What is frankincense essential oil?

You may have heard of frankincense before, such as in a popular Biblical story, but if you’re like a lot of people, you actually don’t have a very clear idea of what frankincense really is or about its varied uses across the world for many centuries. Well, it’s an essential oil that is made from the resin of the Boswellia carterii or Boswellia sacara tree that’s commonly grown in Somalia, and it is also known as olibanum. This plant is very hardy, and can grow in some extremely dry conditions with poor quality soil. It has a rich history as a perfume used by old cultures for generations, and has even been found in the ruins of ancient Egyptian and Anglo-Saxon settlements. Did you know, however, that frankincense has more than just these aromatic uses? For a long time, this oil has seen use in a variety of ways, including for improving the state of people’s health. Let’s take a closer look at these frankincense oil uses and properties:

Frankincense essential oil main properties:

acts as an antiseptic, analgesic, astringent, carminative, healer, digestive, diuretic, emenagogue, Cytophylactic, expectorant, sedative, anti-inflammatory.

Main Compounds of Frankincense essential oil:

Frankincense contains 78% monoterpenes and 8% sesquiterpenes:

Monoterpenes: help prevent and discharge toxins from your liver and kidneys, and have antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating, analgesic, and expectorant properties.

Sesquiterpenes: can go beyond the blood-brain barrier and simulate the limbic system of your brain, as well as your hypothalamus, and pineal and pituitary glands

Strength of Aroma: This oil has a potent aroma that is a combination of woody, spicy, haunting smell.

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FRANKINCENSE OIL USES

Arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: Because frankincense can possibly inhibit the production of the body’s own inflammatory molecules, it might aid in the reduction of pain and inflammation from certain conditions, such as arthritis. If you find that your joints are giving you trouble as you age, you may want to try a frankincense treatment.

Digestive disorders: thanks to its digestive and carminative properties helps speed up the digestion of food by increasing the secretion of gastric juices, bile, and acids, and stimulates peristaltic motion. Relieves digestive distress such as gas, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, PMS, stomach ache or cramps. Note: Frankincense oil ingested in large quantities can be toxic.

Colds and respiratory disorders: When you are stuffy from a cold, it is usually due to two reasons: inflammation and congestion of phlegm. Frankincense can help on both of these fronts, breaking down the mucus and helping your breathing passages to relax. With the walls of your nasal passages less inflamed, you may be better able to breath through your nose. Add six drops into a bowl with hot water and inhale the steam with a towel over your head.

Oral health: Another one of these frankincense oil uses is as an antiseptic. These properties allow the oil to help keep bad breath at bay, prevent cavities, stop toothaches, and help heal sores in your mouth. It may also help to strengthen the gums so that you are less likely to suffer tooth loss. Make up your own toothpaste using a few drops of oil, coconut oil and a little baking soda.

Anti-Aging: As a Cytophylactic promotes regeneration of new cells and also keeps the existing cells and tissues healthy. Its astringent qualities also reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Along with myrrh, and sandalwood, frankincense is one of the top three oils for skin rejuvenation. Blend 1 part of Frankincense with 1 part of a carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil and apply on the skin. You can also add a drop of Frankincense oil to your daily moisturizer.

Acne: Powerful astringent and healer that helps reduce acne blemishes and the appearance of large pores and acne scars.

Skin Healer: Speed up the healing of wounds burns, rashes, cuts, scrapes, insect bites…acts as a coagulant, helping to stop bleeding from wounds and cuts thanks to its Cytophylactic qualities.

Uterine health: regulates estrogen production in women and reduces the risk of tumors and uterine cancer. It also regulates the menstrual cycle. Acts as an emenagogue and may induce a menstrual period naturally. Also delays the advent of menopause. Note:Frankincense is not recommended for pregnant women , as it acts as an emenagogue and may induce menstruation.

Stress and anxiety Reliever: As a natural aromatic sedative, frankincense can induce a feeling of mental contentment, calm, relaxation, and other feelings of peace that can promote spiritual states of being. Reducing stress is a great way to promote overall health as well, since this keeps damaging hormones such as cortisol from surging through us. Add a few drops of frankincense oil to a hot bath for stress relief or add few drops to an oil diffuser or vaporizer. Apply a drop at the temples to relieve stress and evoke a feeling of calmness. You can also rub a few drops mixed in a carrier oil on the back of the neck when you feel anxious.

Spiritual uses: Because it is so calming and tends to fill a person with peace, one of the best frankincense oil uses is as an agent that awakens our spiritual awareness. Use Frankincense during meditation to connect with spirit and stay centered in meditation. In a relaxed state, your focus on your mantra is vastly improved. People have used frankincense during meditation and prayer for thousands of years, and as soon as you try it out you will easily see why.

Hair: As one gets older, hair loss can often be a problem. If you’re searching for a natural, safe way to promote hair growth, you may want to give frankincense oil a try. It can help strengthen hair roots and give protection from premature hair loss. In combination with other hair loss treatments, you may find your youthful locks returning.

Tonic: Feeling like you’re about to get sick? Frankincense can also boost the immune system and possibly help to protect you from becoming ill in the first place. If you do get sick anyway, one of the great frankincense oil uses is as an anti-inflammatory that will help mitigate these symptoms.

Astringent: If you feel that your skin isn’t quite what it used to be, you might try frankincense oil to lift and tone your skin. As an astringent, it can help promote the firming of wrinkles, as well as the contraction of muscles and blood vessels. It can overall help many body processes and organs from losing their firmness as you age, such as your muscles and your intestines.

Diarrhea: its astringent properties also help relieve diarrhea of various types.

Diuretic: There are many frankincense oil uses, but one of the simplest is its role as a diuretic. If you need to get rid of water weight fast or simply need something that will cause you to urinate and dilute the salts in your body, you can try frankincense. As a diuretic, it can help relieve some of the symptoms of gout, which tends to be caused by a build-up of acid uric. Remember to be careful not to dehydrate yourself, however; drink plenty of replacement fluids and replacement electrolytes to restore balance to your system.

Household Cleaner: due to its antibacterial properites this oil can help eliminate bacteria and viruses and work as a natural home cleaner and deodorizer.

Maybe you don’t know that frankincense was one of the gifts that were given to Jesus by the wise men according to Matthew 2:11 and that was also used by the ancient Egyptians as an offering to the gods. But its not surprising, after knowing all it’s benefits, that frankincense has been always considered a sacred health product.