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The properties of Frankincense

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Brûle-encens tradionnel de Salalah

The use of frankincense

The use of frankincense as a natural resin is very often mentioned in written sources, whether they are works relating to ancient languages, medical treatises, geographers’ accounts or poetic and literary works. The first traces 15 of its use go back 4000 years. Furthermore the Arabian incense trade would have developed 15B between the end of the Bronze Age or early Iron Age. This resin was burned both in a domestic and religious context, from Mesopotamia to Rome. This resin is best known in the Western world for its association with the three wise men who offered Jesus the three precious gifts : gold, frankincense and myrrh. Incense in Oman is considered a status symbol.

Much research have been done 15C , some are underway to truly determine the therapeutic virtues of this product, as well as its ability to cure for example cancer and rheumatism. These virtues are not simple assertions without foundations..15aa These are virtues discovered by Hopkins University in the United States and by Qaboos University in Oman.

One of the most expensive perfumes in the world: Amouage in Oman

The culture of perfume

AMOUAGE

In Islam, incense has no liturgical role. When incense is used in mosques or at family ceremonies, it is only as fragrance: that is, it serves neither an offering nor an intermediary.15A In the Sultanate of Oman frankincense is burned daily to welcome guests, to perfume clothes, spaces of house or used at family events, the frankincense is burned just before the ceremony, a birth for example, among other uses. Usually the infrankincensecense is consumed in a ceramic perfume burner typical of the Dhofar region.

However, frankincense is the essential ingredient of Oriental fragrances. Because of its unique aromatic fragrance16A , it is used by the great perfumers when composing a perfume. In the West it is mainly used by the perfume industry which exudes the value of its aroma.

At the heart of the Omani identity, the perfume is a real emblem of the Sultanate. The perfume is here of cultural order, deeply anchored in the society and its customs. His majesty Sultan Qaboos is also the "origin" of the famous perfume created in 1983. The company's first fragrance, called "Amouage Gold", was created by Guy Robert. 16 « Amouage ». A compound of about 130 ingredients, the most subtle and rare are used in the manufacture of Amouage perfumes including frankincense and myrrh.

Another fragrance from Oman is also very important. On the slopes of the Jebel Akhdar region the roses bloom in abundance. The geographical conditions of the Jebel Akhdar mean that roses bloom only a few weeks in April, but the short season gives roses intense and dynamic fragrance, which increases the value of rose petals and rose water. Rose water, is an important cultural site in Oman. It is traditionally used for religious ceremonies, food, cosmetics and as a perfume.

Huile d'encens naturel

Damas roses

FROM JEBEL AKHDAR

At dawn, after the first morning prayer, the residents join the rose gardens. The harvest, which begins in spring, at the end of March, beginning of April, has been done by hand since the dawn of time. “Rosa damascena” is the Latin name for the Damask rose. It is the queen of roses from Syria. Those that blossom in Jebel Akhdar (the green mountain) are renowned throughout the Middle East for their exceptional fragrance quality.

The harvest only takes place once a year. Thanks to the climate of this altitude (2000m alt.) the residents manage to cultivate species which usually grow on the rim of the Mediterranean.

In order to preserve the humidity level of their petals, the roses are picked between 6 and 8 a.m. before the sun fades the flowers. Only well-opened roses are harvested. The deliciously scented petals must be distilled right after picking so that the rose water retains all the aromas.

The distillation is done in an artisanal way in a terracotta oven. Wood is used but gas is preferred in order to maintain a constant temperature. This method produces rose water with a more or less yellowish color depending on the time of decantation.
The evaporation of the water, in the upper bowl of the oven, determines the cooking time, approximately 3 hours. As soon as it comes out of the oven, the rose water is put in a container for a period of 2 days. Then it is filtered and stored in large containers for 3 months to let the deposit rest, then sold. It is used for perfume, as a body lotion and for medical purposes: stomach aches and headaches. Drinking a glass when in pain can help . Its "smoky" scent is quite strong, especially when distilled with wood.

Harvest damas roses in Jebel Akhdar Oman

The therapeutic way

If spiritual use of frankincense is ancestral, it is the same for its therapeutic principles 17 found in ancient documents of civilizations of the Middle East 18 . In India, Ayurvedic medicine treatises place a lot of emphasis on Boswellia resin. It was the same with the Greeks and the Romans. In the 1980s, 19 - 20 the therapeutic properties of boswellia resin became increasingly relevant to science. By the end of the twentieth century, Western researchers have highlighted some of these principles of Boswellia resin (sacra and carterii) 21

Huile d'encens naturel

The therapeutic way

The active ingredient is contained in the resin and not in the smoke. The smoke contains components of the bosweillia resin but not enough to have a real therapeutic influence. It is the boswellic acids in the resin which are the active principles and develop, among other properties, an anti-inflammatory aspect. 22 An in vitro experiment carried out by a researcher from the hospital in Hamburg (Germany) showed that frankincense could be beneficial for inflammatory and especially rheumatic diseases. 22A - 23 . Other research shows that it could prove valuable in the fight against cancer. 23A - 24 - 24a - 24B More and more medical science is interested in these boswellic acids 24C - 25 derived from this resin and other therapeutic properties 25A . This open a promising path for future drug applications.

