Frankincense is an herb that can be used for many different industries and products including bath and body products. http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/00fracla/frankincense-class/1.html

1. Frankincense
Class

2. Frankincense
• Frankincense, or other wise known as olibanum, is an aromatic
resin obtained from trees in the genus Boswellia. The genus
Boswellia is a part of the family Burseraceae. The English word
frankincense is actually derived from the Old French “franc
encens” meaning high quality incense. Frankincense is used mainly
for perfumes and incense. Most frankincense that is produced
today comes from Somalia, however it is also native to Yemen and
Oman. Frankincense has been used and traded in the Middle East
and North Africa for over 5,000 years. Did you know that in the
Bible frankincense is one of the gifts brought to the baby Jesus on
Christmas by the three wise men?
• A few of the trees included in the Boswellia genus that contain
true frankincense are Frereana, Sacra, and Serrata. The process of
extracting the actual frankincense from the tree is called
tapping. The bark on the tree is actually slashed off, or other
wise known as striping, which allows the inside resin to bleed
out of the tree and harden into frankincense tears. The tears
are different shades of yellowish-gold.
• These tears can be used in many different products and
industries. While mainly used for the incense and perfume
industries, it can also be used for bath and body products,
candle making, cosmetics, medicinal purposes, hair care, skin
care, foods and beverages, and soaping. Common products it
can be used in are lotions, ointments, creams, emulsifying
scrubs, soaps, bath teas, perfumes, incense and potpourri. In the
Hebrew Bible, frankincense is one of the special consecrated
incenses offered on an incense altar used in Ketoret ceremonies. It
was considered a symbol of the Divine Name, was an ingredient in
the perfume of the sanctuary, and was an emblem of prayer.

3. Growing Conditions
• While there are many trees within the Boswellia genus,
Boswellia Sacra is one of the main trees used for true
frankincense. It is native to Oman, Yemen, and Somalia, and is a
tree that reaches heights anywhere from 6 to 26 feet. It can
tolerate any kind of growing condition up to even the most
critical, and is often found on rocky slopes and ravines. They
can sometimes even grow out of pure solid rock. A disk-like
swelling of the trunk prevents it from being ripped off the rock
during storms. Sacra trees have a special root called a buttress
that goes all the way up into the base of stem of tree, which is
what causes the swelling of the trunk.
• Sacra trees actually tend to have one or more trunks on them.
The leaves are compound while the leaflets are odd numbered
and will grow opposite each other along the tree branches. The
bark of the tree has the texture of paper which makes is very
easy to remove. It also has tiny whitish-yellow flowers that are
in clusters of five petals. The actual frankincense resin will not
begin to produce within the tree until the tree is about 8-10
years old.
• There are some threats to sacra trees however. Animals on
Oman seem to be killing the mature trees because they browse
on the foliage, flowers and leaves which results in the tree not
being able to regenerate quickly enough. Frankincense tree
population is also showing to decline from overexploitation.

4. Frankincense Uses in
IndustriesFood
• While frankincense is mainly used for perfumes and incense
purposes, it can also be used for food and beverages. It is mainly
used as an enhancer in desserts and can be used to make
frankincense ice cream and shortbread cookies. However some
people even include it as an ingredient in homemade salad
dressing. Frankincense can be added to beverages to be used to
fight cancers.
Bath and Body Products
• Frankincense can be used in many different products including
skin care, hair care, soaping, bath and body products and even
medicinal purposes. Frankincense perfume can be used to help
calm and relieve people of stress.
• Many common products that include frankincense are lotions,
ointments, creams, emulsifying scrubs, soaps, bath teas,
perfumes, incense and potpourri.
• For skin care, frankincense can help with scarring. It helps to fade
acne, stretch marks and even surgery marks. It also helps to
rejuvenate, smooth and soften skin, and reduce wrinkles and fine
lines.
• When used for hair care, it helps to make the hair shinier and
helps prevent dandruff. It also helps to makes the roots stronger
and brings healthier hair.

5. Uses in Industries
Cont.Medicinal
• There are many medicinal benefits to using frankincense. It
can be used to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatism,
rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, asthma,
abdominal pain, hay fever, and sore throats. Frankincense
can even be used as a treatment for syphilis.
• For women, it can be used as a stimulant for menstrual
flow.
• It can be used to treat back pain, relieve inflammation and
itching, and can even help to improve the immune system.
• Frankincense can even be used to improve and treat visual
problems and helps to improve concentration.
• One of the best known medicinal uses for frankincense is
its anti-carcinogenic properties. It can be used to treat and
fight cancer.
• It can also treat many other ailments such as pneumonia,
warts, tonsillitis, jaundice, prostate problems, hyperactivity,
and restlessness.
• It has many anti-infectious, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory,
sedative, and anti-tumor properties.

6. Other Uses
• In history, frankincense was used as a sacred oil in the
Middle East for sacrificial ceremonies.
• Nature’s Garden sells frankincense tears for external use
only. We do not sell it as a food item. The information above
talks about how great frankincense is for many industries,
however we only sell it for external use. We provide this data
for educational purposes only. Nothing in this article is to be
construed as medical advice. Please consult your doctor
before using this product or any of this information for
treatment purposes.
• Are you wondering how to use this wonderful product? Try
out our free recipe for Frankincense and Myrrh Soap this
holiday season made with frankincense tears!
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