Frankincense Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Boswelli frererana Frankincense essential oil has few rivals when it comes to the sheer number of major religions that have incorporated it into their most sacred rituals. The ancient Egyptians, Persians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans all used frankincense in their practices. And, of course, frankincense continues to be used in Christian worship, as well. Today, five species of Boswelli, or frankincense, are widely available for aromatherapy use. These are: Additionally, an absolute, made through solvent extraction of the tears can also be made. This resinoid product is not often use in aromatherapy; it is most often produced for the perfume industry. Characteristics of Frankincense Essential OilFrankincense essential oil should be yellow in color and quite thin in texture. Frankincense is one of those essential oils that changes with age but all frankincense should have a strong, full scent. Frankincense will be less "woody" than other wood oils and should have fresh, spicy undertones.Psychological AromatherapySpiritual aromatherapists tell us that frankincense lovers are deeply spiritual people who may seem a bit aloof or secretive. They tend to be mature, rational thinkers rooted in a deep understanding of nature.Aromatherapists will diffuse frankincense into a room to dispel evil, deepen concentration, enhance contemplative prayer and meditation and to maximize psychological maturity. Traditional Uses for FrankincenseAs important as frankincense is to the world's major religions, it is also extremely important in the world of cosmetics and toiletries. It is widely regarded as anti-inflammatory and healing. It is a common ingredient in "natural" cosmetics, especially those marketed for wounded, extremely dry or "mature" skin.Salvatore Battaglia also assigns these therapeutic actions to frankincense:
Scientific Studies on Frankincense OilWhile frankincense (and extracts made from it) have seen fairly extensive testing for its potential health benefits, the essential oils themselves have not. Unless specifically noted, the scientific studies discussed in this section may have used preparations other than the essential oils in their tests.Frankincense & Immune Support Avicenna recommended frankincense preparations for fever and now we know that he was right. A 2003 study from Egypt identified chemical properties in frankincense essential oil that potentially make frankincense a powerful immune support. Collagenous Colitis A small study of colitis patients found that when given a 6-week regimen of boswellia extract, 5 of 7 patients experienced a complete remission of their condition. This study, done in Germany, involved 3 daily doses of 400 mg of boswellia extract taken orally. These findings support previous studies which also found boswellia better than placebo in laboratory tests. Anti-Cancer Potential A 2007 study published in the journal Apoptosis found that a chemical isolated from B. serrata induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells. What, if anything, this means for cancer sufferers remains to be seen. Safety IssuesFrankincense, like most other essential oils, has not been extensively tested for safety in humans. In popular aromatherapy texts, frankincense is listed as non-toxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritating.References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Mikhaeil, B., et al. (2003). Chemistry and immunomodulatory activity of frankincense oil. Midisch, A., et al. (2007). Boswellia serrata extract for the treatment of collagenous colitis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Bhushan, S., et al. (2007). A triterpenediol from Boswellia serrata induces apoptosis through both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in human leukemia HL-60 cells. Leave Frankincense Essential Oil & return to Essential Oils Directory
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