DavidWolfe.comFrankincense essential oil boasts more than Biblical fame. In fact, it offers fantastic relaxation and healing qualities as well. The oil comes from the resin of the Boswellia carterii tree, after the bark is bruised, allowed to bleed, and harvested for its medicine.
And thanks to its antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant and sedative properties, frankincense essential oil has a wide variety of uses. For example, it can be used to battle cold and flu symptoms, relieve pain and inflammation and lower stress levels.
Frankincense oil can even be used around the home as a natural household cleaner. We will dive more into the medicinal uses of frankincense essential oil, but first, let’s take a look at some of its origins.
What Is Frankincense? A Treasured Gift
You may have heard this oil referenced in the phrase “frankincense and myrrh,” or even “gold, frankincense and myrrh.” This is the Biblical reference, as the gifts presented to baby Jesus by the three magi. You can sometimes find frankincense and myrrh oil packaged and sold together. In fact, both of these oils are known to suppress inflammation. (1)
And, truly, frankincense was and is valuable, for many reasons. But exactly what is frankincense? Well, for starters, it’s more than just an incense variety, although that is one purpose it serves.
What is Frankincense: Origins
So, then, what is frankincense? You may have seen frankincense sold as an incense; indeed, it’s a popular scent to burn. But where does it come from? This potent substance is a gum resin, obtained from the African tree known as Boswellia carterii.
What is Frankincense: Medicinal Purposes
Or more specifically, what are frankincense oil uses? In a nutshell, frankincense is a powerful relaxant. However, there is more that this potent oil can do for your health! Learn more about the many frankincense oil uses by reading below!
Frankincense Essential Oil Uses
1. Stress Relief
Frankincense oil benefits start with what it is commonly used for: relaxation. In fact, it’s more than just the smell that promotes a calm state. This is because frankincense oil has been shown to reduce heart rate as well as blood pressure. Both of these items lend themselves to an overall feeling of peace and tranquility. This helps reduce stress reactions as well as flip the switch from negative emotions to more positive, easy emotions. And as stress and anxiety can affect other areas of your life, including your physical and mental health and relationships as well, finding ways to manage it is crucial. If you’re constantly battling stress and anxiety or simply want a way to relax, consider trying this oil.
Melt the stress away and treat anxiety:
Add frankincense essential oil to a warm bath for stress relief. Its calming scent will promote feelings of peace and relaxation, helping you unwind after a long, hard day. You can also add frankincense oil to a diffuser or vaporizer to help fight anxiety.
2. Natural Hygiene
Additionally, frankincense oil is fantastic for use in oral hygiene routines. Frankincense essential oil can be added to an oral hygiene regimen thanks to its antibiotic properties. The oil can help prevent dental issues including tooth decay, brad breath, cavities and oral infections. You can also make a homemade toothpaste by mixing frankincense essential oil with baking soda.
3. Prevents Illness
This oil can help your body fight against various illnesses, including the common cold, flu, and possibly even cancer. Regarding cold and flu, frankincense essential oil helps eliminate phlegm from the lungs to provide relief from cold and flu symptoms. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help clear breathing pathways. Use frankincense oil in a diffuser to help provide relief from respiratory distress. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you may consider diffusing the oil through the night. Keep the diffuser next to your bed so you can reap maximum benefits while you sleep.
Frankincense Oil for Cancer Prevention
Furthermore, this oil has shown to be beneficial in fighting cancer. (2) A study from 2012, in fact, discovered that a chemical agent in frankincense, AKBA, can kill cancer cells that have become resistant to chemotherapy.
4. Wrinkle Fighter
You can also use frankincense oil to fight wrinkles! Additionally, frankincense oil can benefit your skin in other ways, such as fighting acne and diminishing pores.
That’s right, the powerful astringent properties of frankincense essential oil help it protect the skin by preventing wrinkles, reducing blemishes and softening the appearance of large pores. It improves the elasticity of the skin, which can prevent against the formation of wrinkles and keep you looking young.
Fight wrinkles and acne in one fell swoop!
Mix six drops of frankincense oil with one ounce of unscented oil, then apply the mixture directly to the skin.
5. Natural Household Cleaner
Frankincense oil also makes for a great natural cleaner around the house. This is because of the antiseptic properties of frankincense oil, which can help kill bacteria and viruses in your home. Essential oils of many kinds make great household cleaners, but the benefit in using frankincense is that its calming nature will add a nice aromatic atmosphere to your home. Who said housework isn’t relaxing?
Banish germs naturally!
Use the oil as a natural deodorizer to disinfect an area, or diffuse frankincense oil to help reduce indoor toxins.
6. Indigestion Relief
Those who suffer form indigestion know relief can’t come fast enough. If this is you, consider trying frankincense oil. Frankincense essential oil can help heal digestive problems such as gas, constipation, stomach aches, irritable bowel syndrome and cramps. It can flush out excess water in the body that leads to bloating and can even help reduce painful PMS and menstrual cramps.
How to use frankincense oil to treat digestive issues:
Add 1-2 drops of frankincense oil to eight ounces of water or one tablespoon of honey for relief from digestive issues.
7. Scar Remedy
If you’re looking for a natural scar remedy, frankincense oil can help. This is because frankincense oil can help reduce the appearance of scars, such as acne scars, yes, but furthermore, it can diminish the appearance of stretch marks and dark spots on the skin.
How to use frankincense oil to diminish the appearance of scars:
Mix 2-3 drops of frankincense oil with an unscented base oil or lotion, and apply the mixture directly to the skin.
8. Pain Relief
Another benefit of frankincense oil is the ability to relieve pain, especially that related to arthritis and joint issues. (3) Frankincense oil can provide soothing and pain relief for conditions such as arthritis and digestive disorders. It helps lessen inflammation, as well, which also makes it a treatment not just for arthritis and inflamed joints, but also for such conditions as asthma.
Furthermore, the calming effects of frankincense oil can further promote pain relief. When you’re relaxed, your muscles are naturally not as tense and tight. This helps lessen the sensation of pain in many forms.
Ease joint, asthma and arthritic pain:
To help improve circulation and reduce muscle and joint pain, massage frankincense essential oil to the affected area or diffuse the oil at home. You may wish to mix it with a carrier oil, as essential oils, undiluted, can be harsh ont he skin. Alternatively, unless the inflammation is severe, consider adding a few drops of frankincense to your bath. While heat can be bad for inflamed tissue, sometimes a warm bath is just what the doctor ordered to ease pain. In conjunction with frankincense, a bath can help to relax you and relieve pain. For more severe cases of inflammation, avoid heat and stick to the diffuser or direct application.
Watch this video to learn more about the benefits of frankincense oil: