Medical healing properties of frankencense

September 27, 2011

Hi all,

I know often members have asked for herbal and natural treatments to help treat

arthritis. While this doesn't claim to cure Still's it does say it helps in

Osteoarthritis as well as several conditions and I thought some may find it

interesting.

incense

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

incense from Yemen

incense, also called olibanum (Hebrew: & #1500; & #1489; & #1493; & #1504; & #1492;,

levonah; Arabic: & #1604; & #1615; & #1576; & #1614; & #1617; & #1575; & #1606; & #1612;,

lubb & #257;n; Armenian: & #1389; & #1400; & #1410; & #1398; & #1391;, khunk), is an

aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly

Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana

(Burseraceae). It is used in incense and perfumes.

There are four main species of Boswellia which produce true frankincense and

each type of resin is available in various grades. The grades depend on the time

of harvesting, and the resin is hand-sorted for quality.

Contents

[hide] 1 Description

2 History

3 Quality

4 Uses 4.1 Traditional medicine

4.2 incense essential oil 4.2.1 Perfume

5 Medical research

6 Chemical composition

7 See also

8 Notes

9 References

10 External links 10.1 Articles

10.2 Related sites

Description

Flowers and branches of the Boswellia sacra tree, the species from which most

frankincense is derived

incense is tapped from the very scraggly but hardy Boswellia tree by

slashing the bark and allowing the exuded resins to bleed out and harden. These

hardened resins are called tears. There are numerous species and varieties of

frankincense trees, each producing a slightly different type of resin.

Differences in soil and climate create even more diversity of the resin, even

within the same species.

incense trees are also considered unusual for their ability to grow in

environments so unforgiving that they sometimes grow directly out of solid rock.

The means of initial attachment to the stone is not known but is accomplished by

a bulbous disk-like swelling of the trunk. This disk-like growth at the base of

the tree prevents it from being torn away from the rock during the violent

storms that frequent the region they grow in. This feature is slight or absent

in trees grown in rocky soil or gravel. The tears from these hardy survivors are

considered superior for their more fragrant aroma.

The trees start producing resin when they are about 8 to 10 years old.[1]

Tapping is done 2 to 3 times a year with the final taps producing the best tears

due to their higher aromatic terpene, sesquiterpene and diterpene content.

Generally speaking, the more opaque resins are the best quality. Dhofari

frankincense (from Boswellia sacra)[1] is said to be the best in the world,

although fine resin is also produced more extensively in Yemen and along the

northern coast of Somalia, from which the Roman Catholic Church draws its

supplies.[2]

Recent studies have indicated that frankincense tree populations are declining

due to over-exploitation. Heavily tapped trees have been found to produce seeds

that germinate at only 16% while seeds of trees that had not been tapped

germinate at more than 80%.

History

Indirect burning of frankincense on a hot coal

incense has been traded on the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa for

more than 5000 years.[3] A mural depicting sacks of frankincense traded from the

Land of Punt adorns the walls of the temple of ancient Egyptian Queen

Hatshepsut, who died in 1458 BCE.[4]

incense was a part of the Ketoret which is used when referring to the

consecrated incense described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud. It is also

referred to as the HaKetoret (the incense). It was offered on the specialized

incense altar in the time when the Tabernacle was located in the First and

Second Jerusalem Temples. The ketoret was an important component of the Temple

service in Jerusalem. It is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible book of Exodus 30:34,

where it is named levonah, meaning " white " in Hebrew.[5]

" While burning incense was accepted as a practice in the later Roman Catholic

church, the early church during Roman times forbade the use of incense in

services resulting in a rapid decline in the incense trade. " [6]

incense was reintroduced to Europe by ish Crusaders (-incense).

Although it is better known as " frankincense " to westerners, the resin is also

known as olibanum, which is derived from the Arabic al-lub & #257;n (roughly

translated: " that which results from milking " ), a reference to the milky sap

tapped from the Boswellia tree. Some[who?] have also postulated that the name

comes from the Arabic term for " Oil of Lebanon " since Lebanon was the place

where the resin was sold and traded with Europeans.

The lost city of Ubar, sometimes identified with Irem in what is now the town of

Shisr in Oman, is believed to have been a center of the frankincense trade along

the recently rediscovered " Incense Road " . Ubar was rediscovered in the early

1990s and is now under archaeological excavation.

The Greek historian Herodotus was familiar with incense and knew it was

harvested from trees in southern Arabia. He reports, however, that the gum was

dangerous to harvest because of venomous snakes that lived in the trees. He goes

on to describe the method used by the Arabians to get around this problem, that

being the burning of the gum of the styrax tree whose smoke would drive the

snakes away.[7] The resin is also mentioned by Theophrastus and by Pliny the

Elder in his Naturalis Historia.

Quality

incense

incense comes in many types, and its quality is based on color, purity,

aroma, age, and shape. Silver and Hojari are generally considered the highest

grades of frankincense. The Omanis themselves generally consider Silver to be a

better grade than Hojari, though most Western connoisseurs think that it should

be the other way round.[citation needed] This may be due to climatic conditions

with the Hojari smelling best in the relatively cold, damp climate of Europe and

North America, whereas Silver may well be more suited to the hot dry conditions

of Arabia.

