The Twelve Days of Christmas the Fourth Day-Frankincense

December 4, 2009 in Biblical Oils, Diffusing, Frankincense, Meditation, Skin Care, Young Living Essential Oils by Jonell Elder | No comments

On the fourth day of Christmas Young Living scent to me 4 Frankincense, 3 Wise Men, 2 NingXia Reds and a bottle of Lavender oil.

What a blessing to receive Young Livings Frankincense!! The immense wonders of Frankincense and the knowing that it was given to the Christ Child because of its healing ways is an oil that everyone should have in their home.

Frankincense is one of the oldest essential oils and is used primarily in meditation to improve one’s inner balance. Frankincense, Boswellia carteri, is also known as “olibanum,” or “oil from Lebanon.” Considered the “holy anointing oil” in the Middle East, frankincense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. It was well known during the time of Christ and was one of the gifts given to Christ at his birth. Anciently, the Chinese used frankincense as a treatment for a range of ailments. Today, frankincense is still used worldwide for both its ceremonial and medicinal use.

Frankincense can be used topically, as a dietary supplement, or diffused. Frankincense can ease many minor aches and pains, clear the lungs, act as a skin tonic, as well as calm and soothe the whole body and mind. Frankincense also contains sesquiterpenes which stimulate the limbic system of the brain-the center of memory and emotions-and the hypothalamus, pineal, and pituitary glands.*

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has a sweet, warm, balsamic aroma that is stimulating and elevating to the mind. Useful for visualizing, improving one’s spiritual connection, and centering, it has comforting properties that help focus the mind and overcome stress and despair. More recently, it has been used in European and American hospitals and is the subject of substantial research. Frankincense is also a valuable ingredient in skin care products for aging and dry skin. The ancient Egyptians used it in rejuvenation face masks.

The History

Frankincense has been associated with spirituality since earliest antiquity, and the Frankincense tree is the oldest story tree in the world, with legends dating back (in recorded history) to 3,000 B.C. Some stories say frankincense date back to 10,000 B.C. but there aren’t any writings dating back that far.

In 3,000 B.C. Frankincense had more value than gold. There was only one other thing that had more value than Frankincense and that, however, wasn’t gold – and that oil was Balsam. Interestingly, research from Israel suggests Balsam oil was called “gold.”

The researchers who found these latest scrolls and translations are saying now it might have been Balsam oil, Frankincense and Myrrh that was brought to the Christ Child – and not frankincense, myrrh and the metal gold. Frankincense, Myrrh and Balsam were very commonly used throughout the regions, and Balsam grew on the inland north slopes of southern Arabia, north of where the Frankincense trees grew then and still grow today.