Vinegar of the Four Thieves

2 Quarts Cider Vinegar                                                         2 TBS Lavender

2 TBS Rosermary                                                                   2 TBS Sage

2 TBS Wormwood                                                                  2 TBS Rue

2 TBS Mint (your preference what kind)                               

Combine the dried herbs and steep in the vinegar for two weeks. Strain and rebottle the liquid. Label.  (I usually put the jar in my closet and shake it around every few days or so. I don’t strain it until I’m actually in need of some, so it may sit there for months before straining. Once someone needs some, I strain it and then put that jar in the refrigerator. The rest, I leave in the original container and in a dark closet.)

Optional: 2 TBS garlic buds. After you have strained the liquid, add several cloves of garlic and close the lid. When the garlic has steeped for several days, strain it out. Melt paraffin around the lid to preserve the contents or add 4 oz glycerin for preservation.

• NOTE: On that optional part: I made this as per the recipe and my friend LOVED it without the garlic and HATED it with the garlic! So I don’t use the garlic at all and it doesn’t seem to affect its effectiveness in any way.
• Second, rather than adding glycerin or using paraffin (which is a hassle when you want to use the vinegar), I put it in a glass jar and put a baggie over the lid (it rusts the metal of the lid if you don’t). Then I refrigerate it to prevent a “mother” from forming. I keep a small bottle of it on the door of the fridge (in easy reach) and refill from the larger jar (that is stored on the bottom shelf way in the back or in my closet!).

Dosage:

• If your child is around sick kids in school, the whole family can take 1-3 tsp (3 tsp = 1 TBS) at a time. I usually take it in the morning and again at nighttime – dilute it with at least ¼ to ½ cup of water as the vinegar is sharp and burns your throat.
• If someone in the household is sick with cold, flu, or some form of communicable illness, have everyone take 1 tsp per hour – diluted with water. 1 TBS per dose is the maximum at any given time; 1 tsp is better for this hourly dose.
• Some ways to take this:
  1. Dilute in about ½ cup water and down it; chase with plain water. (like taking medicine)
  2. Place 1 tsp to 1 TBS in a cup, add hot water. Add honey to taste. The vinegar/honey combination neutralizes the pH in the body. I like mine tart and mom wanted it sweeter – doesn’t seem to make one more/less effective than the other.
  3. Drink hot or cold; sip on it all day or night. It tastes delicious if you have an illness where taste is affected (a cold, for instance).
  4. You can also add this to an herbal tea (but would you ruin your tea?) or just use it as a tea (as in step 3)

That’s it. I wish you miraculous healings! J

Ps: If your health food doesn’t carry rue, here are two options:

Mountain Rose Herbs (always excellent!) https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/rue/profile

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2uAyiDj (Good reviews for herbs. I just ordered some and will update with my review) (Update: so-so; I still much prefer Mountain Rose Herbs!)