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Frankincense
- Boswellia
carteri
A
small tree or shrub with white or pale pink flowers
and an abundance of pinnate leaves. When the bark
is cut, a milky-white liquid is exuded, which solidifies
into lumps of pale amber to orange brown. The essential
oil is extracted from the resin by steam distillation.
In
the past, Frankincense was burnt to 'drive out evil
spirits' and has been used as an incense since antiquity
- particularly in India, and China, and by the Catholic
Church in the West. It is interesting to note that
one of physical properties of Frankincense is its
"ability to slow down and deepen the breath...
which is very conducive to prayer and meditation"
[Patricia Davis - Aromatherapy:
an A-Z ] .
Frankincense
was a most prized and costly substance in the Ancient
World, making it a favoured offering item.
In Ancient Egypt Frankincense was widely used in
rejuvenating face masks, cosmetics and perfumes.
Research has shown that the oil does indeed restore
some tone to slack skin, which helps prevent wrinkles
- it may also be effective at reducing existing
wrinkles - and is particularly good for dry and
mature complexions. Other skin conditions which
benefit from frankincense include scarring, and
wounds, and general blemishes.
Frankincense
has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, carminative,
and sedative properties - to name a few - and has
been used medicinally in the East and West for a
wide range of conditions, including respiratory
and urinary tract infections [including cystitis],
rheumatism, skin diseases, and digestive and nervous
complaints. It is reportedly one of the most valuable
oils for respiratory infection remedies, useful
for cases of chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, coughs,
catarrh, colds and flu, and makes an effective massage
oil for the chest in asthma cases : as previously
mentioned, frankincense slows and deepens the breathing,
and its carminative properties help relax the chest
muscles - use massage strokes which open up the
chest.
Frankincense oil is also used for treating anxiety,
tension, or stress-related conditions.
Heavy
periods can be remedied by gently massaging the
abdomen with a frankincense and base oil mix - or
by adding a few drops to a bath [frankincense is
a uterine tonic].
Both
the oil and gum of frankincense is widely used as
fixatives and fragrance components in soap, cosmetics,
and perfumes - and, as previously mentioned, is
used extensively in incense... |
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