Beyond Diffusing: Interesting Uses of Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is one of the most popular and loved essential oils. It’s often referred to as the “king of oils” for a number of reasons – starting from its health benefits – all the way to its uplifting mood use that people around the world enjoy and appreciate. If you are looking for a new essential oil to add to your collection, consider frankincense essential oil.
Where Does Frankincense Essential Oil Come From?
Frankincense oil comes from the Boswellia tree, native to the Middle East, India, and some regions of Africa. The Boswellia trees are relatively small with abundant narrow leaves and pale pink or white flowers. They produce a resin, which is collected by cutting the tree and allowing it to exude and dry before being collected and steam distilled to produce the essential oil.
What Are the Benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil
One of the main reasons that frankincense essential oil is so beloved is because it has been used for so long. It was not only referenced in the Bible as one of the three gifts the Three Wise Men brought to Jesus but it has also played an important role in religious and domestic life in many ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Greek, Persia, Babylon, Roman and Hebrew.
Nowadays, frankincense essential oils are extensively used in aromatherapy. They’re praised for their ability to rejuvenate the skin and are applied topically to promote cellular health and immunity and produce a healthy inflammatory response when taken internally. The essence of this oil stimulates feelings of peace, relaxation and satisfaction, which explains its unique value in ancient times. Aside from these benefits, frankincense essential oil has many other uses that many don’t know about.
Pet Flea Treatment
Having to deal with flea infestations is one of the challenges pet owners face. While there are many ways to treat fleas on cats and dogs, many find essential oils one of the best ways to get rid of these nasty pests. Essential oils have the power to kill flea in their different cycles as well as prevent infestation by repelling the bugs with their natural fragrances.
One of the most effective essential oils to help deal with fleas are frankincense. Its fragrance helps repel bugs and its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects help soothe irritated skin. To reap most of its benefits, choose a 100% naturally-formulated frankincense essential oil. Aside from being safer for your pet, pure essential oils also have a stronger concentration, which means a little goes a long way. Keep in mind that essential oils are too strong to be applied directly to the skin – the same goes for pets. So, make sure to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil before applying it to your pet.
A Natural Bug Repellent
Forget about dangerous bug sprays! Frankincense essence is also effective at keeping insects away. Burning it helps to keep mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects aways. The Egyptians used to fumigate wheat silos and repel wheat moss with frankincense oil. Properly diluted with carrier oils, it can also be applied directly to the skin.
Powerful Anti-Aging Ingredient
Frankincense is a powerful anti-oxidant. As you may know, anti-oxidants help to combat free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules that accelerate the aging process. They help to slow down and halt the damage caused by free radicals, which in turn, helps with the rejuvenation of the skin.
Prevents Dandruff
Frankincense oils are not only beneficial for the skin, but for hair too. The oil is a great ally to help keep hair shiny and moisturized, and even prevent dandruff. Frankincense fight off dandruff by preventing the scalp from getting dry and flakey. It also helps soothe hair follicles, which in turn, facilitate hair growth at the root.
Maintains Oral Health
Due to its antibacterial nature, frankincense can even help maintain good oral health. The boswellic acids present in the oil has been shown to help prevent cavity formation by killing bacterial. It can even help ward off toothaches and gum disease. Research has reported frankincense oils to be more effective than the placebo at managing gingivitis. Thanks to its natural astringent properties, it can help to heal mouth sores associated with poor oral health.
When buying frankincense oils, it’s extremely important that you read the label of the product first. In order to get pure oil, you need to read the ingredient list to find out what it includes. Some bottles could be a blend of frankincense with other oils such as myrrh, so it’s always best to double-check.
When exposed to sunlight and plastic, essential oils may lose their properties. So, for long-lasting use, choose essential oils that come in dark blue or amber glass containers. Store the oil at room temperature and away from warm areas.
