Olbas Lozenges and Drops
For thousands of years, peddlers and minstrels were the only source of news for the rural population. Without the traveling people, many villages were completely cut off from the rest of the world. The labor on the farm and the daily struggle for survival made travel virtually impossible. Merchants, thus, were always welcome. The farther they got around, the more colorful and adventurous their stories were. The most famous written travelogue of the Middle Ages undoubtedly comes from Marco Polo. The famous Venetian traveled with his father and uncle to Cambaluc (today's Beijing), the capital of the vast Mongol Empire, where they were welcomed in 1266 at the court of the Mongol prince Kublai Khan. The Great Khan was fascinated by the Italians and gave them various tasks. They should deliver a message to the Pope and return with his answer.
The Pope's response reached the Great Khan in 1275. Impressed by the skills of the young Marco Polo, Kublai Khan nominated him to be his prefect. As governor, Marco Polo traveled through China for many years. He visited cities whose population had already exceeded one million people. Their everyday life was very different from what the Venetian knew so far. The Chinese did not eat with knives or their hands, but with chopsticks. They paid for their purchases with paper money and instead of letters they used a complicated system with many thousands of characters.
The travelogues of Marco Polo have been true bestsellers for many centuries. How many of them actually corresponded to the truth will probably never be fully clarified. Some skeptics suggest that Marco Polo could have spun the story in Constantinople from stories of caravan leaders, because some typical Chinese things are missing in his report. The Great Wall of China or the omnipresent tea houses, for example, are not mentioned anywhere. In contrast, his intimate knowledge of the Chinese salt monopoly and the tax and paper money system speak for the authenticity of Marco Polo's reports. As governor, he definitely would have had insight into these areas. In Venice, Marco Polo was still considered a baron of the lies after his return and was called ”Marco Million“. At the end of the 13th century, Venice was one of the largest cities in Europe with almost 100,000 inhabitants. And for the inhabitants of the lagoon city it was simply unimaginable that there should exist cities in China 10 times as large as their own famous metropolis.
Marco Polo did not return to Venice with empty hands. In addition to gold, gems and robes made of silk, Marco Polo also brought a mysterious oil with him, which was praised in the Far East for its healing properties. The art of oil mixing was still a new thing in early medieval Europe. That's why the people there were not heavily impressed with it. It took almost 200 years before an alchemist from Basel could decode the mixture of essential oils. He recognized the versatile possible fields of application. In his shop he sold it under the name ”Basel Oil“ as a remedy. Today, the blend of the essential oils of peppermint, cajeput and eucalyptus is known under the name ”Olbas“. The interplay of the essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus and cajeput makes the oil a true all-rounder, which is used in drops, lozenges and even patches.
Olbas Lozenges have a soothing effect on the mouth and throat. In addition, the essential oils refresh the breath. The practical metal box is therefore an ideal companion for on the go. Olbas Drops are also based on the active ingredients of peppermint, cajeput and eucalyptus oil. Traditionally, they are used in the cold season for intake and inhalation. In the case of an external application, the essential oils also have a positive effect on the well-being. The unique Olbas formulation with the plant power of three essential oils can look back on a centuries-long tradition. Get to know the diverse effects of this popular home remedy.
