Page 101 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 11

WHOLENESS
Remedies
ESSENTIAL OILS

A RELOOK AT A Alexis is the founder and CEO of Kakia
Oils, a community-interest agribusiness
that celebrates the versatility, potency of
HISTORICAL PLAGUE: plant-based oils from the best of African
produce to promote wellness for all.
The easy-going, adventurous mother of
INTRIGUING STORY OF THE FOUR THIEVES adulthood, which she successfully controlled
two struggled with eczema into her young
Alexis Juma using botanical oils.

t is said that there are 17 dif- death, there was no cure at all.
ferent versions of the “Story
of Thieves” or the story of During this time, these four men
I“The Four Thieves.” The Eu- were taking advantage of the death
ropean group of four thieves were and devastation and became famous.
actually spice traders and merchants Since people in the towns were
who imported spices, including cin- afraid to touch the dead bodies,
namon and clove from India. the four thieves decided to loot the
homes and bodies of the plague
When the Bubonic Plague, bet- victims. They would take clothes,
ter known as The Black Death/ jewelry, pots and pans, and then
Pestilence/Great Plague, swept barter or trade them for food and
across Europe and Asia in the 15th money. They believed they wouldn’t and their homes without getting sick
Century, all international shipping get sick if they rubbed vinegar, oils, or dying.
and trade was closed down. Unable and certain spices all over their bod-
to do business, these spice traders ies. They were able to set up a very The thieves were caught and
quickly ran out of money and had lucrative pawn business. Until the brought before the King. He gave
to find a way to support themselves. King found out… them a choice to either share their
It seemed impossible at the time to secret formula of “immunity” or be
live in the vicinity of anyone with When the King heard about the burned in public. The four thieves
this horrible bacterial disease with- story of the thieves, he wanted to decided to share their secret formula
out contracting it, and, at the time know their secret about being in with the King. They narrated that
the sickness really did mean ultimate close quarters with plague victims they had prepared an oil and vinegar
recipe that, when applied to their

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