Henry David Thoreau was a naturalist back in the 1800s. He was someone who appreciated the simpler things in life. Hence, when he said, “The words which express our faith and piety are not definite; yet they are significant and fragrant like frankincense to superior natures,” it was not just a simplistic statement but surely something that should be taken to heart. It is something that should encourage a deeper understanding of what frankincense is about and the exploration of its roots dating back centuries.
Boswelia tree Frankincense resin is the hardened sap from the Boswelia tree, a sacred tree found on the Arabian Peninsula. It is also a tree that is near impossible to grow anywhere else. Hence, the supply-and-demand ratio caused the value of frankincense to skyrocket and it has been that way for ages. In fact, these trees were considered to be so precious that it was widely believed in ancient times that a dragon was watching over them. Today, it is an entirely different story and frankincense essential oil is easy to come by and priced in a similar range as most other essential oils. But, unlike many others (myrrh being an exception), frankincense has quite a colorful history.
Frankincense is at the center of many Hebrew and Christian religious ceremonies; the Egyptians used it for embalming, and ancient records dating back to 1500 BC recommend frankincense resin to treat wounds. But it isn’t the only outstanding medicinal property frankincense resin holds, as it was also used to treat leprosy, plague, and snakebites, and it was used in cosmetic products of the time.
The Bible contains more than 50 references to frankincense, of which the best known is found in Matthew 2, naming frankincense as one of the gifts the Three Wise Men brought baby Jesus, along with gold and myrrh. Living in an economy centered on the value of gold, it is easy to assume that gold must have been the most valuable gift of them all, but in reality, frankincense by far outvalued the gold Jesus received.
Resin Harvest
Harvest and Extraction
To produce frankinscence, a word derived from the old French term franc encens, meaning high-quality incense, the bark of the Boswelia tree is slashed to let a milky white sap run from it. As the sap hardens, it turns into gum, or frankincense. This resin has many benefits and is edible too, but the conventional form of frankincense can be found as an essential oil. The resin is placed in a steam distiller, lifting the oil from the resin before condensing on water, where it collects on the surface, from which the essential oil is then skimmed off.
Environmental factors, climate, and the harvest period are all factors impacting the quality of the resin. Typically, larger clumps of a lighter color indicate resin of a higher quality. However, this is something you’ll only know if you opt to use the much harder to find resin instead of frankincense essential oil. Therefore, it is best to always shop around and read reviews to find the best quality essential oils available in your area.
Uses and Benefits
You can chew the resin clumps. It is not a tasty bite and does take quite some time to dissolve, but it has the same powerful benefits as the essential oil. The far more conventional application of frankincense is using the powerful and potent essential oil. You can add some drops to a carrier oil to apply to the skin, enjoy the fragrance and therapeutic properties when added to an oil burner, or even dilute it with water to make an air freshener. You can also add a couple of drops to your bath and indulge in the aroma, which can be best described as a fusion of rosemary, pine sap, and sweet amber, while also having slight tones of citrus and spice. Overall, it can be called a woody scent, but it is unlike any other.
Frankincense comes with a long list of benefits.
- Improve the symptoms of arthritis, as it can both slow down the release of painful leukotrienes in the body and produce terpenes that improve inflammation.
- It is gut-friendly. Frankincense plays an essential role in improving bloating and abdominal pain when used with other herbal medicines. There are also studies that found frankincense can improve ulcers.
- It can improve asthma as it slows down bronchial spasms, constricting breathing during an asthma attack. Others claim that prolonged use of frankincense helped them reduce their regular asthma treatment.
- It is a fighter of gum disease and can improve overall oral health as the frankincense reduces the number of harmful microbes in your saliva.
- Then, there are also studies linking it to the prevention of cancer cell spread and slowing down tumor growth.
However, it is important to notice that research exploring the entire benefit range of any natural product is mostly hugely underfinanced and hence severely restricted, so there is usually not sufficient scientific evidence to confirm any of these findings and the most known benefits of any natural product result from those who benefitted from it sharing their experiences. When exploring the sap of the Boswelia tree a bit closer, we find that there are two predominant strains of frankincense. Each of these brings a slightly different range of associated benefits.
Frankincense Name | Origin | Associated Beneftis |
Traditional frankincense Boswelia carterii | Southern Arabian Peninsula East Africa | • Reduce signs of aging. • Repair and regenerate skin cells, and thereby reduce the appearance of aging and scarring. • Enhance concentration and relaxation. • Encourage a sense of calm. • Relieve anxiety. • Have anti-microbial activity for skin and surfaces. • Enhance spiritual experiences. • Stimulate, protect, and maintain the health of the immune system. • Stimulate the growth of new cells. |
Frankincense India Boswelia serrat | India | • Deodorize and purify the air by eliminating harmful bacteria. • Relieve the discomfort of inflammation such as redness, itching, and swelling. • Enhance concentration and spiritual experiences. • Soothe physical and emotional discomforts ranging from headaches to anxiety. |
Essential oils are super strong and highly concentrated and should never be ingested, but when applied correctly, the odds are minimal of having any side effects. However, if you experience rashes, stomach pain, or nausea, it is best to stop using it immediately and first gather professional advice and guidance. Also note that frankincense has blood-thinning properties and is best avoided when diagnosed with any bleeding disorders, and it is also best avoided during pregnancy. However, frankincense can be an immensely helpful aid on your natural healing journey when used correctly.
Frankincense Fun Facts
Frankincense comes with a colorful history and as it has been around for ages, there are surely some good stories to tell about it.
- It was a key ingredient in toothpaste during ancient times and is still found in some modern brands.
- The ancient Egyptians burned the resin to fumigate their wheat silos and keep it wheat moth free. It also keeps mosquitoes and other insects at bay when applied to your skin.
- It was the base ingredient in ancient kohl eyeliner. The fair ladies of ancient Egypt burned the resin until it was black, ground it into a powder and applied the powder to their eyelids to give them the perfect black lining.
- Nero has always been an immensely controversial character in history and often behaved in a manner that left many question marks over his mental state. So, when the story is told that he burned the equivalent of Oman’s frankincense production in one go at his wife’s funeral, it appears to be pretty much aligned with the emperor’s frivolous choices! But I bet back then, Oman’s annual production was far less than the current 80 to 100 tons they produce today.
Frankincense is far more affordable today, enabling many more to indulge in the benefits it brings. Yet, while affordable, we can still know that every other way it is every bit as valuable as when it was offered as a prized gift to the New Born King!