Local market information in Oman suggests that the term Hojari encompasses a

broad range of high-end frankincense including Silver. Resin value is determined

not only by fragrance but also by color and clump size, with lighter color and

larger clumps being more highly prized. The most valuable Hojari frankincense

locally available in Oman is even more expensive than Somalia's Maydi

frankincense derived from B. frereana (see below). The vast majority of this

ultra-high-end B. sacra frankincense is purchased by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos

bin Said the ruler of Oman, and is notoriously difficult for western buyers to

correctly identify and purchase.[citation needed]

Uses

Boswellia sacra tree, from which frankincense is derived, growing inside

Biosphere 2

incense is used in perfumery and aromatherapy. incense essential oil

is obtained by steam distillation of the dry resin. Some of the smell of the

frankincense smoke is due to the products of pyrolysis.

incense was lavishly used in religious rites. According to the gospel of

2:11, gold, frankincense, and myrrh were among the gifts to Jesus by the

Biblical Magi " from out of the East. "

The Egyptians ground the charred resin into a powder called kohl. Kohl was used

to make the distinctive black eyeliner seen on so many figures in Egyptian art.

The aroma of frankincense is said to represent life and the Judaic, Christian,

and Islamic faiths have often used frankincense mixed with oils to anoint

newborn infants and individuals considered to be moving into a new phase in

their spiritual lives.

The growth of Christianity depressed the market for frankincense during the 4th

century AD. Desertification made the caravan routes across the Rub' al Khali or

" Empty Quarter " of the Arabian Peninsula more difficult. Additionally, increased

raiding by the nomadic Parthians in the Near East caused the frankincense trade

to dry up after about 300 AD.

Traditional medicine

incense resin is edible and often used in various traditional medicines in

Asia for digestion and healthy skin. Edible frankincense must be pure for

internal consumption, meaning it should be translucent, with no black or brown

impurities. It is often light yellow with a (very) slight greenish tint. It is

often chewed like gum, but it is stickier because it is a resin.

incense olibanum resin

In Ayurvedic medicine Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata), commonly referred

to as " dhoop, " has been used for hundreds of years for treating arthritis,

healing wounds, strengthening the female hormone system, and purifying the

atmosphere from undesirable germs. The use of frankincense in Ayurveda is called

" dhoopan " . In Indian culture, it is suggested that burning frankincense everyday

in house brings good health.[8]

Burning frankincense repels mosquitos and thus helps protect people and animals

from mosquito-borne illnesses, such as malaria, West Nile Virus, and Dengue

Fever.[9]

incense essential oil

The essential oil of frankincense is produced by steam distillation of the tree

resin. The oil's chemical components are 75% monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes,

monoterpenoles, sesquiterpenols, and ketones. It has a good balsamic and sweet

fragrance, while the Indian frankincense oil has a very fresh smell.

Perfume

Olibanum is characterized by a balsamic-spicy, slightly lemon, and typical

fragrance of incense, with a slightly conifer-like undertone. It is used in the

perfume as well as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries.

Medical research

incense

Standardized preparations of Indian frankincense from Boswellia serrata are

being investigated in scientific studies as a treatment for chronic inflammatory

diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and

osteoarthritis.[citation needed] Initial clinical study results indicate

efficacy of incense preparations for Crohn's disease.[citation needed] For

therapy trials in ulcerative colitis, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis there are

only isolated reports and pilot studies from which there is not yet sufficient

evidence of safety and efficacy. Similarly, the long-term effects and side

effects of taking frankincense has not yet been scientifically investigated.

Boswellic acid in vitro anti-proliferative effects on various tumor cell lines

(such as melanoma, glioblastomas, liver cancer) are based on induction of

apoptosis. A positive effect has been found in the use of incense on the

accompanying specimens of brain tumors, although in smaller clinical trials.

Some scientists[who?] say the results are due to methodological flaws. The main

active compound of Indian incense is viewed as being boswellic acid.[citation

needed]

As of May 2008 FASEB Journal announced that s Hopkins University and the

Hebrew University of Jerusalem have determined that frankincense smoke is a

psychoactive drug that relieves depression and anxiety in mice.[10] The

researchers found that the chemical compound incensole acetate[11] is

responsible for the effects.[10]

In a different study, an enriched extract of " Indian incense " (usually

Boswellia serrata) was used in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled

study of patients with osteoarthritis. Patients receiving the extract showed

significant improvement in their arthritis in as little as seven days. The

compound caused no major adverse effects and, according to the study authors, is

safe for human consumption and long-term use.[12] The study was funded by a

company which produces frankincense extract.

In a study published in March 2009 by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences

Center it was reported that " incense oil appears to distinguish cancerous

from normal bladder cells and suppress cancer cell viability. " [13]

Chemical composition

Structure of & #946;-boswellic acid, one of the main active components of

frankincense

These are some of the chemical compounds present in frankincense:

" acid resin (56 per cent), soluble in alcohol and having the formula

C20H32O4 " [14]

gum (similar to gum arabic) 30–36%[14]

3-acetyl-beta-boswellic acid (Boswellia sacra)[15]

alpha-boswellic acid (Boswellia sacra)[15]

4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid (Boswellia sacra)[15]

incensole acetate

phellandrene[14]

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