10 Benefits of Frankincense
Frankincense is a type of resin that is taken from the Boswellia family of plants. It has been used by mankind for thousands of years and was commonly used in cosmetics and as incense. It found popularity all over the world and is still used by some people today, even if it is not as valuable as it once used to be.
Frankincense is often made into frankincense oil, which is often used in a variety of remedies. Both frankincense itself and the oil has various benefits and can help with various ailments.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular benefits that frankincense has to offer.
Frankincense Benefit #1: Immunity Boost
Keep your immune system healthy, and you should also be keeping yourself healthy and well. This is because the immune system helps to protect us against pathogens that might otherwise do us harm. It also helps with maintenance of the body and helps with repair when needed.
Our immune system is not impenetrable, though, so we should help it as much as we can. One way we can achieve this is with plenty of frankincense, which has antimicrobial properties. This means that it can help us in the fight against sickness and infections. It is able to help in the fight against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Frankincense Benefit #2: Protects against Oral Infections
Our mouth harbors rather a lot of bacteria no matter how much we might try to keep it clean. This is not usually too much of a problem, but there are times when it can become a very real problem indeed. The mouth is prone to developing infections. They can be very painful and they can also sometimes be dangerous.
It is thought, however, that frankincense is effective in fighting against pathogens that cause infections. Mix in some frankincense oil with some baking soda and water and swill it in your mouth to help overcome any oral infections that you may have.
Frankincense Benefit #3: Stress Relief
It can be very difficult to overcome stress. Sometimes, whatever it is that is causing us stress will just not go away, leaving us unable to relax. If it goes on for too long then it holds some potentially very serious mental health implications. It can also present a very real threat to your physical health.
Many people feel, though, that frankincense oil can be a big help in reducing stress. It is thought to have anti-anxiety properties that can have an almost immediate impact in helping to ease stress. Place a few drops of frankincense oil into an oil diffuser and you can be well on your way to managing the stress in your life.
Frankincense Benefit #4: Soothes Inflammation
Arthritis is a blanket term for conditions that affect our joints. It mostly affects older people although it can affect people of all ages. It can be caused by several things, including inflammation of the joint tissues. It can be very painful and it is also very difficult to treat.
While there may not yet be a cure, we can at least help to soothe the symptoms caused by the inflammation. Frankincense oil is thought to be a big help in this regard and can help make patients with arthritis feel more comfortable. It may also be able to help with other inflammatory conditions in addition to arthritis.
Frankincense Benefit #5: Helps with Sleep
Sleeping is one of the most basic functions of life, and something that you would imagine would be easy for everybody. Unfortunately, though, many people struggle to get enough sleep, and it can make life very difficult. Plus, sleeping tablets have to be treated with caution because they can lead to addictions.
There are safe and natural remedies that might be able to help you to sleep, though, and frankincense oil is one of them. It’s ability to help reduce stress and anxiety can also help you to nod off at night. If you do have trouble sleeping, some frankincense oil on a tissue under your pillow at night could be all that you need.
Frankincense Benefit #6: Hormone Balance
Our bodies produce chemicals that affect the functioning of our bodies, and some of these are known as hormones. In addition to performing other functions, these hormones have a significant impact on our mood. They even have a huge impact on who we are as people.
It is important that our hormones are in balance, though. Otherwise, this can have a detrimental effect on our mood and this can impact our lives in numerous ways. Frankincense, however, has been shown to be able to help in maintaining healthy hormonal levels in the body. Place a few drops in a humidifier and it could help ease problems such as anxiety and even help with menopause problems.
Frankincense Benefit #7: Youthful Skin
There is little that we can do about the effects of ageing. It will creep up on all of us, regardless of which walk of life we come from. We can spend a fortune on creams and other products, but we will all begin to look old at some point. That does not mean to say that we cannot slow the approach of ageing, though.
The natural world has many remedies to offer us, one of which can help slow the advance of age. Frankincense oil is thought to be able to help keep us looking younger for longer and can also help protect against acne. Add some frankincense oil to a base oil and apply regularly to the skin, and you could be looking as good as new before long.
Frankincense Benefit #8: Prevents Cancer
The cure for cancer remains the holy grail where medicine is concerned. Time and money have been poured into research over generations, but still, we don’t have a cure. We have learned quite a lot, though, and some cancers can be cured even if others do remain elusive.
We can all do our part as well by trying to at least reduce the chances of cancer developing. Many people think that frankincense can be a big help in this regard. It contains triterpenic acids, which are able to reduce the chance of cancerous cells being able to form and grow.
Frankincense Benefit #9: Eases Respiratory Problems
Breathing is something that should come easily to us. After all, it is something that we rely upon for our very survival. It is not so easy for a lot of people, though, as many have respiratory problems that make breathing a struggle for them. This can have quite an impact on their quality of life and can also sometimes be quite dangerous.
Easing the symptoms, though, can make things a lot easier, and frankincense oil may be able to help with this. The anti-inflammatory properties of frankincense oil can help to ease some respiratory conditions. Place a few drops in a bowl of hot water and inhale the fumes and you could get the relief you are looking for.
Frankincense Benefit #10: Eases Digestion Problems
An upset stomach can be quite uncomfortable to bear. Depending on its severity, it might leave you bedbound or needing to get medical help. Such problems are quite common, though, and many people need to be very careful about what they eat.
The good news, though, is that frankincense may be able to help. Frankincense is able to accelerate the secretion of enzymes that help with digestion. Mix a few drops in with sandalwood oil and apply to the stomach two or three times a day. Do this and it could help ease any digestion problems you might have.
