The Science Behind Thieves

By now you will have heard of Young Living's proprietary blend of rosemary, lemon, clove, cinnamon and eucalyptus called Thieves. The Thieves range has a number of products for the home. All of which can be used to replace products used on a daily basis; trusting that what you are using is safe for family.

The range of THIEVES products include: 
Thieves oil
Thieves Household cleaner (scroll down to find recipes)
Thieves veggie wash
Thieves detergent
Thieves dish soap
Thieves spray
Thieves toothpaste
Thieves hand sanitizer
Thieves hand soap
Thieves mouthwash
Thieves lozenges
Thieves mints

Thieves has been awarded for its' infamous ability to boost the immune system. Although many of the claims have been personal testimonies, there is also much research that is being done by 3rd parties.

As a scientist at heart, understanding the beneficial properties is the most intriguing part for me. 
So, what does the research about thieves say?

Antimicrobial properties

• A 2017 studyTrusted Source found that low concentrations of cinnamon and clove oil had high antimicrobial activity against persistent cultures of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.
• A 2018 studyTrusted Source found that vapors of cinnamon oil inhibited the growth of respiratory pathogens like Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in a petri dish. But eucalyptus oil had little activity.
• A 2012 studyTrusted Source showed that eucalyptus oil had antimicrobial activity against two types of bacteria that can cause disease in humans: Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (skin infections).
• Overall, fewer studies have been performed on lemon oil. But twoTrusted Source studiesTrusted Source from 2019 observed that it has some antimicrobial properties.

Wound healing

• A 2019 studyTrusted Source in mice found that topical application of cinnamaldehyde, a component of cinnamon oil, promoted wound healing. It also reduced the amount of bacteria in wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• A 2018 studyTrusted Source in rats found that a specialized emulsion preparation containing eucalyptus oil promoted wound healing.

Pain relief

• A 2019 studyTrusted Source in mice looked at potential pain-relieving effects of eucalyptus oil. Researchers found that injecting or inhaling eucalyptus oil might be effective in relieving some types of pain.

Effects on mood

• A very small 2013 studyTrusted Source investigated the effects of inhaling rosemary oil on mood. By recording and comparing body changes such as heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, and other physical measures, researchers concluded that rosemary oil had a stimulating affect.
• In the same study, researchers also found that participants who inhaled rosemary oil felt fresher or more active. Increases in respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure were also observed.

Thieves Cleaner Recipes

All Purpose Cleaner - Mix 1 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner (THC) with 2-3 cups of distilled water. 

Use in Dishwasher Use 1 capful of THC in place of your automatic dishwasher detergent.

Use in Clothes Waster Mix 1 capful of THC in 1 cup water and add to water for wash cycle or 1-2 capfuls of THC to detergent bin at start of wash.

Make a Glass Cleaner  Mix 1 capful of THC, 5 drops citrus oil and 1 tsp of white vinegar with 3 cups of distilled water.

Make a Deep Cleaning Scrub- Mix equal parts THC and baking and to form a thick paste.

For more recipes, consider purchasing this book.
For glass bottles, consider these.