If you’ve been reading about essential oils, you may have come across something called thieves oil. In essence, this is a mixture of several essential oils, most often, clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oil.
Some of this blend’s claimed benefits are stronger immunity and reduced risk of infections.
But, it’s also often advertised for being able to help with sinus and nasal congestion, for boosting the mood, and for better respiratory and cardiovascular well-being.
Are these claims backed up by science? Let’s find out more…
Thieves Oil Benefits
A lot of the potential advantages of thieves oil are anecdotal, that is, they’re based on personal experiences from users; but, research on thieves oil is scarce.
More research has been focused on the individual elements of thieves oil. And, most of these studies are done with lab animals and more data is needed to confirm findings in humans.
Antimicrobial properties were discovered in cinnamon, clove, and lemon oil. Cinnamon oil was also found to have wound healing properties, as well as eucalyptus oil. The inhalation or injection of eucalyptus oil was found beneficial in alleviating some types of ache.
Rosemary essential oil inhalation had a stimulating effect on the mood and increased the feeling of freshness and activity, as well as increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
DIY Thieves Oil
If you decide to try out this oil for yourself, you should know that it’s very easy to make it- you just need the following recipe:
40 drops of clove bud essential oil
20 drops of cinnamon bark essential oil
35 drops of lemon essential oil
10 drops of rosemary essential oil
15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
A dark glass bottle
Preparation:
Combine all of the ingredients in the bottle and close it well. Since it’s a quite concentrated solution, it’s best to dilute it prior to usage.
Important to note:
If you want to, you can experiment with the ingredients in your thieves oil- for example, you can replace the lemon oil for another citrus option like orange or bergamot. Or, add an herbal kick to it- opt for some thyme essential oil!
Even though it may require some trial and error to find the most suitable aroma for you and the right balance, it will be worth it.
How to Use My Thieves Oil?
- Diffuse it
Diffusing thieves oil can be beneficial for bettering the mood, increasing the alertness, and lowering anxiety and stress.
- Inhale it
Steam inhalation requires putting several essential oils in a bowl of steaming water and inhaling the vapour. This can be effective for clogged sinuses or respiratory congestion.
- For massage
Diluting the thieves oil with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba can be effective as a massaging oil.
Important to Know
Make sure you conduct a patch test on a small area of the forearm and cover it with a bandage. After 24 hours, check for any irritation.
This is because clove and cinnamon oil may irritate the skin in some people and cause redness, itching or swelling.
Since lemon oil can cause photosensitivity- if you’re applying thieves oil topically, don’t expose yourself to sunlight directly without sun protection. Otherwise, you risk burning or changes in pigmentation.
- Before using essential oils, always dilute them if you’re going to use them topically.
- Ensure there’s good ventilation in the room if you’re using them for aromatherapy.
- Keep them away from the eyes.
- If you’re pregnant, trying to become or breastfeeding, consult your doctor if you want to use essential oils.
- Some essential oils can be a threat to children, pets, and pregnant women- keep them in a safe place.
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