“When in doubt, Frankincense” — Dr. Axe
Essential oils are highly concentrated oils obtained through distillation or extraction of specific plant parts. Essential oil uses range from therapeutic natural medicines to household cleaning products. Touting the title “king of essential oils” frankincense holds a high position in the hierarchy of essential oils you should use.
Distilling the resin from the Boswellia species of trees produces frankincense oil. The name frankincense originates from the old French term “franc encens,” meaning quality incense. In Christianity, when Jesus was born, it was one of the gifts presented by the wise men. Together with the other plant-based extract — myrrh — sources indicate the two may have been worth more than gold.
What is it that made frankincense so valuable? Why should you consider it as the essential oil of choice for your use in this day and age? Let’s explore five reasons why you should harness the power of the “king of essential oils.”
1. Improving Skin Health
Using frankincense essential oil is a natural and effective method of maintaining your self-care regimes. Frankincense evens out the skin tone while strengthening defense mechanisms against blemishes. It also has a soothing effect on irritated skin. The ability to fight against dermatological pathogens is what gives frankincense its skin benefits.
As mentioned earlier, frankincense essential oil is concentrated and thus, potent. To properly use its skin-nurturing properties, you should first dilute it. Jojoba oil is an example of an excellent skin care carrier. Just mix three drops of frankincense with a teaspoon of jojoba before applying to the target area.
2. Anti-Aging and Skin Healing Agent
Frankincense essential oil is a strong astringent meaning it draws together and causes contraction of soft body tissues. It can be used to naturally slow down signs of aging as it lifts and tightens areas of the skin on which you apply it. You can use it on saggy regions of the surface such as under the eyes or the abdomen, on stretch marks, to prevent wrinkles and reduce acne spots.
Due to the potency as an essential oil, you should use it on a small area of skin as a test for any allergic reactions. You ought to be careful not to use it on broken skin. Mix three drops of oil with lotion and then apply it directly to affected areas of skin.
3. Seasonal Allergy Reliever
Your body may be unable to keep up with changes in the environment following the advent of new seasons. As a result, you will experience discomfort from swollen sinuses, sneezing or swollen eyes. At other times, irritation comes about from secondary infection of the respiratory system from a cold.
Frankincense essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that work in the nasal passages making breathing easier. It also helps clear phlegm from the lungs and provides relief from coughing. These properties make frankincense the most suitable essential oil to use to alleviate your allergies or asthma. Rub a few drops on a cloth and inhale deeply for the respiratory benefits.
4. Promote Restful Sleeping
Frankincense oil has a calming scent that can help you naturally fall asleep much more relaxed. The essential oil has a sedative effect that loosens the tension in muscles and lowers your levels of anxiety. When used, frankincense oil opens up breathing airways and inhibits production of specific inflammatory molecules to ease muscle pain-related conditions.
The combined effect of these properties is that your body achieves an ideal sleeping state. It also has a positive impact on sleep deprivation and disturbances. Inhalation of frankincense oil has been shown to reduce high blood pressure. You can add a few drops of frankincense essential oil to an oil diffuser to induce relaxation in your sleep.
5. Natural Household Cleaner
Frankincense essential oil is an antiseptic. This property can be utilized to disinfect indoor spaces as it eliminates bacteria and pathogens from your home. The terpenes present in the essential oil make it especially useful in fighting foreign fungal and bacterial pathogens.
Furthermore, frankincense essential oil has a sweet balsamic fragrance you can use to eliminate those notorious kitchen odors. You can use frankincense essential oil in a vaporizer to disinfect room surfaces and reduce indoor pollution.
Final Thoughts and Bottom Line
Frankincense is a versatile essential oil that can be used individually or combined with other essential oils or carrier oils to achieve various effects. Its uses range from aromatherapy to relieve seasonal allergies and promote restful sleep to use as a natural household cleaner.
The topical application of the essential oil helps reduce aging spots while boosting the pathogen-fighting ability of the skin. These properties make frankincense a great essential oil to use and therefore a great addition to have in your household.
Originally published at medium.com