Frankincense is one of the three gifts brought to the baby Jesus by the Wise Men. Seeing that it was given with much respect tells us that it was a highly valued commodity in early times. As a matter of fact the ancient Chinese used Frankincense for trade, the Egyptians used it as a integral part of the embalming process while the Greeks used it as an antidote for hemlock poisoning.
Today frankincense is used mainly for aroma therapy but there are those who swear by its use as a diuretic, anti inflammatory and as an antiseptic. There is research going on using frankincense as a treatment for osteoarthritis as well as checking out its anti-cancer fighting possibilities.
Frankincense has also been shown to help with anxiety, disappointment, hysteria, emotional fatigue, nervousness, congestion, anti inflammatory, immune deficiency, insomnia, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, aphrodisiac, emollient, indigestion, antiseptic, expectorant, sedative, tonic, and anti tumor.
In earlier times frankincense has been used as eye makeup, a hair remover, perfume and the treatment of leprosy. Once taken internally today it is almost exclusively used as a incense, sometimes infused with vapors as an aid to laryngitis.
Frankincense comes from the boswellia Thurifera tree. They split open the trunk, allow the resin inside to dry and then harvest the resin.
I should mention that frankincense is used in the practise of witchcraft called Wicca. They have all kinds of uses for the herb and is used in casting spells.
Frankincense oil is still very expensive and most times it is diluted with other oils such as jojoba oil. Some will substitute Rosemary for Frankincense
Frankincense is one herb that is not used by any cuisine that I know about. I have never saw a recipe that called for frankincense, although some say it is used in Indian cuisine I have never seen it used.
