). These oils are also antimicrobial, can benefit lung health (e.g., eucalyptus is high in 1-8 cineole), and aid microbiome balance.

Below is a summary of some of the characteristics of these essential oils contained in the popular version of the thieves oil blend.

 

The Most Common Essential Oils in the Thieves Blend and Their Properties

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark essential oil is a favorite spice oil with a sweet and powerful scent. It has antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties (due to its cinnamaldehyde).

Lemon (Citrus limon) oil is a familiar citrus oil, which are all noteworthy for their limonene content. Limonene has been shown to support cellular health, enhance immune function, ease digestion, and much more. Citrus smells also have mood and nervous system supporting properties. These scents are uplifting and can ease the mind and enhance focus when diffused.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) bud oil has been noted to be antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal. The main compound is eugenol, which is at least 50% of its makeup. This constituent has anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving (analgesic, anesthetic, antinociceptive), and antitumoral properties.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaf essential oil is most well-known for how it aids brain health and cognitive performance. It is stimulating to the nervous system (chemotype 1-8 cineole). Rosemary oil has been shown in clinical trials to enhance energy and memory. Additionally, it has antimicrobial properties and has been studied for stimulating hair growth.

Eucalyptus Radiata (Eucalyptus radiata) essential oil is one of the approximately 20 species of 900 eucalyptus oils that has been marketed for its naturally occurring constituent eucalyptol, or 1-8 cineole. As a result, this oil can defend against germs and support lung health.

 

Some Applications of Thieves Essential Oil

Due to the combination of cinnamon, lemon, clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils present in the thieves oil blend, it can be used for a variety of wellness objectives. These include:

• modulation of the immune system and inflammation
• aiding digestion
• antioxidant protection
• inhibiting unwanted microbe growth
• blood sugar balance
• mood upliftment
• memory enhancement

This blend can also be diffused to decrease environmental triggers. For example, a recent study found that aromatic release of the thieves blend decreased pollen counts. It has also been shown to lower mold counts. As a result, the thieves blend makes a great companion when camping or traveling where mold and allergen exposure may occur.

Additionally, due to its stimulating and memory-enhancing properties, diffusing thieves oil at home or at work can help with improving concentration. Students may also enjoy its focus-inducing aroma when doing homework.

Topically, thieves blend must be diluted due to the potent oils it contains. When properly applied, it can aid in alleviating discomfort in the body and mouth. For oral care, a small dab on a toothpick, or a diluted drop of a quality thieves oil in natural toothpaste, can be used acutely in the mouth to the area that needs attention. I like to proactively apply a drop to the bottoms of my feet whenever I head out to public places with lots of germs.

 

A Deeper Dive Into Thieves Oil

A few years ago, Ben Greenfield, world-renowned fitness and health guru, asked me to write an article about the thieves essential oil blend. In it, I divulged more of my knowledge on this ancient blend’s history and the science and applications of the oils contained within it. Ben also shared his expertise, experience, and knowledge and how he incorporates oils into a regime that has proven effective in maximizing human potential.

If you want to dive deeper into the Thieves blend, be sure to read the article. Topics include:

• My Experience from “Snake Oil” to Using Essential Oils
• Introduction to Essential Oils and Their Biochemistry
• History of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
• More About The Story Behind Thieves Oil
• 10 Modern Day Applications of the Thieves Oil Blend

 

Summary About the Thieves Essential Oils Blend

Thieves oil is a powerful combination of the essential oils of rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, cinnamon, and clove. It has a fascinating history with many applications and uses. These include purifying the air, assisting with digestion, aiding blood sugar, enhancing memory, balancing the immune response, supporting healthy lung function, modulating inflammation, and more. Its diverse actions come from the synergism of the properties of the individual oils it contains.

Have you used thieves oil blends? Share your experience below.

Thanks for taking the time to learn how to support your mind and body with essential oils.

Many blessings.

 

Bonus: Make your own Thieves Oxymel (vinegar, herbs, and honey) (The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine)

 

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Resources:

• About Thieves Oil (Healthline)
• What is Thieves Essential Oil (MedicineNet)
• What Big Pharma Doesn’t Want You To Know About An Ancient Oil Invented By Four Robbers (And 10 Modern Ways To Use It) (Ben Greenfield Life)
• The Mold-Health Connection (My article with references)
• Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Essential Oils (Molecules, 2010)
• Essential Oils as Powerful Antioxidants: Misconception or Scientific Fact? (Medicinal and Aromatic Crops: Production, Phytochemistry, and Utilization, 2016, Excerpt)
• Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant (Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014)
• Effects of Citrus Fragrance on Immune Function and Depressive States (Clinical Trial, Neuroimmunomodulation, 1995)
• Citrus Essential Oils in Aromatherapy: Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms (Antioxidants, 2022)
• Clove Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction, Chemical Composition, Food Applications, and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health (Molecules, 2021)
• Essential Oils, Their Therapeutic Properties, and Implication in Dentistry: A Review (Journal of International Society of Preventative and Community Dentistry, 2015)
• An Update: Do Essential Harm Our Microbiome? (EOR Podcast 394)
• New Perspectives for Mucolytic, Anti-inflammatory and Adjunctive Therapy with 1,8-Cineole in COPD and Asthma: Review on the New Therapeutic Approach (Advanced Therapeutics, 2020)
• Changes in the Composition of Aromatherapeutic Citrus Oils during Evaporation (Evidenced- Based Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2015)
• Aromas of Rosemary and Lavender Essential Oils Differentially Affect Cognition and Mood in Healthy Adults (International Journal of Neuroscience, 2003)
• Effects of Inhaled Rosemary Oil on Subjective Feelings and Activities of the Nervous System (Scientia Pharmaceutica, 2012)
• Plasma 1,8-cineole Correlates with Cognitive Performance Following Exposure to Rosemary Essential Oil Aroma (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2012)
• Rosemary Oil vs Minoxidal 2% for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Comparative Trial (Skinmed, 2015)
• Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, L.): A Review (Medicines (Basel), 2018)
• Chemical Composition of 8 Eucalyptus Species’ Essential Oils and the Evaluation of their Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral Activities (BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012)
• Antimicrobial Potential and Chemical Composition of Eucalyptus globulus Oil in Liquid and Vapour Phase Against Food Spoilage Microorganisms (Food Chemistry, 2011)
• Role of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Inflammation (Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2016)
• Using Diffused Essential Oils to Remove Airborne Pine and Pecan Pollen: A Pilot Study (Applied Science, 2022)
• Why Can’t I Focus? Part 2: Five Essential Oils to Boost Focus, Energy, and Cognition (My video blog with references)