Thieves

W H Y  T H E  N A M E  T H I E V E S ?

It is rumoured that during the 15th century, a band of robbers stole from the dead and those dying from the plague without contracting the disease. When captured, they were asked to reveal their secret for staying healthy in exchange for a more lenient punishment. The thieves had been slathering themselves with a blend of these oils, hence the creation of Thieves oil. Fascinating!

Thieves is a blend consisting of Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon, Rosemary and Eucalyptus oils; because of the Cinnamon and Clove, Thieves is considered a "hot" oil & should be diluted with a carrier such as coconut, olive oil, v-6, grapes, etc.

Thieves should be your number one go to oil in the fight against germs, while working to support healthy immune function too. This is an exceptional oil to use at any time of year, but particularly at the change of seasons.

Diffusing for thirty minutes each day is recommended during the 'germy' season since when tested at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, thieves was found to have a 99.96 percent effective rate against airborne bacteria.

Diffusing daily will help to keep the house germ-free, but it doesn't mean you'll never get ill (unfortunately!).

Another great preventative is to make a Thieves roller and apply to the family's feet before putting socks on in the morning. This will help them remain germ-free during the day.

When someone's immune system is compromised remember consistency is vital to boosting it with essential oils. Up the amount of drops of thieves in the diffuser to around ten and diffuse around the clock.

This week on All in a Drop is thieves week so we'll be discussing the full range of thieves products which are great for becoming a chemical-free home and keeping everywhere and everyone as healthy as possible.

Have you got Thieves in your Wellness Toolkit yet ?

WHY BE GREEN (in our homes and environments, not with envy !) ?

There are so many pollutants and toxic chemicals in our world today.  Most of which we have no control over.  However, we can control what is used in our homes!

Did you know that:

    •    Fumes from some cleaning products may induce asthma in otherwise healthy individuals. A large and growing body of evidence links frequent use of many ordinary cleaning supplies at home or on the job with development of asthma and other respiratory problems. It is already known that cleaning product fumes may trigger attacks in persons previously diagnosed with asthma.

    •    Common cleaning ingredients can be laced with the carcinogenic impurity 1,4-dioxane. Independent tests have detected the presence of 1,4-dioxane in numerous name-brand cleaning supplies. Other products contain preservatives that release low levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.

    •    Children born to women who held cleaning jobs while pregnant have an elevated risk of birth defects, according to a 2010 study by the New York State Department of Health.

    •    Some cleaners can cause chemical burns and poisonings as well as less severe irritations and allergies. Severe physical reactions signal that consumers should take care anytime they use these products.

    •    Despite these health concerns, cleaning product labels often do not give consumers enough information about their ingredients to allow people to make informed decisions on which ones are safer and which ones might harm their health.

    •    Although government scientific and regulatory agencies have focused considerable attention on chemicals suspected of causing cancer, they have devoted far fewer resources to evaluating substances that may be toxic to the brain and nervous system, the hormone system and other organs. Investigating the full range of risks of cleaning products to public health and the environment should be an urgent priority. Yet the problem remains largely hidden from the view of the American consumer.

Chemicals used in pesticides and in synthetic veterinary drugs - including antibiotics and growth hormones - are prohibited under ORGANIC regulations, but not for non-organic meats. These then enter our own bodies and effect us without us really knowing how.

On average women will use or come into contact with 168 potentially dangerous chemicals, daily and men 85 !

You can find more information on the Environmental Working Group website. 

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

CLEANING TIPS

Our tips and safety guidelines do not include any dangerous or harmful warnings.  However, there are a few things to keep in mind when cleaning with YL products, including essential oils:

    •    Shake products before use.

    •    Test cleaners in small areas first.

    •    Spray nozzles fit perfectly onto old vinegar bottles.  Use these to create cleaning sprays.

    •    Store products in airtight glass or stainless steel containers.

    •    Keep away from eyes.

 It’s really important to say here too, that this journey does not need to be overwhelming. Take small steps. My best piece of advice, and one that I followed myself, is to change out one product at a time. Whether that’s your hand wash, your shampoo, your beauty products or your cleaners, it doesn’t matter. Just start somewhere.

Check out the RECIPES page for a growing list of tried and tested recipes.