| One of the most highly valued
commodities of ancient times, frankincense was traded for porcelain by the
Chinese, employed by Egyptians for embalming, presented to the infant Jesus as a
symbolic gift and burned copiously by emperors during the height of the Roman
Empire. In numerous religious traditions, frankincense's spiritual scent was
believed to confer divine blessing.
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child
with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they opened
their treasures, they presented him gifts; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh." - St Matthew 2:11
Frankincense was used by the ancient Egyptians in their religious rites. It
constituted part of the Jewish incense of the sanctuary and is frequently
mentioned in the Pentateuch. Pliny the Elder described the characteristics of
good-quality frankincense and mentioned it as an antidote to hemlock poisoning.
The Iranian physician Avicenna recommended it for a wide range of bodily
ailments. In China and elsewhere in the East, it was used as both an internal
and an external remedy.
Today, Frankincense is still revered for its aromatherapeutic properties.
"Above all other essential oils, frankincense soothes the spirit, I've
never known anyone who didn't like it, especially anxious people, because
it slows down breathing and brings them to a grounded place."
-Valerie Cooksley, RN
Properties of Frankincense:
Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, cicatrizant,
cytophylactic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, tonic,
uterine, vulnerary.
Frankincense resin is also known as:
Boswellia sacra, Boswellia carteri, Olibanum
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