Frankincense<\/a> oil is one of the better known essential oils, along with myrrh, due to it’s presence in the Christian biblical stories.<\/p>\nAccording the Bible frankincense was one of the gifts that the three wise men bought to the baby Jesus when he was born, so this oil has a very long history, having been recorded in Biblical times (though it’s use predates this era).<\/p>\n
It’s sometimes also dubbed the \u2018King of Oils\u2019, although this is probably more as a result of its numerous\u00a0and varied health benefits.<\/p>\n
This oil is usually just called frankincense oil, but it can sometimes also be called olibanum, so should you see this name know that they are the same thing. Aside from its illustrious history, frankincense is also well known by those who use essential oils thanks to the huge range of health benefits that it has.<\/p>\n
These include its popularity as an aromatherapy tool, and it is said to reduce anxiety, work as an anti inflammatory, and even work as a painkiller.<\/p>\n
Join us as we take an in-depth look at frankincense essential oil.<\/p>\n
What is frankincense oil?<\/span><\/h1>\nFrankincense oil comes from a resin, gum, or sap that is produced by the Boswellia Carteri tree that is a native to Somalia and other countries where conditions are usually very arid such as Yemen, Ethiopia, and Oman. In the present<\/p>\n
The word frankincense is an old French word that comes in two parts, \u2018franc\u2019 and \u2018encens\u2019 which meant \u2018good quality incense\u2019. This is no surprise, as although Frankincense is now known for its health benefits, it probably started out being burned as incense before it was used more topically.<\/p>\n
The origins of frankincense oil<\/span><\/h1>\nFrankincense is of course most famous for its references in the Bible, and has long been associated with Christianity in general. But there is also evidence of frankincense being used\u00a0as a cosmetic and burned as incense dating back to Egyptian and Anglo-Saxon times.<\/p>\n
In Egypt and other Arabian countries, frankincense was set alight and charred, before being crushed to a powder and applied to the eyes as a form of kohl.<\/p>\n
It’s also used and referenced in a range of other religions, again usually in the form of incense used in religious ceremonies.<\/p>\n
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