The Psychological and Healing Properties of Frankincense
The Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh at Christmas.
We know that Frankincense was regarded as a highly prized commodity for many centuries and was one of three gifts given to the baby Jesus from the three wise men.
So what is Frankincense and why is it so popular as an essential oil especially used in skincare and meditation, and used in many religious cermeonies?
Frankincense is a gum resin extracted from a small north african tree. it has a calm, warm deeply relaxing but slightly spicy aroma that improves with age. Widely used in incense and essential oils for inducing a meditative state.
Frankincense as an essential oil can be useful in reduction of mental, emotional and physical states of anxiety, panic attacks, stress, nerves- particularly worrying over the past, fear, nightmares. It also can be useful to encourage more inner stability, security and support aswell as deep states of peace, the reason it is widely used in meditation practice.
Frankincense can also be extremely healing for various physical conditions and is regarded as one of the top rejuvenating ingredients in skincare, it wasn't used in embalming for nothing. It is highly reputed for its various skincare benefits particularly acne which scars, weeping abscesses, cracked skin and haemorrhoids. One of the reasons the highly reputed and ethical Natural Remedy company NYROrganics feature Frankincense in a wide range of their skincare products. It is a useful aid when mixed in a massage blend for cold and flu related symptoms; catarrh, coughs, sore throats aswell as asthma, bronchitis, the relief of arthritic and rheumatic pain.
So how do you use Frankincense? As an essential oil one of the best ways to use frankincense can be to add it to your bath water or if necessary a foot bath simly add approx 4-6 oils in a bath or approx 2/3 drops in a footbath and thoroughly disperse in water. It can also be made into a massage blend or natural facecream base and applied to the required area of application. For face application use a maximum 1% blend which is 1 drop to each 5ml teaspon of massage oil such as sweet almond, grapeseed, evening primrose.
CAUTIONS: NEVER use indiluted directl on skin always add to bath or carrier oil to make a massage blend. Dont use on babies and avoid use if you are possibly pregnant. Dilute greatly when used on kids and teenagers.
