What is Frankincense?

Frankincense gets much of its fame from the Biblical story in which the newborn baby Jesus receives gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Although many people are able to retell the story, surprisingly few are able to state what exactly frankincense is. Frankincense, like myrrh, is a dried tree sap, or resin, primarily used to make incense. Frankincense comes from the deciduous tree Boswellia Thurifera. Somalia, Oman, and Yemen are all known for having trees that produce this high-quality resin. In order to collect the sap, the tree bark is cut, allowing the sap to ooze out of the bark in the places it was cut. The sap dries on the tree and is then collected. This procedure is repeated two or three times a year, and the resulting frankincense is opaque if it is of superior quality. The young trees produce higher-quality resin than the older trees. In some parts of the world, frankincense is known as olibanum, which comes from the Arabic word for "the milk," al-lubán. This is most ...  more

Frankincense is a gum resin which produces a strong but pleasant odor when burned. It is extracted from Boswellia trees which grow in Arabia and some parts of Africa. In ancient Israel, frankincense was an important component of incense and used as part of offerings to Yahweh. In the New Testament, one of the three magi who visit Jesus is portrayed as bringing a gift of frankincense. Both in the time of the three wise men and today, frankincense and myrrh are most commonly used to create incense. You mix frankincense with things like spices, seeds and roots to create different aromas. Traditionally, you burn the powdered incense with charcoal in a censer or on a small stand. Medicinal Action and Uses: Frankincense is a stimulant and, although it is seldom used these days, it was once very popular. There is evidence that it was even used sometime in the past as an antidote to hemlock. It has also been recommended for anything from tumours and ulcers to vomiting, dysentery and fevers. ...  more