Essential oil of frankincense: uses and properties

Boswellia sacra is a graceful tree or shrub, with a shape reminiscent of an inverted cone, as its trunks begin to branch out shortly above the ground.

At the tips of its branches grow the leaves, which are compound and odd-pinnate, and the racemose inflorescences of white flowers, with an interesting peculiarity; they are equipped with a nectariferous disk at the base of the ovary that changes color according to their maturity, in order to make it easier for pollinating insects to recognize mature flowers.

According to mythology, this tree originated from Leucothoe, the daughter of Orchamus, king of Persia and ruler of the land of aromas; when the girl was buried alive by her father, who wanted to punish her for her unnatural bond with the Sun god. The god tried to warm her with his rays to revive her, but failing to do so, he decided to sprinkle the ground with divine nectar, murmuring “at least you will ascend to the sky”. The girl’s body, impregnated with divine nectar, dissolved, and her aroma permeated the earth, from which the first Frankincense plant began to sprout.

And so a body destined to decompose was instead transformed into an aroma that would forever bind the earth with the sky; something that frankincense has indeed accomplished in the rituals and ceremonies of almost all religions. Its use in religious and mystical practices is ancient, and still extremely widespread today.

However, it is also used in cosmetics and perfumery, as well as therapeutically for the treatment of numerous diseases both in the East and in the West.

This species is particularly widespread in certain geographical areas: Oman, Somalia, and Yemen; from which the best qualities of frankincense are believed to originate.

But what exactly is frankincense? From the bark of Boswellia, after incision, a white oleoresin emerges that solidifies in the air, giving rise to the famous frankincense tears.

The essential oil of this oleoresin is obtained by hydrodistillation of the tears and shows numerous beneficial effects on the body, let’s discover what they are.

Uses and properties of Frankincense Essential Oil:

Mental Well-being: As mentioned, frankincense and its extracts have been and are used in religious ceremonies, thanks to its aroma, which has the power to slow down and deepen breathing, predisposing to relaxation and meditation. Diffusing its essential oil in a room helps purify the air and contributes to relieving anxiety, nervousness, and dispelling fears and stress.

It has a “purifying” effect on the mind, thus helping in all situations where one feels mentally burdened.

Physical Well-being: This essential oil is an excellent expectorant, useful in cases of laryngitis, bronchitis, and colds. It can be used for inhalations or fumigations, alone or in combination with balsamic essential oils such as Eucalyptus, White Fir, or Scots Pine (2 drops of frankincense essential oil, 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and 1 drop of conifer essential oil). It can be used to combat colds, nasal congestion, and coughs both in balms to be rubbed on the chest and for preparing hot aromatic baths.

Thanks to its antiseptic action, it can be useful in the treatment of cystitis, but also for other female disorders including dysmenorrhea, leukorrhea, and menorrhagia.

Skin and Body: It is an effective astringent that prevents the formation of wrinkles, restores tone to sagging skin, and reduces imperfections caused by acne and scars. Its properties were already known in ancient Egypt, where beauty masks were prepared to rejuvenate the face. Anti-wrinkle preparations can be made by mixing frankincense essential oil with a base vegetable oil, such as Jojoba or Wheat Germ, along with other essential oils (for example, Lemon, Rose, Lavender, etc.).

It is excellent for dry skin, couperose, and skin spots; by stimulating epithelial reconstruction, it promotes healing and is therefore useful in case of scars and wounds.

For scars, you can add 5 drops of frankincense essential oil, 5 drops of lavender essential oil, and 4 drops of sweet orange essential oil to 25 ml of Calendula infused oil; to be applied to the affected area, repeating the treatment several times.

On the body, it is great against stretch marks and sagging skin; while on the hair, it works well against dandruff and aging hair.

Other Uses: The tears of this oleoresin are used for they are for the production of incense to burn or for the production of pharmaceutical products, for throat or anti-inflammatory liniments, as well as for the production of cosmetics. Frankincense essential oil is then used as a fixative and component of fragrances for perfumes, creams, and soaps; and in smaller quantities for flavoring some foods and beverages.

It is important to remember that essential oils in general are extremely concentrated compounds, and even a small dose can cause undesirable effects. In the case of internal use, it is always advisable to consult an expert and one’s own doctor. It is also important to be careful when using them on the skin because, being small molecules, they are easily absorbed by our skin, so with too high dosages, there is a risk of sensitization or dermatitis. They should not be used on damaged skin and should not come into contact with mucous membranes and eyes because they can also cause strong irritation.