Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) was originally a native of the Middle East the shrub is now widely grown in India, China and Africa; it is a hardy shrub that can be grown in very barren soils found in extreme desert conditions.
There is much evidence indicating that frankincense was used by the Egyptians as early as the 15th, century B.C. showing how they often combined it with other oils, including myrrh, juniper berries and cinnamon to produce an oil used as a temple incense. According to the Bible the baby Jesus was given gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift and there are details of how frankincense was used as an anointing oil and also in many other religious ceremonies. In the Ancient World it became so popular that it was used by many cultures to treat almost all known ailments.
Frankincense has an easily recognisable aroma which is spicy, woody with a hint of pine.
When the bark is removed from the shrub it produces a sticky resin which is put through the process of steam distillation to produce an essential oil. This essence can be mixed successfully with several other oils including cedarwood, camomile, cypress, basil, myrrh, pine, rosemary and sandalwood.
This popular oil has many uses in aromatherapy; it is known to benefit those suffering from anxiety, nervous tension, depression and other stress related conditions. Because frankincense blends well with many other oils and has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties it has fantastic properties for use as a skin preparation which is used to treat, soothe and generally improve all skin types, especially the more mature or prematurely aging skin. Many respiratory infections such as coughs and catarrh benefit from using frankincense oil and it has mild diuretic properties. The blending ability combined with its skin treatment properties makes frankincense an ideal oil for use in baths or as a massage oil.
Author: Carol Wiley
David W Bates is a complementary therapy specialist from the UK; he runs a directory listing the best alternative therapy sites and also owns other natural therapy sites including: alternative therapies, aromatherapy and stammering information
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Frankincense-Is-Used-In-Aromatherapy&id=1112256
