This is a fun and new addition to our kitchen that we actually use in the barn. Vinegar of the Four Thieves is an herbal combination mixed with ACV that is useful for a natural bug repellent and was even used prevent the spread of disease. I have attached a link for you to read the history of this wonderful herbal treatment. I encourage you to consider making a batch for your own family. Note: Do NOT use internally! It is easy to make and will prove quite useful against chiggers, ticks, flees and flies just to name a few. For the barn animals, I have diluted this half strength (just like I do for external human use), to keep flies away. I recently used it against mites as well with great success!
First, take your herbal combination of: Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage and Wormwood, There are a variety of recipes out there most say to use equal parts of each and some add a few other herbs such as rue, hyssop and lemon balm. I purchase my herbs from The Bulk Herb Store and they only use the four herbs I have listed. You want to make a big enough batch of this so that you don’t have to keep making it up. Once mixed well take 12ntablespoons and place into your 2 quart jar of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar.
Then put it in a cool, dark place and mix daily for two weeks.
At the end of two weeks strain off your herbs and chop up 2 Tbs. of garlic. Add your garlic to your liquid that you have strained and place in a pot to steep for three days. Don’t boil it! It will stink up the house if you get it boiling or cooking too fast. I have friends that strain their herbs off, add their chopped garlic and then place back in the jar and set in the sun for three days. I think I will try that when the sun decides to come out again.
Once the three days are over remove your garlic and put into a jar and store in the refrigerator until you need it. Dilute it 1 part to 1 part with water before you use it on your skin or your animals. We have found this is WONDERFUL for our animals and always have a batch going!
If you would like to learn more about the Vinegar of the 4 Thieves visit: http://www.bulkherbstore.com/articles/vinegar-four-thieves?s=vinegar%20of%20the%20four%20thieves
Have a wonderful week Friends!
Mrs. Joseph Wood
I was so interested in this post! I make thieve's vinegar to ingest to help prevent flu and colds. Was wondering if the wormwood is why you don't ingest this? I recognise the rest of the herbs, but don't know much about this one? Thanks. (So glad to have found this site!)
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