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Useful properties and use of incense tree
Description of the incense tree
incense tree, or another name – boswellia, whose homeland is Somalia, also grows on the archipelago of the four islands of Socotra, and in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It lives on dry slopes and can rise up to 2000 meters above sea level. These unique trees can still be found there, but less and less every year. In these deserts, they are cut down for space heating. Mankind still enjoys the beneficial properties of the incense tree, but, unfortunately, no one is breeding it.
The frankincense tree is very small, it can reach a height of 5 meters, often found as a shrub with a curved trunk and hanging branches, on which feather-like leaves are located. The tree belongs to the well-known Burzer family. It has white or light yellow flowers, collected in short tassels. This plant blooms in late May and early June.
Useful properties of incense tree
Even in ancient times, people began to use the incense tree. Ancient Roman doctors advised using this tree to treat serious diseases of the skin, lungs, stop bleeding. Some time later, they were treated with purulent inflammations on the skin. In Egypt, in ancient times, incense was used for masks that have a rejuvenating effect. They were also treated for syphilis, kidney infections, bladder infections, nervous disorders, digestive problems, bone pain. Frankincense is used as an incense in many religious cults.
From cuts in the bark of the incense tree, a substance is released, which includes resin, it thickens in the open air, and then solidifies in the form of a drop of amber. Essential oil is obtained from this resin by steam distillation.
This fantastic frankincense oil has a lot of useful properties. It helps with diseases of the ear, throat, nose – it treats a runny nose, inflammation of the tonsils, sinuses. It is used in the treatment of respiratory organs – lungs and bronchi. Also, the oil activates the natural removal of excess fluid from the body, prevents the enlargement of the lymph nodes.
Frankincense is the main raw material used in modern medicine. It is the gum resin of the frankincense tree. It is obtained by making shallow cuts on the trunk of a tree. These cuts are made at the end of the calendar winter – the beginning of spring. Further, this resin flows out and covers the entire trunk of the tree. Resin of the highest quality looks like transparent light yellow drops. The worst variety is a dark, sticky, uneven consistency mass with small interspersed colorless pieces.
Gum-resin has the following composition: Resin – 56%, gum – up to 47%, essential oil – at least 2%. Also, the composition of this oil includes hydrocarbons – terpenes, namely camphene, pinene, pitentene.
Frankincense obtained from the tree is used as an antiseptic for fumigation. It is also part of dispersed systems – emulsions used in various acute respiratory and viral infections.
Alcohol tincture of frankincense has found its use in abdominal pain, severe inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, rheumatism, acute pain in the kidneys, gonorrhea. Gum gum is often used in medicines for constipation. For the purpose of inhalation, the resin is used for acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, and respiratory diseases.
Frankincense oil has a healing effect on the immune system and the digestive system. The use of frankincense oil is ideal for skin care, it is added to cosmetics. Frankincense is part of many ointments that help with the formation of abscesses on the skin, boils, and joint diseases. This delightful plant is widely used by Indians in traditional and Ayurvedic medicine.
In addition, the frankincense tree produces an excellent anti-inflammatory effect, restores the affected cartilage tissue, helps with painful sensations in the joints, and alleviates the condition of the musculoskeletal system.
Boswellic acid is the most active component of the frankincense tree, which blocks the synthesis of substances that are one of the main causes of inflammation in the joints. Preparations containing frankincense prevent the penetration of leukocytes into the cartilage and the fluid contained in the joints. Thus, the degree of damage to the musculoskeletal system by leukocytes is weakened and inflammation is reduced.
In patients with joint damage, a decrease in the excretion of cartilage components in the urine, such as, for example, uronic acid, was observed when using preparations with this plant. All this indicates that the destructive processes have been stopped. It can be concluded that various drugs can perfectly replace aggressive antibiotics.
Frankincense is also used as an anesthetic in the treatment of joint diseases. Its active ingredients effectively reduce pain and morning discomfort of the joints, reduce swelling. The frankincense tree is known for its vasoconstrictive properties. There is an increase in the intensity of microcirculation in the articular tissues, and thereby facilitates the access of blood to the sites of damage. All this allows you to deliver nutritional support of healing substances to the musculoskeletal system.
The gum resin of the plant has also proven itself as an antiseptic. This resin has such unique properties as significantly reducing the growth of harmful microorganisms in the human body, gum resin perfectly performs a wound healing function.
In case of nervous strain, the components of this chic plant have a beneficial calming effect on the nervous system, reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, protect the liver, and normalize lipid metabolism.
The use of frankincense
Due to its anti-inflammatory action, it is a substitute for harmful antibiotics in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In these cases, alcohol tincture of incense and ointment are used.
Alcohol tincture with incense incense is quite simple to prepare. 7,0 grams of the main component is taken and dissolved in 15 ml of medical alcohol 96%. This mixture must be left for at least a week in a warm, dark place. It is necessary to apply the presented tincture before meals twice a day, 10 drops each. Also, the tincture can be used for pain in the abdomen, throat diseases, gonorrhea, indigestion, pain in the bladder and kidneys.
For self-preparation of incense ointment, use 10 grams of incense, 100 grams of petroleum jelly, 100 grams of pre-melted pork fat. All these components must be placed in a container. Then heat in a water bath until completely dissolved, stirring constantly until the mixture becomes homogeneous. This wonderful ointment is applied to sore joints, boils, pustules on the fingers, purulent inflammation of tissues, followed by their melting and the formation of a purulent cavity. The ointment is for external use only.
Cotton wool, smoked with incense, is placed on the chest of children at night for colds. This facilitates their breathing and promotes a speedy recovery.
Frankincense essential oil is also used for other purposes.
Oil can be added to cosmetics – lotions, shampoos, gels, creams. Here, oil is taken at the rate of 7 drops per 100 grams of the main product. This will make the skin silky, a certain effect of lifting and rejuvenation will be noticeable. Hair will become strong and strong.
This incomparable frankincense essential oil can be used for massages. It is necessary to mix 5 drops of oil with 1 tablespoon of base oil – you can choose almond, peach, even ordinary olive oil. It is not necessary to go to the salon for a massage, you can do this pleasant procedure at home, and the effect will be amazing. Massages with frankincense oil are effective in the early stages of skin aging – This will restore skin elasticity. Also massage with oil will have a beneficial effect on asthma attacks of coughing.
To relax and calm the nervous system, you can do baths with incense oil. To do this, fill the bath halfway with warm water. In no case should hot water be used, the optimum temperature is 38 ° C. Next, you need to mix 8 drops of incense or with milk, honey, sea salt. These components act as an emulsifier to stabilize the oil concentration. The duration of the procedure is approximately 20 minutes.
Frankincense essential oil is widely used for inhalation. This procedure is carried out both in hospitals and at home. The main first option is hot inhalation. To do this, add 3 drops of oil to a deep container of hot water. In this case, you should cover yourself with a towel and close your eyes. The optimal time for the procedure is 6 minutes. The second way is cold inhalation. In case of acute respiratory diseases, 3 drops of essential oil are applied to a cloth and inhaled for no more than 6 minutes.
Frankincense contraindications
In medicine, no side effects have been identified with the use of frankincense. But for cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and psoriasis, frankincense is not recommended.
When using frankincense essential oil, you first need to apply a drop to your wrist and thereby check if there will be an allergic reaction. Also, you can not use one essential oil – you need to mix it with the base agent.
Caution should be exercised when using incense during pregnancy. Frankincense is not recommended for use with iron-containing preparations. It is always recommended to avoid dangerous eye contact.