Frankincense

Frankincense - Boswellia carteri

For asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds, flu, and laryngitis, use 2-3 drops of essential oil or tincture in 1 ounce of carrier oil. Rub the mixture or use as a plaster on chest for asthma, bronchitis, coughs, and cold, and on throat for laryngitis. You can also add 2-3 drops to vaporizer water for use in steam inhalation.

It is stimulant, but seldom used now internally, though formerly was in great repute . Pliny mentions it as an antidote to hemlock. Avicenna (tenth century) recommends it for tumours, ulcers, vomiting, dysentery and fevers. In China it is used for leprosy.

Its principal use now is in the manufacture of incense and pastilles. It is also used in plasters and might be substituted for Balsam of Peru or Balsam or Tolu. The inhalation of steam laden with the volatile portion of the drug is said to relieve bronchitis and laryngitis.

Frankincense Oil has an earthy yet spicy scent. This oil is traditionally favored for its spiritually healing qualities. It is considered to slow and deepen the breath making your mood more conducive to meditation. Can be helpful for mature and problem skin. Helps support healthy respiratory and reproductive systems.
For arthritis or painful joints, add 30 drops to 1 ounce of carrier oil for a 5% dilution. Also effective as a hot compress.

A common rule of thumb for a 5% dilution is 5 drops neat oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil; a person would generally apply the whole teaspoon to his/her body. I mix Frankincense in a 10% dilution and use about 40 drops on my husbands back (that would be a total of 4 drops of neat Frankincense applied.) I wouldn't hesitate using Frankincense in a dilution of up to 20%.

To relieve burning of urinary tract infections, use 8-10 drops in bath water, in addition to using medications prescribed by your Health practitioner and drinking unsweetened cranberry juice.

For heavy periods, use 3-4 drops in 1 ounce of carrier oil and massage on lower abdomen area regularly.

To improve circulation, mix 4-5 drops with 1 ounce of carrier oil and massage on affected areas of the body, such as feet or hand. Can also use in bath water.

To relieve mental or physical fatigue, use 3-5 drops in a diffuser. For use as a toner, wash face, then use 2-3 drops with 1 ounce of almond or avocado carrier oil, and rub gently onto face.

Obtained from the leafy forest tree Boswellia Thurifera, with leaves deciduous, alternate towards the tops of branches, unequally pinnated; leaflets in about ten pairs with an odd one opposite, oblong, obtuse, serrated, pubescent, sometimes alternate; petioles short. Flowers, white or pale rose on short pedicels in single axillary racemes shorter than the leaves. Calyx, small five-toothed, persistent; corolla with five obovate-oblong, very patent petals, acute at the base, inserted under the margin of the disk, acstivation slightly imbricative. Stamens, ten, inserted under the disk, alternately shorter; filaments subulate, persistent. Anthers, caducous, oblong. Torus a cupshaped disk, fleshy, larger than calyx, crenulated margin. Ovary, oblong, sessile. Style, one caducous, the length of the stamens; stigma capitate, three-lobed. Fruit capsular, three-angled three-celled, three-valved, septicidal, valves hard. Seeds, solitary in each cell surrounded by a broad membranaceous wing.