Frankincense is an ancient oil that has been used for centuries for meditation and spiritual practices. It is a good expectorant and can help relieve asthma and other bronchial congestive problems.
Main constituents:- Pinene, dipentene, limonene, thujene, phellandrene, cymene, myrcene, terpinene.
Anti-inflammatory activity of resins from some species of the plant family Burseraceae.
Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Waterman PG, Chapman J, Mhango GJ, Provan GJ.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Royal College, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
The anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from the resins of four species of the plant family Burseraceae, Boswellia dalzielli, Boswellia carteri (gum olibanum), Commiphora mukul, and Commiphora incisa, were studied.
PMID: 8441773 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Uses in Traditional Medicine:
The gum is credited with astringent, stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, antipuretic, stomachic emmenagogue, ecbolic and antiseptic properties. It is reported to be useful in ulcers, tumors, goiter, cystic breast, diarrhea, dysentery, piles, asthma, bronchitis, chronic laryngitis, jaundice, syphilitic and skin diseases. It is used in the preparation of an ointment for sores and is used with butter in syphilis. The gum resin is astringent, anti-pyretic, antidysentry, expectorant, diaphosetic, diuretic, stomachic, and emmenagogue. It is useful in fevers, diaphoresis, convulsions, dysentery, urethrorrhea, orchiopathy, bronchitis, asthma, cough, stomatitis, syphilitic diseases, chronic laryngitis, jaundice and arthritis.
Considered the holy oil in the Middle East and was used religiously for thousands of years. It was well known for its healing powers during the time of Christ. It is now being researched and used therapeutically in European hospitals. It is anticatarrhal, prevents scarring, and is antitumoral, immune-stimulating, and antidepressant. It is stimulating and elevating to the mind and helps in overcoming depression.