Frankincense essential oil comes from several plants in the genus Boswellia. It has a warm, woody and sweet / spicy fragrance. Balsamic with lemon hints. Frankincense oil is comforting and soothing and elevating and refreshing at the same time.
Boswellia plants grow as shrubs and trees in the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Frankincense comes from the Boswellia trees. By removing pieces of the bark of the tree, the plant produce resin.
Frankincense essential oil is produced by steam distillation from frankincense resin.
Frankincense Essential Oil for the Mind:
Aromatherapists note the calming effects that frankincense oil has on the mind. It can be very helpful to people who suffer from stress and anxiety particularly if the anxiousness has roots in the past.
Frankincense Essential Oil Helps Relieve Insomnia Caused By:
- Nervous tension and exhaustion
- Mental agitation and worry
- A distracted, overactive mind
Frankincense Essential Oil for the Body:
Frankincense essential oil has many properties that make it beneficial for the body. It has antiseptic properties which makes it useful for maintaining oral hygiene. Its antiseptic properties can help fight acne, so essential oil of frankincense is often found in skin care products. It also helps fight the respiratory symptoms of cold and flu.
Frankincense essential oil can act as an astringent. It tightens the skin, making blemishes, stretch marks, and other imperfections less visible. It can also decrease the prominence of scar tissue.
The essential oil of frankincense can help treat most types of gastrointestinal discomfort. Whether it’s gas, indigestion, pre-menstrual symptom, or stomach cramps, it can help reduce the painful effects.
Frankincense oil also has an anti-inflammatory effect. It can soothe pain from arthritis, joint, or muscle pain.
Frankincense in Ancient History
Merchants traded frankincense as a valued commodity for thousands of years. Evidence shows that merchants in the Arabian peninsula, Somalia, and the northern African countries traded it as far as five thousand years ago. The ancient Egyptians were especially fond of it, having used it both in religious services and in embalming. They imported frankincense from the Land of Punt, an ancient kingdom.
The use of frankincense in religious ceremonies was also prominent among the ancient Hebrews. Frankincense figured prominently in incense offering ceremonies. The Magi who visited Jesus Christ in Bethlehem offered frankincense as one of the three gifts, along with myrrh – another resinous incense – and gold.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also familiar with frankincense. Both Herodotus and Pliny the Elder mentioned it in their writings.
Frankincense in Modern History
In the more modern times, the Crusaders reintroduced frankincense into Europe. The Orthodox Christian churches, as well as the Catholic church, used it in service. An increased interest in frankincense was evident during the Middle Ages, mostly due to its use in the creation of perfumes, and for its medicinal purposes.
The medicinal use of frankincense declined with time. In Medical Botany, an 1831 book written by John Stephenson and James Morss Churchill, the authors provide an insight into the changing attitudes towards frankincense:
“The virtues of Olibanum are merely those of a stimulant and diaphoretic. It was formerly much used as a remedy in various diseases of the head and the chest, in vomitings, diarrhea and dysentery; and externally, as a vulnerary. Riverius recommends it in pleurisies; and Geoffroy professes to have experienced its success in those diseases, especially after venesection… …At the present day it is seldom employed, except as a perfume in the rooms of the sick, and is scarcely entitled to a place in the materia medica.”
Frankincense Essential Oil Cautions:
Frankincense oil is generally safe for use. However, because it acts as a blood-thinner, people already taking blood-thinning medications should avoid it.
Similarly, women who are pregnant, nursing, or trying to get pregnant should also avoid it. Some people might experience skin sensitivity issues when using frankincense essential oil.
