10 Healing Uses of Frankincense
Frankincense, famous for being a biblical gifts of the Eastern Kings to Jesus at his birth, has been used by churches to cleanse spaces of worship and to prepare for prayer and peaceful meditation, using its effects of calming breath and reducing anxiety.(6)
However, recently frankincense has been the focus of exciting scientific study, especially in regard to cancer and chronic disease treatment, which currently effect almost 1 in every 2 people.
Scientific Study – Cancer
Scientists have observed that there is some agent within frankincense which stops cancer spreading, and which induces cancerous cells to close themselves down.
Cancer starts when the DNA code within the cell’s nucleus becomes corrupted and it seems frankincense has a re-set function. It can tell the cell what the right DNA code should be, according to Dr.Suhail.
“Frankincense separates the ‘brain’ of the cancerous cell – the nucleus – from the ‘body’ – the cytoplasm, and closes down the nucleus to stop it reproducing corrupted DNA codes.”
Working with frankincense could revolutionise the treatment of cancer. Currently, with chemotherapy, doctors blast the area around a tumour to kill the cancer, but that also kills healthy cells, and weakens the patient. Treatment with frankincense could eradicate the cancerous cells alone and let the others live.
“There are 17 active agents in frankincense essential oil,” says Dr Suhail. “We are using a process of elimination. We have cancer sufferers – for example, a horse in South Africa – and we are giving them tiny doses of each agent until we find the one which works.”
“Some scientists think Boswellic acid is the key ingredient. But I think this is wrong. Many other essential oils – like oil from
sandalwood – contain Boswellic acid, but they don’t have this effect on cancer cells. So we are starting afresh.” (1)
Frankincense Essential Oil – Origins
Frankincense (Bowsallia Sacra) grows in Oman, Yemen and Somalia. Other spieces grow in India and Africa. The main component of frankincense is oil (60%). It contains mono- (13%) and diterpenes (40%) as well as ethyl acetate (21.4%), octyl acetate (13.4%) and methylanisole (7.6%).
Frankincense Essential Oil – 10 Potential Medical Uses
Anti Tumour Results with Cancer: Studies showed Frankincense is selective in it’s effect on cancerous cells without harming nearby healthy cells.
1. Anti Tumour Results with Urinary/Bladder (3), Bladder (3.4) Cancer.
2. Leukimia and Glioblastoma subset Cancer (3.1)
3. Pancreatic Cancer (3.2)
4. Breast Cancer (3.3)
Chronic Inflammatory disease: Studies showed improvement of symptoms in about 60-70 % of the cases with extremely low number and low severity of negative side effects.(2)
5. Rheumatoid Arthritis & Osteoarthritis (2)
6. Ulcerative Colitis, Collagenous Colitis and Crohn’s disease.(2)
7. Immune system stimulants (4) treatment for depressed immune systems. (8)
8. Analgesic, tranquilising. (3.1)
9. Anti-bacterial effects (3.1)
10. Asthma – Inhalation and consumption of Boswellia olibanum reduces the risk of asthma. (3.1)
General recommended Uses
Lungs & Respiratory System:
Aromatherapists see Frankincense as helpful lung support, calming coughs, clearing mucous and phlegm, treating chronic bronchitis, asthma and respiratory system inflammation.
Methods: Frankincense resin vapour, frankincense oil massage, oil in baths. (5)
For shortness of breath one can try a vapour bowl, place 2-3 Frankincense drops in hot water, cover your head as you inhale the vapour over the bowl.
Sinus congestion headaches: use 5-6 Frankincense oil in 10 ml carrier oil and massage the sinuses, behind the ears and the chest area. Repeat a few times daily.
Urinary/Reproductive systems:
Aromatherapy uses Frankincense oil to help treat urinary tract infection and to relieve period pain -take a warm bath (not too hot) with oil drops in bath water and gently massage diluted oil (2-6% dilution) on the lower abdomen.
In case of excessive bleeding during periods, use warm not hot bath water to prevent stimulation of more bleeding via heat.
(5) Boswellia Papyrifera Most often used by the clergy, it’s considered the most ancient variety from Ethiopia, Sudan and East
Africa.
This Frankincense variety contains up to 56% Octyl-acetate and a high level (8%) of Octanol.
Octyl-acetate effect the nervous system directly, and are known to sooth, uplift, antispasmodic, anti- fungal and are delicate and non toxic. They are used extensively in the making of perfumes.
Boswellia Cartiri –
Has high concentration of Octyl acetate and particularly high concentration of Octanol & deterpens, making it anti bacterial, hormone balancer, anti fungal and anti viral.
(1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8505251.stm
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12244881/?i=2&from=/27117114/related
(2.1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/27671822/?i=2&from=/20696559/related
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27531547
(3.1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/27117114/?i=5&from=/19296830/related
(3.2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23237355/?i=6&from=/27117114/related
(3.3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/22171782/?i=2&from=/23237355/related
(3.4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19296830/?i=3&from=/22171782/related
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20696559/?i=4&from=/27117114/related
(5) ‘Aromatherapy – The Encyclopaedia of Plants and Oils and how they can help you’, by Daniele Ryman, 1999, p.101-102
(6) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Shirley Price & Len Price, Churchill Livingstone
(8) ‘The Medicinal Oil Guide’, by Shai Vanda Slar (Hebrew), p. 130-132
(9) Frankincense Oil- Types & Qualities. www.ranpharma/index.