Used in the form of essential oils of incense, other traditional therapeutic properties can also be mentioned :
Anti-infectious respiratory tract, joint and muscle pain, Antidepressant, 26 helps the functioning of the digestive system, Asthma...27

Other references on the Boswellia incense tree. 28

Phytochemical-and-Antibacterial 28c
Frankincense-Potential-health-benefits28a

Essential oil

Properties

Olfaction, diffusion, inhalation

Although it has many advantages 31a , it is important to recognize that the quality and purity of the essential oil have an important role in its therapeutic value. Its therapeutic properties 31 are different depending on: climate, harvest conditions, geographic source and the distillation process.

Sacra frankincense oil is used cosmetically to nourish and rejuvenate the skin. It acts as a skin support as for hydration, irritation and skin rejuvenation and helps the scar tissue. Sacra frankincense essential oil is also widely used to help reduce pain and minor inflammations related to headaches and general muscle tension and arthritis because it contains large amounts of alpha-pinene which also gives it a ability to act as an anti-inflammatory. 29A - 29

It can also provide respiratory support, helping to eliminate congestion and mucous membranes. It helps reduce stress reactions and negative emotions. It also has an anti-microbial effect. 29B 29C

When applied directly to the skin (due to its high concentration), an essential oil must first, sometimes, be diluted with a carrier substance, such as coconut or almond oil. It may also be intended for combustion in order to promote a meditative situation.

The most effective way to use the essential oil is by external application or by inhalation.

Distillation

Hydrodistillation. (Water vapour)

The resin (Bosweilla sacra) is rich in essential oil, it contains in proportion 5% to 10%. It is a volatile, aromatic and concentrated liquid obtained from the resin collected in the Dhofar. The extraction method is made by hydro-distillation. (Water steam). It is the main and traditional way of extracting essential oil.
A clean, natural method, but this technique quickly shows its limits when we want to extract "fragile" molecules that will not withstand high temperatures.

Boswellia sacra essential oil is mainly composed of monoterpenes: (α-pinene, α-thujene, limonene). 32 - 32A However, certain elements such as, for example, triterpenes (such as the boswellic acids 32b known 32B for their anti-cancer action) would be too heavy to be assimilated by hydro-distillation at a high temperature. Nevertheless, the debate remains open... 33 - 34 - 34a

In general, when boswellic acids are present in frankincense essential oil, this implies that another method is used: CO2 extraction 35 . This method has a high cost, but does not distort the components of the plant, because they are heated to moderate temperature. Plant extracts are very pure, delicate and precious, CO2 extracts are very appreciated in perfumery, and in particular in luxury perfumery.

others products

  • Accelerates blood circulation, warms the outskirts of hands and feet
  • Anti fungal and anti skin inflammatory
  • Helps keep away sputum, and hleps the respiratory system and any breathings problems
  • Strenghtens hair and keeps dandruff away
  • Used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
  • Pain reliever and relaxer and hleps against memory loss
  • Used in perfumes as a scent enhancer
  • Use it for coffe, tea and milk
Therapeutic properties mentioned in the Frankincense museum in Salalah. (Dhofar)
Frankincense oil
  • In diabetic cases, helps in dropping down the level of blood sugar
  • Accelerates blood circulation, eases spasm & may be also be used as urine & intestine parasitoids 30A
  • Regulates the function of the digestion system, recovers intestine gases &eases digestion
  • It's an expetorant, used for asthma, bronchitis diseases as well as in the reatment of croup coughing
  • It has characterristics of a pain reliever & relaxer
  • It can be used as a gargle for tooth infections and thoat wounds

boswellia honey

Frankincense honey35b , or olibanum honey or boswellia honey, is one of the rarest honeys on earth.
The honey is produced from the nectar of incense trees, which the bees (Apis Florea bees)36b collect when they pollinate the incense flowers!

This activity does not harm the trees; in fact, it helps them to reproduce and increases genetic diversity. Therefore, the production of incense honey actively supports the health of the tree populations, while allowing us to enjoy the benefits of incense without having to harvest the trees for the resin.

Boswellia sacra has tiny yellowish-white flowers, gathered in tight auxiliary clusters consisting of five cream-coloured petals, ten stamens and a nectar disc surrounding the ovary. The nectar is sweet enough to attract local dwarf bees and other visitors. The fruit is a capsule that releases its seeds through 3 to 5 valves.

In Oman, the flowers bloom once a year, in April-May. The flowers of Boswellia sacra (Burseraceae) have a conspicuous nectary disc that changes colour from yellow to orange and red as the flower develops. Honey bees are called Nahlat, which literally translates as God's gift.

impact on health

Their honey is harvested from the mountain wadis of southern Oman. A wadi is a valley formed by drainage streams, but differs from river valleys, or gullies, in that a wadi is usually dry all year round, except after a rainfall.

Honey contains small amounts of boswellic acids, powerful anti-inflammatory molecules. And although pure frankincense essential oil mixed with honey is used successfully in alternative medicine, eating frankincense honey is not a cure. However, it is an extraordinary food that will keep your body healthy and prevent potential illness. Small amounts of a remedy will act on the principle of homeopathy and keep your body on guard.

  • Prevents infection and disease.
  • Excellent antioxidant properties.
  • Improves short and long term memory.

The land of Frankincense

Oman natural frankincense

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