FRANKINCENSE

Boswellia carterii

The “Calling Back the Soul” Medicine

This beautiful essential oil comes from the resin (sap) of rugged Boswellia trees of the Northern African and Arabian peninsula desert.   The curative benefits of Frankincense have been known for over 2000 years in many healing and spiritual traditions. 

In ancient times, the technology for essential oil distillation was not yet developed . . . so the use of Frankincense was typically by burning the small golden hardened resin pieces as incense or by oil infusion (crushing the dried pieces into a powder and then soaking them in a vegetable oil like olive oil).

In the packs of travelers on ancient trade routes, Frankincense made its way around the world.  Old texts of nearly 5000 years ago  mention a "frankincense trail” . . .  marked the route where the precious incense was shipped from present day Oman through Yemen and into Jordan. Historical records indicate 3,000 to 4,000 tons of the resin were shipped annually from Jordan to Greece and Rome, where it was burned in churches for religious ceremonies.

Many references to Frankincense exist also in ancient  traditional Chinese medicine texts.   Called Fanhungxiang , Frankincense was known as the “calling back the soul” medicine.

Frankincense is the “golden glow”.  Quick, warm, ascending, golden . .. it dispels dampness and helps chi (life energy) begin to circulate naturally.    This movement naturally reminds us of Vyana vayu . bioenergy expressing itself as naturally outward moving (center towards periphery).

THE HARVEST SHOWS US HOW THE HEALING QUALITIES of FRANKINCENSE in INHERENT within the PLANT

With an affinity to both the physical body and the subtle energetic field, Frankincense is a wound healer on all levels.  Even how the precious raw materials for the essential oil are harvested lead us to that.   Frankincense essential oil is derived from the sap or resin of the Boswellia tree.  To access this resin . . . the harvester walks up the the hills where the wild trees grow.  She makes a cut or a slash in the rugged bark of the tree . . . and leaves the tree to naturally heal itself for a few weeks.  The tree responds with its natural healing action by  “bleeding” sap from the cut in the tree to give it protection and healing.  The bark will slowly regrow under and around this protective layer.   The harvesting does not do any permanent damage to the tree. The resin then hardens on the tree.  

A few weeks later, the harvester returns and chips  off and collects the top layers of the hardened resin.    Traditionally, these precious  fragrant little “rocks” have been burned as incense in spiritual and healing ceremonies.  Now they are frequently steam distilled for essential oil production. 

My experience is that Frankincense essential oil works much the same way in both my physical and subtle bodies.  What may have been cut, wounded, stagnant or needs to weep can be gently moved and healed with the support of Frankincense.

Frankincense Diffuser Blends

To relieve mental tension:

Frankincense 5 dr. + Myrrh 5 dr. + Cedarwood 5 dr. + Wild Orange 2 dr.

To relieve the effects of stress:

Frankincense 5 dr. + Lavender 3 dr. + Wild Orange 3 dr.

Massage Blend for Reducing Inflammation in the Myofascial Tissue (bindevev)

Frankincense 15 dr. + Tumeric 10 dr. + Copaiba 5 dr. + Wild Orange 3 dr.

Mix together in 5 ml of carrier oil of your choice (try grapeseed oil for a light massage blend . . . or Fractionated Coconut Oil). Apply about 1 ml of the mixture to areas of inflammation. Please do a patch test first for skin sensitivity . This blend should last you some days.

Bath Blend

Frankincense 4 dr. + Hawaiian Sandalwood 4 dr.

mix in a little bit of milk (the fats in the milk helps it disperse into the water )and then add to your warm bath water for a soothing, grounding soak.