Tears of the Olibanum Tree: The Incredible Medicine of Frankincense
Historical Significance
It is December at the time of this writing and Christmas carols are being played; children are practicing their lines for the traditional Christmas story of the birth of baby Jesus and how the Wise Men (Magi) brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. To many in western culture, this is the sole association of frankincense. Yet in other parts of the world, frankincense has for centuries been of traditional, ceremonial and medicinal importance; in ancient times its price was that equal to gold. Old Testament Biblical text recorded the burning of its incense, regarding such a practice as holy; medical texts of practitioners from around the ancient world recorded the uses and applications of frankincense. The centuries old legend of the Phoenix describes a bird-like creature that built its nest from twigs of frankincense and fed upon the tears of the resin with having supernatural powers to die and be born anew. For thousands of years the Phoenix was a mythical symbol of resurrection, rejuvenation and immorality.
Frankincense is known to have been produced and traded in Omani (southeastern Arabia) for thousands of years, ending around 300 AD. An ancient overland trade route began in Dhofar of Oman and extended to what is now known as Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Iraq and then onto Greece and Rome. Much commerce and wealth was brought to communities along the way; it is estimated that 7,000 tons per year were being exported at the peak of the Roman era. Records of the cultivation and harvesting of these valued trees has been found in writings by the Greek botanist Theophrastus (ca372-287BC) and the Latin naturalist Pliny (23-79AD).
Extracting the Resin
Frankincense is an oleo-gum-resin produced by several tree species of the Boswellia genus and the family Burseraceae, which is distinguished for its resin bearing ducts. There are about 15 members of this genus, native to the Arabian Peninsula, Africa, India and China. The method of extraction is simple and fairly unchanged since ancient times. An incision is made in the bark of the tree resulting in a milky gum-like substance exuding from the cut area which does no harm the tree. This oleo-gum-resin is then either scrapped off the tree with an iron tool or collected on palm mats when the resin drips to the ground. Resin is then dried and later sold in markets around the world.
The method of harvesting, or tapping, of Boswellia varies according to species and the customs of the region. For example, in Somalia tapping usually occurs in two separate periods, each lasting 3-4 months with successive 15-day intervals. The period between harvests depends upon the onset and extent of rains. In India, the collection is done once a year, commencing at the end of October. In Oman, there are ancient rituals pertaining to resin harvest as well as a sense of guardianship for the trees passed down to each generation.
Active Components
There are numerous species and varieties of Boswellia trees; major species being Boswellia serrata found in India, Boswellia carteri in East Africa and China, Boswellia frereana in Somalia, and Boswellia sacra in Arabia. Quality of frankincense resin is based upon colour, purity, aroma and age. In general, it is thought that the more opaque the resin the higher the quality with Omani frankincense regarded as the best in the world. The majority of ultra-superior Omani B. sacra is said to be purchased by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said the ruler of Oman.
The phytochemistry of frankincense is well researched. The oleo-gum-resin substance of frankincense contains 3-8% volatile oil, an ether (common laboratory solvent) soluble resin fraction of 60-70% and an ether-insoluble fraction of 23-30 per cent. The ether soluble resin contains sesquiterpenes, alcohols, esters and boswellic acids and the ether-insoluble contains polysaccharides and diterpenoids. The composition of the volatile oil differs according to climate, harvest conditions and geographical location, but in general, all oil contains numerous monoterpenes (C10 compounds in the form of hydrocarbons, alcohols and keytones) and sesquiterpenes (C15 compounds) as well as diterpenes.
Medicinal and Therapeutic Uses
Uses of the oleo-gum resin, the essential oil as well as isolated compounds of frankincense has been studied, with more interest growing by the year. Frankincense oil exhibits antibacterial, antifungal and immunostimulant activity in vito. What is of current particular interest is the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of frankincense from Indian B serrata, with the active component being boswellic acids. Below are three traditional therapeutic or medicinal applications of frankincense and of recent medical research attention.
Injury: Powder of the dried resin of Boswellia is a common ingredient of herbal plasters and pastes to treat wounds. A recent study from Hebrew University, Israel (J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2008 Jul;28(7):1341-52) indicated that Incensole acetate (IA), an isolated from frankincense resin, was shown to reduce neurological damage from head injuries.
Cancer: Throughout the centuries many illnesses, including cancer, have been treated using frankincense resin. Rising attention has been given to the possible anti-cancer uses of frankincense. A study published in March of this year investigated the induction of tumor cell cytotoxicity using Boswellia carteri. This study found that frankincense oil appears to distinguish between cancerous and normal bladder cells as well as suppress cancer cell viability. Such a finding might indicate use of frankincense as an alternative agent to treat bladder cancer.
Arthritis: In Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medical system of India, frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has been used for centuries to treat arthritis. A brand new study from November of this year (Phytotherapy Research 2009 Nov 26) found that extracts of Boswellia frereana prevents collagen degradation and inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in an in vitro laboratory setting. These Cardiff University (UK) researchers recommend B. frereana be considered for treating inflammation associated with arthritis.
Concluding Thoughts
Frankincense has a long and favorable history with human kind, seen throughout the centuries as having traditional, ceremonial and medicinal significance. In ancient times its preparation and transport to other countries was often hazardous and costly; this was reflected in its great worth and how it was used. Frankincense was considered a valuable commodity for kings and queens alike and was also used for religious purposes. The Magi from the East certainly thought it a worthy gift for the child Jesus. For the past few years, pharmacological studies have given credence to some of the traditional uses of frankincense resin and have shown that ancient remedies might be applicable today, and in some cases such as arthritis and asthma, used as an alternative to conventional drugs. It is evident that interest is resurging in this plant product; we would all be wise as well to see the value of frankincense.
Choosing the right essential oil for your creations and blends makes all the difference. Learn more about aroma-therapeutics at the Ananda Apothecary Blog.
Related posts
Tagged with: alternative medicine • aromatherapy • disease • essential oils • health • herbs • illness • massage • natural health • natural medicine • Skin Care • wellness
Filed under: Skin Care
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Leave a Reply