Frankincense was one of the three gifts the wise men brought to Jesus Christ at his birth, it considered as valuable as gold in ancient times. Egyptian tradition states “Frankincense essential oil is good for everything from gout to a broken head” or in other words “good from head to toe.”
What is Frankincense?
Frankincense is often called the “holy grail of oils.” It comes from the Boswellia Serrata tree found in Middle Eastern countries such as Yemen and Oman, but can also be found in African countries such as Somalia and Ethiopia. Frankincense is a tree resin that has been highly valued in health care since ancient times. The oil is steam distilled from the tree’s resin and has been used for spiritual ceremonies, cosmetic benefits, and medicinal purposes. Frankincense is also known to some as the “king of oils,” as along with Gold and Myrrh, it was a gift to baby Jesus from the three wise men, and at the time, was probably valued higher than the gift of Gold!
What Frankincense is Used For?
- Skincare: In my house, it is most commonly used for skin care! I have replaced most of my expensive beauty creams with a little Frankincense and Jojoba Oil. The oil helps brighten dark spots, tighten and firm skin, and fights blemishes with its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s best applied with a carrier oil, and I have found Jojoba Oil to be a lightweight moisturizer that leaves my skin feeling nourished. It is especially great on my dry skin. I apply a couple of drops of Frankincense each night to my clean skin and blend it in with a couple of drops of Jojoba Oil. I get the added benefit of feeling calm and relaxed from the pleasant aroma.
- Sleep: Although Lavender seems to be the most popular scent for peaceful dreams, my family loves to drift off to the calming scent of Frankincense. We often blend it with Orange and Lavender for a dreamy bedtime blend in our diffusers.
- Rollers: Because of the anti-inflammatory properties, we use a roller for acne treatments and skin blemishes. 15 drops each of Frankincense, Tea Tree, Copaiba and Lavender. Rolled directly on to blemish spot helps soothe the skin and clear the blemish. It can also help reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
- Aromatherapy: We use Frankincense all year round in our family room diffuser. The aroma is earthy but also has a slightly sweet, warm and spicy hint to it. I find the scent helps to bring a sense of calmness and is spiritually grounding. What mama doesn’t need that? It can also be added to a glass spray bottle for a deodorizing room spray. It’s antiseptic properties help neutralize and clean the air. You could also use the oil in an inhaler for a convenient travel option.
- Cold and Flu: Frankincense has a natural expectorant property that makes it helpful during the cold and flu season. It can help eliminate phlegm and soothe the nasal passageway to make breathing a little easier when a cold hits. You can simply add a few drops to a clean cloth and inhale for respiratory benefits–or add to an oil diffuser by the bedside to help sleep. The oil also has the ability to eliminate cold and flu germs from the home and can be used in place of chemical household cleaners! (I also really love Young Living’s Thieves cleaning line–it’s all natural, powerful, and convenient!)
What are the Benefits of Frankincense?
- Anti-inflammatory properties.
- Aromatic benefits include peace, calm and relaxation when diffused.
- Health benefits including support of cellular function.
- May help with anxiety due to it’s ability to help soothe the nervous system and restore balance.
- Antiseptic properties that help eliminate bacteria and viruses.
- Natural deodorizer
As you can see, Frankincense oil has many uses and many healing properties. It blends well with carrier oils and can be easily applied to skin for many benefits including blemish control, skin tightening, and to diminish the signs of aging (wrinkles!) I recommend that you also test a small patch of skin to check for any possible reactions and mix with a carrier oil to avoid any side effects such as redness or irritation. Frankincense oil also mixes very well with other oils for diffusing. You can blend it with any of the citrus oils for added energy on a particularly tiring day, or you can blend a few drops of frankincense oil with lavender for an excellent way to unwind and relax on a stressful day. In general, Frankincense is a highly tolerated oil and has little to no side effects for most people. In fact, it is often more tolerated for skin issues than it’s medical counterparts such as steroid creams. I think it’s versatility is part of what lends to it’s “king of oils” name and allowed it to survive so many years as such a practical and useful oil.
How do I buy Frankincense?
I buy all my oils from YoungLiving. I love knowing they are safe and pure. You can begin trying oils with their starter kit. I can’t say enough about how wonderful this kit is. You get a selection of 12 oils (full-sized bottles) that are the basics, a few samples, and a diffuser. We are always diffusing at our home. It creates such a wonderful mood, promotes wellbeing and helps to bring peace to our home. Learn more here: YoungLiving Oils.
Thes opinions are my own. I am sharing how I use essential oils in my daily life. I am not claiming to diagnose treat cure or prevent any disease.
Shirley, Lavender is one of my faves too. We diffuse it all of the time. I just ordered Lavender lip balm after reading a great facebook post about unusual uses for Young Living products. They all raved about how they use the lavender lip balm for everything.
Awesome article! I also only use Young Living oils and they have changed our life. No chemicals used in house cleaning, breaking away from prescription antibiotics, diffusing wonderful scents. Love, love, love these oils.
I love Frankincense! I just love to smell it. I have a bead bracelet a friend ordered for me that you can drop the oils on the beads. I sometimes sleep with it on if my arthritis is really bad. I put lavender, frankincense, and peppermint on it.
Lavender is so good for burns! I’ve stuck my hands on hot skillets and rub some lavender on it – the burning goes away!
Thieves is wonderful for colds and allergies.