Frankincense Steam Distilled Oil

Frankincense oil is from the genus Boswellia and sourced from the resin of the Boswellia serrata trees that are native to India. 

Boswellia serrata produces special compounds that have been found to have strong anti-inflammatory, and potentially anti-cancer, effects. Among the valuable boswellia tree extracts that researchers have identified, several stand out as most beneficial, including terpenes and boswellic acids, which are strongly anti-inflammatory agents and protective over healthy cells.

The word frankincense comes from the term “franc encens,” which means quality incense in old French. Frankincense has been associated with many different religions over the years, especially the Christian religion, as it was one of the first gifts given to Jesus by the wise men.

Smell: combination of pine, lemon and woody scents.

Benefits of Frankincense

1. Helps Reduce Stress Reactions and Negative Emotions

When inhaled, frankincense oil been shown to reduce heart rate and high blood pressure. It has anti-anxiety and depression reducing abilities, but unlike prescription medications, it does not have negative side effects or cause unwanted drowsiness.

A 2019 study found that compounds in frankincense, incensole and incensole acetate, have the ability to activate ion channels in the brain to help alleviate anxiety or depression.

In a study involving mice, burning boswellia resin as incense had antidepressive effects: “Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain.”

2. Helps Boost Immune System Function and Prevent Illness

Studies have demonstrated that frankincense benefits extend to immune-enhancing abilities that may help destroy dangerous bacteria, viruses and even cancers. Researchers at Mansoura University in Egypt conducted a lab study and found that frankincense oil exhibits strong immunostimulant activity.

It can be used to prevent germs from forming on the skin, mouth or in your home. This is the reason many people choose to use frankincense to naturally relieve oral health problems.

The antiseptic qualities of this oil may help prevent gingivitis, bad breath, cavities, toothaches, mouth sores and other infections from occurring, which has been shown in studies involving patients with plaque-induced gingivitis.

3. May Help Fight Cancer and Deal With Chemotherapy Side Effects

Several research groups have found that frankincense has promising anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects when tested in lab studies and on animals. Frankincense oil has been shown to help fight cells of specific types of cancer.

Researchers in China investigated the anticancer effects of frankincense and myrrh oil on five tumor cells lines in a lab study. The results showed that human breast and skin cancer cell lines showed increased sensitivity to the combination of myrrh and frankincense essential oils.

A 2012 study even found that a chemical compound found in frankincense called AKBA is successful at killing cancer cells that have become resistant to chemotherapy, which may make it a potential natural cancer treatment.

Furthermore, a 2023 evaluation of the anticancer effects of frankincense on breast cancer stem-like cells found it to be effective in battling cancer stem cells. In fact, researchers noted that the boswellic acid in frankincense “has been found to induce apoptosis in different cancer cells, including prostate, colon, melanoma, hepatocellular, leukaemia, and brain.”

4. Astringent and Can Kill Harmful Germs and Bacteria

Frankincense is an antiseptic and disinfectant agent that has antimicrobial effects. It has the ability to eliminate cold and flu germs from the home and the body naturally, and it can be used in place of chemical household cleaners.

A lab study published in Letters in Applied Microbiology suggests that the combination of frankincense oil and myrrh oil is particularly effective when used against pathogens. These two oils, which have been used in combination since 1500 BC, have synergistic and additive properties when exposed to microorganisms like Cryptococcus neoformans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

5. Protects Skin and Prevents Signs of Aging

Frankincense benefits include the ability to strengthen skin and improve its tone, elasticity, defence mechanisms against bacteria or blemishes, and appearance as someone ages. It may help tone and lift skin, reduce the appearance of scars and acne, and treat wounds.

It may also be beneficial for fading stretch marks, surgery scars or marks associated with pregnancy, and healing dry or cracked skin.

A review published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine indicates that frankincense oil reduces redness and skin irritation, while also producing a more even skin tone. Studies suggest that it’s the pentacyclic triterpene (steroid-like) structure of frankincense oil that contributes to its soothing effect on irritated skin.

6. May Improve Memory

Research suggests that frankincense oil can be used to improve memory and learning functions. Some animal studies even show that using frankincense during pregnancy may increase the memory of a mother’s offspring.

In one such study, when pregnant rats received frankincense orally during their gestation period, there was a significant increase in the power of learning, short-term memory and long-term memory of their offspring.

In a 2019 human model, researchers found that “4 weeks of frankincense consumption facilitates the acquisition and retention of motor memory in older men with moderate mental status.”

7. May Help Balance Hormones and Improve Fertility

Frankincense oil benefits may include reducing symptoms associated with menstruation and menopause by balancing hormone levels, although the research on this topic is limited. It has been used to help relieve:

• pain
• cramps
• constipation
• headaches
• anxiety
• nausea
• fatigue
• mood swings

Frankincense oil may also help with regulating oestrogen production and may reduce the risk of tumour or cyst development in premenopausal women.

Animal studies have shown that frankincense oil can be used as a fertility-promoting agent, which may be due to the oil’s chemical structure acting similarly to that of steroids. When frankincense was used on rats internally, it increased fertility and the number of implantations and viable foetuses, which suggests that the oil may possibly increase sperm motility and density.

8. Eases Digestion

Frankincense helps the digestive system properly detox and produce bowel movements. Research indicates that it may also help reduce pain and cramping in the stomach, relieve nausea, flush out excess water from the abdomen that can cause bloating, and even relieve PMS-related stomach pains.

It does this by speeding up the secretion of digestive enzymes, increasing urination production, relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract and helping improve circulation, which is needed for proper digestive health. It’s been shown to be beneficial in reducing symptoms of leaky gut syndrome, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and IBS.

9. Acts as a Sleep Aid

Frankincense uses include lowering levels of anxiety and chronic stress that can keep you up at night. It has a calming, grounding scent that can naturally help you to fall asleep.

This natural sleep aid helps open breathing passages, allows your body to reach an ideal sleeping temperature and can eliminate pain that keeps you up, which has been verified in studies analysing frankincense compounds.

10. Helps Decrease Inflammation and Pain

Frankincense has been shown in studies to inhibit the production of key inflammatory molecules associated with conditions like arthritis, asthma, painful bowel disorders like IBS and many more conditions.

It can be useful in helping prevent the breakdown of the cartilage tissue and has been shown to significantly reduce levels of dangerous and painful inflammation, making it a natural treatment option for pain-related conditions that affect the muscles, joints and tendons.

Frankincense essential oil has been used therapeutically for centuries to relieve or prevent a range of health concerns, including anxiety, trouble sleeping, inflammation and digestive problems. However, the research is just catching up to the powers of this plant extract, especially studies involving human trials.

Some potential frankincense benefits that need further research include its ability to:

• prevent heart disease
• fight diabetes
• balance hormones
• boost fertility