Frankincense (Boswellia sacra, B. serrata, B. spp.) is used as an incense and also in perfumes, traditional medicines, and personal care worldwide. Interestingly, Frankincense is also possibly the most popular & widely used of incenses in several world religions and other spiritual practices. Its use as an incense and ‘holy anointing oil’ is to give reverence to things that are considered sacred.
Early on Frankincense played a role in cleansing the air in times when the church offerings were in the form of farm goods, which may be explained by its confirmed antimicrobial activities. Other interesting findings: Frankincense can increase oxygen to the brain, improve mood and make the voice travel better through air (that has been incensed)!
Frankincense resin is just dried drops of the plant resin and as they are slow growing , there are concerns of overharvest and sustainability.
Boswellia trees span Asian and African countries, and Frankincense resin has been produced on the East African and Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. In classical times, Frankincense resin was as valuable as gold.
For millennia Frankincense has been regarded as a way for aiding the human spirit that wants to remain open to the divine, and in communicating with heavenly or spiritual energies.
According to Christianity, it was one of the gifts given by the three wise men to the Christ child, was one of the eight pleasing fragrances of Moses and was mentioned many times in the Bible.
Beyond its use in spirituality & incense, Frankincense is a very popular traditional medicine.
In Ayurvedic medicine Frankincense has been used internally and externally mainly for to support joint & bone health, detoxification, menstruation and cognitive health. It is considered a rasayana and has balancing qualities for all three doshas, especially Kapha.
There are several types of active constituents in Frankincense, but the main active components of Frankincense are the boswellic acids, which have been shown to be able to reduce inflammation.
Extracts of Boswellia serrata have strongest clinical support for joint health. There is also clinical support for respiratory, immune, brain & head, digestion, blood sugar, athletic performance, and urinary health.
There are several possible mechanisms for Boswellia’s use in supporting various body systems. For example, boswellic acids are thought to support joint health through inhibition of leukocyte elastase and 5-lipoxygenase and reduction of leukotriene synthesis, as well as possibly decreasing glycosaminoglycan degradation, reducing glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glycohydrolase and beta-glucuronidase. Boswellic acids may also stabilize mast cells and have immunomodulatory activities.
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*This post is for educational purposes only.