Frankincense
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Botanical Name |
Boswellia thurifera/Boswellia carteri |
|
Family |
Burseraceae |
|
Other Names |
Gum thus, oilbans, olibanum |
|
Description |
Small tree or shrub, pinnate leaves, white or pale pink flowers |
|
Aroma |
Warm, rich |
|
Native to |
Somalia, Ethiopia, China, Arabia |
|
Actions |
Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, cicatrisant, cytophylactic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, tonic, uterine, vulnerary |
|
Extraction |
Steam distillation from gum resin |
|
Constituents |
Pinene, dipentene, limonene, thujene, phellandrene, cymene, myrcene, terpinene, oilbanol, cadinene, camphene, dipentene |
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Combines with |
Basil, bergamot, black pepper, camphor, citrus oils, geranium, lavender, patchouli, pine, sandalwood, vetiver |
|
Note |
Base |
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Skin |
Scars, wounds, wrinkles |
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Respiratory |
Catarrh, colds, bronchitis, asthma, coughs, laryngitis |
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Genito-urinary |
Cystitis, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea |
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Immune |
Colds, flu |
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Nervous system |
Anxiety, nervous tension, stress |
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Other Uses |
Soaps, cosmetics |
|
Other Notes |
Used as incense in India and China and by the Catholic church In Egypt it was used in rejuvenating face masks One of the three gifts from the three magi to baby Jesus Frankincense means real incense in French Olibanum mean “oil from the Lebanon” |
|
Caution |
Essential oil: Do not use on children or babies |