Why I Love Frankincense
What is frankincense?
Frankincense (Boswellia frereana, Boswellia carterii, Boswellia sacra) is known as the "king of essential oils." It is one of the most precious essential oils because of its unbelievable list of health benefits. For over 5,000 years, frankincense has had many vital uses that go well beyond just being an anointing oil. This liquid gold can be used to fight infection, support the immune system, and even cure disease. It has also been used as a natural treatment for cancer.
Frankincense is named in the Bible, as being one of the 3 gifts presented to Baby Jesus at his birth. No matter your beliefs, it has been recorded as being used for thousands of years during spiritual practices, and meditation.
Frankincense comes from incisions made into the bark of the small tree, where a natural gum/ resin is then produced and the oil is collected through steam distillation.
Check out this amazing video on a journey to Oman to see how frankincense essential oils are made!
Frankincense has been used to help relieve stress and anxiety, and is known for its anti-depressant, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, expectorant and immune stimulating properties.
We use frankincense everyday (in a roller, down the spine) and I like to diffuse it for Avery when his asthma is acting up. I also have a family friend that claims frankincense helped reduce a cancer growth in her breast!
How does it help cancer?
Back in 2011, the journal Cancer published the results of a 44 person clinical trial evaluating how brain swelling was effected by frankincense.
Astoundingly, 60 percent of the patients displayed 75 percent reduction or greater in cerebral swelling after being treated with 4,200 milligrams per day of frankincense. Scientists are urging the medical community to consider prescribing this oil! Frankincense could potentially be used as an alternative to steroids for cancer patients exposed to radiation treatment.
Using the compound AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), the Omani government-funded research has for the first time shown frankincense’s ability to target cancer cells in late-stage ovarian cancer patients. Lead researcher Kamla Al-Salmani explained:
“After a year of studying the AKBA compound with ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro, we have been able to show it is effective at killing the cancer cells. Frankincense is taken by many people with no known side effects. This finding has enormous potential to be taken to a clinical trial in the future and developed into an additional treatment for ovarian cancer.”
As you can see, this sacred essential oil is so valuable! It's an absolute must for your wellness arsenal.
Have you tried this amazing oil?! Know someone fighting cancer- share this info with them. I would love to hear from you.
xo Christina