Legend has it that during the Great Plague of the Middle Ages, grave robbers would wash their hands in a solution called “Four Thieves Vinegar,” which was very effective in staving off infection. The concoction was made by infusing vinegar with wormwood, rue, mint, sage, lavender, and rosemary. Because these constituents all have known antibacterial and antiviral properties, it seems like a feasible tale. I was fascinated by the idea and since I grow most of these herbs in my garden, I decided to try brewing up a batch.
I looked at various recipes, and decided to go with the basic set of ingredients, plus some lemongrass for its mild insect-repelling and good antimicrobial properties. The finished product can be used externally, and safely, for a variety of purposes: as a surface disinfectant, a hair rinse, a skin cleanser, to treat insect bites, as a hand-sanitizer, just to name a few. While the ingredients are very effective, it is gentle enough to use on pets and kids, just dilute it one part Four Thieves to three parts purified water.
Here is what you need to make your own:
- 2 tablespoons of Rosemary
- 2 tablespoons of Sage
- 2 tablespoons of Lavender
- 2 tablespoons of Wormwood
- 2 tablespoons of Rue
- 2 tablespoons of Peppermint
- Apple cider vinegar (enough to cover the herbs completely)
You can also throw in cloves, cinnamon and/or garlic for extra potency.
Fill a pint-sized jar with the herbs. For best results, cut the herbs into small pieces, and packed the jar with the herbs, leaving as little space as possible. Susun Weed recommends using a jar with a plastic lid since vinegar can erode metal over time. If you use a metal jar, place a piece of waxed paper between the rim and lid to form a barrier, or use a cork.
Pour room-temperature apple cider vinegar into the jar until it is full, then tightly cap the jar. Label the jar with “Four Thieves” and the date. Place the jar away from direct sunlight, like a kitchen cupboard, or some other place where you will remember to shake it every day or so. After six weeks of steeping, strain the mixture through cheesecloth and place in a clean jar or spray bottle. It will last at least 18 months (some articles I read say up to 30) if you store it in a cool, dry, dark place.
Let me know what you think. Or if you have your own recipe for Four Thieves, I would love to hear about it!
Nice work! This is a lovely alternative version of what I make. I researched too, but it is a total mystery trying to track down the original recipe. Mine includes lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon and tea tree. Part history, part innovation. But I make mine with essential oils, not fresh herb. I would love to try yours!
Thanks so much, Tiffany. Your recipe sounds like it must smell wonderful. I’m sure there are many possible variations, all of which have good antibacterial, antiviral properties. Let me know how it goes if you do try it with the fresh herbs!
I have essential oils also. What would be the ratio in making this?
Hi Sharon, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a recipe for using essential oils to make Four Thieves. Essential oils are so much more concentrated than dried herbs that the effect would be quite different.
Hi! I found one that makes the thieves “essential oil” mix with oils only. It says 200 drops clove oil, 175 drops lemon oil, 100 drops cinnamon bark, 75 drops eucalyptus oil, 50 drops rosemary. I am positive you can add lavender, sage, etc. as they all hold wonderful properties for health and wellness. Two ways to do this– put those in a container and use in other mediums (like vinegar) as your “single essential oil” or, add it to a carrier oil like olive, coconut, almond… I used whole herbs (except eucalyptus– had to use essential oils) in a base of olive oil — 2 oz each herb for every cup of oil– and heated it on low for 6 hours. Kind of messy to strain. I was also told I could leave this oil mixture in the sun in a jar for 15 days and then strain it. You don’t have to add any carrier oils this way, but it’s less versatile for usage. Mine is pretty much for deodorant. I will be making an essentials oil mixture, though, to add to things like vinegar, cleaners, etc. for future use. Good luck!
Thank you for the tips, Erin! There are many ways to make this, as there is no one recipe. I have heard about the jar in the sun method, as well as the oven method of infusing the fresh herbs.
Here is one more recipe I found, in a smaller batch, with slightly different ingredients. All of these are amazing. Have fun experimenting!
http://heartlandrenaissance.com/2011/11/thieves-oil/
I had never heard of this,but next Spring I am going to add wormwood to my garden so I can try it. Thanks for the recipe and info on it,very interesting!
I actually bought the wormwood (and lemon grass) from Mountain Rose Herbs. So if you do that, you won’t have to wait until next year! http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
This is a great idea. I think it would be fun to make as a gift too.
Thanks Tammy. It’s a great all-purpose cleaner. And if you leave out the wormwood, it makes a great herb vinegar for salad dressing! I like your idea of giving it as a gift. It would look very cool in a brown apothecary spray bottle.
Fun idea. Are you around next week? Maybe thursday evening? would be fun to catch up if possible.
Thanks, Tammy! I just sent you an email. It would be great to meet up with you when you are in town.
I will have to try this as well. Thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome. Let me know how it turns out! I’ve been using mine for disinfecting around the house. It works well and smells great, too.
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Gonna try this!
Let me know how you like it! I’ve found it to be incredibly versatile, plus I love the scent. Enjoy!
this is amazing! thank you for the recipe. i will pass it
along.
Intriguing, I want to try. You say to use 1 part FT to 3 parts purified water.
Yet, you keep the concentrate in a “spray” bottle? I think I misunderstood, and the spray bottle is where you keep the strained, diluted mixture? Thanks for the idea!
Yes, to use with children and pets, you would dilute it. I have two spray bottles with Four Thieves vinegar in them, one holds the diluted mixture and the other the concentrate, for different purposes.
It’s truly a great and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I have made a few variations of this. One 1/2 essential oils + …1/2 fresh rosemary, cinnamon & lemon peel + vinegar. After I cleaned a shower in my house that waseasily mildewed, I sprayed it evenly top down. That was a year ago
still no mildew…
Impressive that the mildew is still gone! Yes, versions made with essential oils instead of herb infusions are definitely much more potent.
I would LEAVE OUT THE RUE: it’s an irritant and can be poisonous if anyone plans on making a “Four Thieves Vinegar Tonic” and taking it internally.
Four thieves is NOT to be used internally. And, yes, according to herbalist Maude Grieve, rue is an irritant when used “in excessive doses,” but in this context, used as a cleaner, it is perfectly safe but http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/r/rue—20.html
And here is some additional information from world-renowned ethnobotanist, Jim Duke, who says: “‘Fresh or dried leaves are used sparingly to season such beverages and foods as cheese, meat, vegetable juice, salads, stews, vegetables, and wine.’ The oil from the leaves is used
in perfumes, in soaps, and toilet preparations.’ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rated rue “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS).” http://www.richters.com/show.cgi?page=QandA/Medicinal/19980331-5.html
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This product was actually invented by Rroma gypsies. They saved many more Europeans from death and no they didn’t put this stuff on their hands to rob dead people. A doctor found out the gypsies were immune and wanted to know their secret. Once he found out, sold it as “thieves oil” since they hated gypsies and didn’t want to acknowledge anything good about them.
So while they saved alot of Europeans from death, what do they get? No acknowledgement, their product labelled with the word “thieves” more persecution that lasts today.
Say thank you to the gypsies for sharing. Some of your ancestors were spared.
Thank you very much for this information, Sahla. I had not come across it anywhere. Given the history of the Roma, and the discrimination and misunderstanding they received in Europe, this description makes sense. I know some Roma living in America who continue the healing traditions of their ancestors.
I am a master gardener……please do not plant wormwood in a garden, it is VERY invasive and you will be sorry! Just a side note because I read a previous comment that said they would plant some in their garden……Happy Gardening for 2013!
Thanks for the tip, Deb. I’ve had it in my gardens in the past, and I definitely had to work to keep it from taking over other herbs. Do you recommend planting it in a pot?
Yes, a pot would be a good idea. I do mint that way for the same reason. Easy way to keep a vigorous growing plant contained!
This would be good for al the hospital infections they have been getting lately ,I think .
Interesting idea, Daphne. It would have the benefit of not creating super bugs!
are dryed herbs ok to use or do i need fresh??
Dried herbs are fine to use. In some cases, the drying actually helps enhance the properties of the herbs because it breaks down the cell walls and allows the active constituents to be released.
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There are versions of Four Thieves Vinegar that can be ingested. Leave out the rue and the wormwood and use whole garlic cloves instead. The herbs I use in mine are garlic, rosemary, thyme, and rosemary.
That sounds delicious! Thanks for the tip.
Old versions of this recipe usually have garlic. I wrote an article about this stuff at http://spellcasters-source.blogspot.com/2010/06/four-thieves-vinegar.html — oldest recipe I found was for garlic, asafoetida, gentian root, juniper berries, and mithridatum (which was an old medical muck made from various herb combinations…)
Thank you very much for this information and for sharing your recipe. Interesting!
Woodworm? where do you get this?
I buy my wormwood from Mountain Rose Herbs http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/w.php#h_wor. I also buy herbs from Penn Herb http://www.pennherb.com/wormwood.
this looks cool! i am going to share this on my blog tomorrow (tuesday at 10am). I’ve been wanting to make 4 thieves for a while. i’ve gotta order those herbs! thanks for sharing!
Great, Olivia! I think you’ll love it. It’s a wonderful all-purpose cleaner. Enjoy!
Hi! If you use dried herbs do you need to change the proportions? Do you still fill the jar to the top with Apple Cider Vinegar? Excited to do this! Thank you.
Hi, Heather! Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh, so you would need less. Many herbs are even more potent dry because their cellular walls are more easily penetrated in that state. I don’t know how the proportions would need to change, but a good reference is “Making Plant Medicine” by Richo Cech http://www.amazon.com/Making-Plant-Medicine-Richo-Cech/dp/0970031203/
Thank you! I’ll let you know how it goes!
My mother has cancer and I’ve been looking at many different things we can do to clean and other things around the house that would basically eliminate chemicals. Thank you so much for your posts and letting people know all the different things there are in nature that they can use.
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s cancer, and send lots of good thoughts and prayers to her and you. It’s wonderful that you are doing what you can to make her environment a safer place to heal. The Environmental Working Group has a great online guide to household cleaners. You can look up information on how safe/unsafe 2000 commercial cleaning products are http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners. And you are welcome. I am happy that I can help in some small way.
Thank you very much
and many blessing your way
You are very welcome! You, too!
very cool thanks very much!
You’re welcome, Kaaminii!
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Should you use Apple Cider Vinegar with “The Mother” or would distilled be okay?
Apple cider vinegar, with or without the Mother, is perfect. I prefer it to distilled for this recipe, but you can use either one. If you do use distilled vinegar, opt for organic since it is made from grains that aren’t genetically modified or treated with pesticides.
Thank you so much for blogging! I’m going to use it everywhere! I’m not sure if the thieves oils I have found are corn safe or my family since everything is processed these days. So I will start with my herb garden and hope it takes off! Thanks so much! I think my herbs and the spray jar are still cheaper than buying the oil itself!
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for reading it
Best of luck with your garden. It will not only be less expensive, but infinitely more satisfying when you make the Four Thieves from your own garden herbs.