Health benefits of essential oils: Frankincense oil

Fufu is a Nigerian staple that is rich in gut-friendly bacteria. You should consider adding this probiotic-rich food to your diet.

A reader wanted to know why I said cumin and parsley essential oils were used in foods and yet also stated that essential oils should not be ingested. Let us address this.

Some essential oils are certified as food-grade and can be used for cooking; still, you should follow the instructions for proper dilution. Some are also available in capsule form. These are safe ways to take essential oils orally; otherwise, you should not ingest them.

While preparing for this article, I had a nostalgic feeling about my visit to Jerusalem in 2008 for pilgrimage. I wish I could travel back in time to buy lots of frankincense resins now that I know how beneficial they are.

Frankincense should ring a bell. As a reminder, it was one of the three gifts offered by the Magi to the infant Jesus.

It is commonly used as incense in white garment churches and the Catholic Church. It is called turari in Yoruba.

This aromatic resin has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. It was part of ancient Israelite temple worship and is obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia.

Boswellic acids, found in frankincense, act as the primary active ingredients responsible for its anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial effects.

These acids have also demonstrated immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, and antimicrobial properties.

Frankincense resin begins as a milky-white, sticky liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when it is scraped or injured.

The purpose of the resin is to heal the tree. This white juice hardens into yellow “tears” when exposed to air.

That specific tree is then marked, and the harvester returns to scrape and collect the hardened frankincense resin.

The large, clear globules are scraped off into baskets, while the inferior quality that has run down the tree is collected separately.

The resin comes in many colours, but the green resin is of the highest quality. In ancient times, people chewed frankincense like gum to improve their oral health. In Arabian cultures, green frankincense is infused in water overnight and consumed for its therapeutic properties.

For starters, this resin is an anti-inflammatory titan. Whether it is the stubborn discomfort of arthritis or the nagging symptoms of chronic diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, Boswellia sacra is the cool operator that dials down the inflammation.

And it does not stop there—it stands tall with its antibacterial and antifungal activities. In the skincare game, it is your best ally. What’s more, this resin might be a potential cancer nemesis. Preliminary research indicates it could inhibit the growth of various cancer cells, placing it in the spotlight for future cancer research.

Frankincense essential oil boosts immunity. It improves skin health and lifts mood.

It supports better digestion. It reduces arthritis pain. It eases respiratory issues. It reduces anxiety and depression.

It has anti-cancer activity. It enhances cognitive performance. It works as a sleep aid. It may improve gut health. It regenerates skin cells. It has anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes oral health.

In a study, asthma symptoms in mice improved with boswellic acid, a component of frankincense resin.

In one test-tube study, frankincense extract was effective against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, which causes aggressive gum disease. In another very small study, participants chewed gum containing frankincense for five hours, with saliva samples indicating reduced numbers of microbes each hour. The authors suggested that frankincense may decrease sources of infection in the mouth.

So far, test-tube studies suggest that frankincense may fight breast, prostate, pancreatic, skin, and colon cancer cells. It may also help reduce the side effects of cancer treatment.

In another study of people being treated for brain tumours, 4,500 mg of boswellic acid extract taken each day helped reduce brain oedema—an accumulation of fluid in the brain—while also lowering participants’ regular medication doses.

A study titled The Effect of Frankincense in the Treatment of Moderate Plaque-Induced Gingivitis: A Double-Blinded Randomised Clinical Trial by Samani et al. concludes that frankincense is a safe and low-cost herbal medicine that may feasibly be applied to improve inflammation-based gingival disease as an adjunct to conventional mechanical therapy.

In another study, Anti-inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Activities of Frankincense: Targets, Treatments, and Toxicities by Thomas Efferth et al., there is mounting evidence that frankincense and its chemical constituents exert anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo.

You can burn the resin using charcoal for an intensely rich, sacred-smelling aroma. You can inhale it, infuse your drinking water with it, or infuse your oil with it. You can diffuse frankincense essential oil in an oil diffuser.

To use frankincense topically, dilute a few drops with a carrier oil like olive, jojoba, or coconut oil before applying it to your skin. Some people add other ingredients or oils to create facial serums.

There are a few different ways to inhale frankincense essential oil. The most effective way is to add a few drops to a diffuser and inhale the aromatic vapours. Alternatively, you can place a few drops on a tissue or handkerchief and inhale deeply.

You can add a few drops to your moisturiser to help reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone—it is also beneficial for ageing skin. It can be used as a massage oil. You can also add a drop or two to your shampoo to support scalp health. Adding a few drops to a warm bath promotes relaxation.

To make frankincense water, simply pour one litre of boiled water onto 10g of frankincense resin in a pot, jar, or jug. Let it cool and sit overnight. The water-soluble components of the frankincense gum will slowly seep into the water, turning it cloudy or milky.

In the morning, filter the water, bottle it, and drink at least a cup a day. Any remaining resin can be reused for the next batch.

Now, let us see how to make frankincense-infused oil (not essential oil) at home. Grind the frankincense resin—you may want to freeze it beforehand, as this makes it less sticky. Put your oil in a glass beaker or jar and add the ground resin.

Place the jar in a pot of hot water and bring it to a simmer. Now, you can choose to leave the resin to steep in the oil for a few days before filtering, or you can filter it immediately. Strain the infusion through a cheesecloth and bottle it.

This extract is potent and can be used as an anti-inflammatory spot treatment. Due to its high levels of boswellic acid, it will help keep skin looking fresh and youthful when combined with your favourite skincare formula.

You can use it in face and body oils, balms, and creams for its anti-ageing and skin-soothing properties.

Frankincense is indeed the king of essential oils!