Materia: Frankincense – Boswellia spp.

Overview

Its association with Leucothoe in Greek myth, and usage in Egyptian embalming practices, speaks to the liminal character of the Sun. A sphere that not only journeys across the heavens during the day, but descends into the underworld at night; sojourner in both realms. In ritual, it acts as a Solar key: opening the gates of vision, uplifting the spirit toward the celestial spheres, and attuning the practitioner to the will of the Divine. Whether burned in ritual or taken as a medicine, frankincense draws what is coarse toward refinement – seeking light amid darkness, and purity amid corruption.

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Botany

Common Name: Frankincense, Olibanum
Botanical Name: Boswellia spp. (B. sacra, B. frereana, B. serrata, B. papyrifera)
Family: Burseraceae

Native Region: Widely distributed across eastern Africa, the Arabian peninsula, and northern India
Geographic Distribution: Still cultivated in its native region, though some species are considered at risk due to unsustainable harvesting practices.
Botanical Description: The frankincense tree is a small deciduous tree, growing 6–30 feet in height (2–10 meters). Its bark is thin and papery, and peels away from the trunk in sheets. The tree has composite leaves with an odd number of leaflets, growing opposite each other. Leaves are downy when new. Flowers are pale yellow, and gathered in auxiliary clusters.

Harvesting and Safety

Parts Used: Resin
Harvesting Guidelines: Trees start producing resin between eight and ten years old. They can be tapped several times a year, and the resin dried into tears. As a general rule, the more opaque the tears, the higher the quality.

Safety Issues: No known safety issues.

Medical Usage

Energetics: Warming and drying
Actions: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, expectorant
Uses: Frankincense can be used in both tincture and capsule form to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis (Easley 2016). A wash of frankincense can be used for treating sore throat, laryngitis, and gum disease; there is also some preliminary research to indicate frankincense can promote stable blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes (Chevallier 2016).
Pharmacology: The active components in frankincense are boswellic acid and olibanic acid, as well as various fragrant terpenes.

Specific Indications:

• For infections of the mouth and throat, a decoction of frankincense resin can be used as a mouthwash or gargle (Chevallier 2016).
• A tincture or capsule of frankincense resin can be taken orally to help relieve chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis (Easley 2016).

Preparation and Dosage:

• Decoction, used as a mouth wash or gargle
• Capsule, 400–1000mg, up to three times daily
• Tincture (in 90% alcohol), ¼–¾ tsp, up to three times daily

Magical Usage

Temperature: Fiery – warm and dry
Astrology: Sun in Aquarius; also associated with the Pleiades.
Folklore: Frankincense is perhaps the most famous resinous incense in history – used from ancient Egypt up until today, where it is still a frequent ingredient in church incense blends. It is used as a potent agent for cleansing and uplifting, as well as for protection and the exorcism of evil spirits.

In Greek myth, the sun god Helios fell in love with a mortal woman, Leucothoe. When she was buried alive by her father, Helios transformed her body into the frankincense tree, that she might still breathe air.

In Abrahamic religion, frankincense is one of the ingredients featured in formula for incense to be burned before the Ark of the Covenant. It was also one of the gifts presented by the Magi to the baby Jesus upon his birth.

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References

• Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Penguin Random House.
• Cunningham, S. (2000). Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications.
• Easley, T. (2016). The Modern Herbal Dispensatory. North Atlantic Books.
• Greer, J. (2005). Encyclopedia of Natural Magic. Llewellyn Publications.