Essential Oil Spotlight - FRANKINCENSE

Frankincense..... mmmmmm! I absolutely the smell of this oil. It instantly has a calming affect on me. And, after studying it more, it is one of my favorite oils. It has so many wonderful uses that you will learn about below.

According to wikipedia.com, "There are four main species of Boswellia that produce true frankincense. Resin from each of the four is available in various grades. The grades depend on the time of harvesting; the resin is hand-sorted for quality." The species are Boswellia sacra, Boswellia carterii, Boswellia frereana, and Bosewellia serrata.

We will be profiling carterii since that is the one we use the most.

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) is a beautiful oil that has a coniferous, pine-like, woody, with hints of lemon and spice. Frankincense is steam distilled from the resin (often called tears), of the tree commonly found in Somalia and Omen. It is considered a base fragrance note. Unfortunately, since this oil is so sought after, these trees are being over harvested.

This frankincense has been known to have good antimicrobial properties, and used emotional issues. I love using it in my diffuser or burning the resin when I meditate, it takes the meditation to a whole new level. Add a crystal or 2 to the meditation and it can carry me off to a far away place.

According to pubmed.org, a study published on April 19, 2016 regarding, Sensitivity of clinical isolates of Candida to essential oils from Burseraceae family, "The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and antifungal activity of four commercial essential oils from the Burseraceae family.....". "The strongest antifungal activity was shown by essential oil of B. carterii,..." "This study supports the possible use of essential oilsfrom the Bursecaceae family in reduction and elimination of Candida spp. populations in patients with oral cavity fungal infections." Findings of this study support the fact that Frankincense has antifungal properties.

In another pubmed.org study, published on November, 20, 2014, The use of aromasticks at a cancer centre: a retrospective audit. "A total of 514 aromasticks were given out, to patients with a variety of cancer diagnoses and symptoms. The most common reasons for aromastick use were to alleviate nausea or to encourage relaxation. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), lemon (Citrus limon), frankincense (Boswellia carterii), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), orange sweet (Citrus sinensis) and peppermint (Mentha x piperita) were the essential oils used most often." Inhalers are an excellent way to receive the therapeutic effects of Frankincense.

Boswellia carterii resin has been known to have some anti-cancer activity, you will see that in the study below. However, there is conflicting information on whether this is truly the essential oil or the resin only.

Lastly, in a study published by pubmed.org on October 6, 2013, Composition and potential anticancer activities of essential oils obtained from myrrh and frankincense, "The present study aimed to investigate the composition and potential anticancer activities of essential oils obtained from two species, myrrh and frankincense, by hydrodistillation". "The results indicated that the MCF-7 and HS-1 cell lines showed increased sensitivity to the myrrh and frankincense essential oils compared with the remaining cell lines."

As you can see, Frankincense is a pretty remarkable oil. Studies are being done all the time to see the further effects it can have on cancer. For quite some time, it was believed that the resin, still containing boswellic acid was only able to help with cancer patients. That may be changing.....

Emotional and Mental Uses:

Meditation, prayer, purification, consecration, spiritual understanding, focus of intent, courage, protection, fear, negative feelings, loss, grief, compassion, supports reflection and introspection, encourages emotional healing on all levels, quiets the mind, and supports focused attention and tranquility.

Physical Uses:

Scar support, wounds, mature skin, respiratory support, localized discomfort relief, soreness, tenderness, immune system support, skin support, tonic.

Paired Crystals:

If you wanted to pair crystals with this lovely oil, amethyst, apophyllite, and kyanite are all excellent choices. Wear them as a necklace or bracelet, carry in a pouch, or just have in your pocket.

Blends well with:

All oils

Uses:

Diffuse, bath, massage, topical

Precautions:

May cause skin sensitization if oxidized. *1 Always dilute.

Please dilute accordingly. ​In 1 ounce of carrier oil:

• 0.5% (1/2 percent) - 1 years old to 3 years old (2-3 drops)

• 1% - 6 years old to 10 years old (5-6 drops)

• 2% - 10 years to adult (10-12 drops)

• 3% - 4% adult bad cold, infection, acute pain (18-24 drops)

​If you would like to a crystal bracelet, necklace, essential oil or blend, or to book an aromatherapy or reiki session, visit our website at http://www.sweetwillowspirit.com.

Should you have an question, please email me at melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com. Have a superb day!

LOVE AND LIGHT!

Melissa

Caution: The material on this page is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of this product by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Use at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at the user’s risk. Sweet Willow Spirit, LLC disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken. This should not be used in place of traditional therapies but solely as a complementary means for bringing well-being. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of any oil or healing modality.

*1 Tisserand and Young; Essential Oil Safety A Guide for Health Care Professionals: Second Edition. New York: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014. Print