Thieves Oil is one of the most popular essential oil blends of all time. It is known for its health benefits and robust smell. For our family, it has become a fall and winter favorite.
This unparalleled blend possesses the scents of the season and supports health during the most vulnerable time of the year.
The name “Thieves Oil” stems from the legend of this essential oil blend going back hundreds of years. The story says a band of thieves used this essential oil to protect themselves while grave robbing during the plague. The group only revealed their secret blend in exchange for leniency when caught.
This powerful essential oil blend now goes by several titles as essential oil companies have copyrighted the original name. But you can easily create your own DIY Thieves Oil blend. So, keep reading for the easy recipe and all of the wonderful uses below.
Thieves Oil is the blend made popular from Young Living, however we love Spark Naturals essential oils in our home and use the same blend of oils in a mix called Shield Oil.
Table of Contents
Thieves Oil Benefits
Whether the legend of Thieves Oil is true or not, this essential oil blend combines some of the most important homeopathic essential oils known to man. I have used essential oils for years and believe that everyone should have a natural medicine cabinet. There are very real benefits to using essential oils, and though FDA won’t currently support these claims, studies have made many affirming discoveries over the last several years.
Cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lemon essential oils are some of my favorite essential oils to stock in my natural medicine cabinet. Find out the Thieves Oil benefits that come from these individual super oils.
Antimicrobial Properties
The cinnamon and clove in Thieves Oil have antimicrobial properties. Studies have shown that diffusing these oils into vapor form inhibits the growth of respiratory tract pathogens like influenza and pneumonia in a pertri dish.
Amazing!
Cinnamon and clove essential oil also show antimicrobial activity against cultures of the bacterium that cause Lyme disease according to a 2017 study.
Eucalyptus oil was proven to poses antibacterial activity against E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus (a vicious skin infections).
A couple of 2019 studies showed that lemon oil also has antimicrobial properties.
Wound Healing
Studies in mice have found that topical use of cinnamon oil may promote wound healing. This also coincides with the bacteria-fighting properties that can help heal infected wounds.
Another study on rats found that eucalyptus oil used in an emulsion also promotes healing.
Pain Relief
Surprisingly, researchers found inhaling or injecting eucalyptus oil might be effective in relieving some types of pain.
Mood Enhancer
Rosemary oil inhalation was found to have a stimulation effect when researchers recorded an improvement in blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature. Participants also reported feeling fresher and more active.
Cinnamon oil is also thought to have anti-depression and anti-anxiety effects while used in aromatherapy.
For sure, our family loves the smell of Thieves Oil, and it definitely has an uplifting, positive impact on all of our moods.
Thieves Oil Uses
There even more Thieves Oil benefits than I have mentioned above, but I imagine you are pretty interested in the different ways you can use Thieves Oil. These are the most common Thieves Oil uses, but there certainly can be more.
I even use blends in my car as an air freshener.
Find out the most common Thieves Oil blend uses below I think you need to try.
Topical Use
Thieves Oil is safe for topical use with children age 10 and older, but it is essential to dilute your essential oil to the proper rates. Children, or people with sensitive skin, should use a dilution rate of 1% while most adults can use a rate of 2%.
I like to refer people to the Tisserand Institute essential oil dilution chart for safety information. Tisserand is a world leader in essential oil use.
But in general, you can make the 2% dilution rate by adding 1 drop of Thieves Oil to 50 drops of the carrier oil. For, a 1% dilution rate you simply use 1 drop of Thieves Oil to 100 drops of your favorite carrier oil.
We even use Thieves Oil in a carrier as a massage oil. It really helps with muscle tension.
Many of the essential oils in Thieves Oil are thought to be “hot” oils and should not be used undiluted on your skin. Always use caution while using essential oils topically, and talk to a doctor if you have any questions.
Diffusing Thieves Oil
Diffusing Thieves Oil in a “cold” diffuser retains the homeopathic properties of the essential oils but delivers it in a diluted, safe way. The following are some of the numerous benefits of diffusing Thieves Oil in your home.
- elevating mood
- increasing alertness and energy
- reducing feelings of stress or anxiety
- aid in preventing and fighting respiratory infections
Every diffuser is different so carefully follow the manufacturer instructions for the diffuser you are using. Also, use caution while diffusing around infants, children, and pets.
Steam Inhalation
If you have an active sinus or respiratory infection, you may want to try Thieves Oil with steam inhalation. Inhaling steam on its own may help with these infections, but adding in the antimicrobial power of Thieves Oil may be the one-two punch you need to get better faster.
Try the following steps to use Thieves Oil for steam inhalation:
- Heat water to a boil and transfers it into a bowl.
- Start with adding a couple of drops of Thieves Oil to steaming oil. (You may add a couple more if needed, but it is best to start with less.)
- Place a towel over your head and lean over the bowl of water at a safe distance (about 8-12″).
- Breathe deeply through your nose, keeping your eyes closed, for no longer than 15 minutes.
Sanitizing Room Spray
I like using Thieves Oil in a sanitizing room spray. This is a great DIY to use as an air freshener, but best of all I use it on my counters and door handles.
It’s so easy.
Simply start with a 2 oz. dark glass bottle, add 1 tsp of organic witch hazel, and add 15 drops of your DIY Thieves Oil.
DIY Thieves Oil Recipes
You may find a few different DIY Thieves Oil recipes out there. I like this one because it is easy rounded numbers. You can always double or half this recipe depending on the size of your dark glass dropper bottle.
Remember that this is the pure, concentrated form of the oil and needs dilution for topical use. But you can use this mixture to drop into a diffuser or steam.
DIY Thieves Oil Blend
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
- 35 drops lemon essential
- 40 drops clove bud essential oil
Final Thoughts
I hope this Thieves Oil blend helps protect your family this coming cold and flu season. It is a wonderful addition to a DIY hand sanitizer for the kids as they go back to school.
We really enjoy using a Thieves Oil blend during the holiday season, but it’s great to have on hand all year long. We use it to clean and sanitize our home without harsh chemicals. And it smells so good.
If you like this post, I think you may enjoy these fall essential oil blends and these winter essential oil blends too.
Let me know how you think you will use the Thieves Oil blend in the comments below.
Discover some of our most popular essential oil posts.
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