Frankincense

==Uses==
[[File:Dabqaad.jpg|thumb|Frankincense is often prepared inside a [[censer]], such as the [[Sepiolite|meerschaum]] ''[[dabqaad]]'' traditionally used in Horn of Africa.]]
The Egyptians cleansed body cavities in the [[Mummy|mummification]] process with frankincense and [[natron]]. In [[Iranian traditional medicine|Persian medicine]], it is used for diabetes, gastritis and stomach ulcer.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mehrzadi S, Tavakolifar B, Huseini HF, Mosavat SH, Heydari M | title = The Effects of Boswellia serrata Gum Resin on the Blood Glucose and Lipid Profile of Diabetic Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial | journal = Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine | volume = 23 | pages = 2515690X18772728 | year = 2018 | pmid = 29774768 | pmc = 5960856 | doi = 10.1177/2515690X18772728 }}</ref> The oil is used in [[Abrahamic religions]] to cleanse a house or building of bad or evil energy—including used in exorcisms and to bless one's being (like the [[bakhoor]] commonly found in [[Persian Gulf]] cultures by spreading the fumes towards the body).

The [[incense offering]] occupied a prominent position in the sacrificial legislation of the ancient Hebrews.<ref>''The Jewish Encyclopedia'', vol. VI, Funk and Wagnalls Company: New York 1904, p. 568</ref> The [[Book of Exodus]] (30:34–38) prescribes frankincense, blended with equal amounts of three aromatic spices, to be ground and burnt in the sacred altar before the [[Ark of the Covenant]] in the wilderness [[Tabernacle]], where it was meant to be a holy offering—not to be enjoyed for its fragrance. Scholars have identified frankincense as what the [[Book of Jeremiah]] (6:20) relates was imported from [[Sheba]] during the 6th century BC [[Babylonian captivity]].<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Bower A |author-link=Archibald Bower |title=An Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time to the Present; Compiled from Original Authors and Illustrated with Maps, Cuts, Notes, Chronological and other Tables (part i) |volume=16 |date=1734–1747 |location=London|page=257 |url=https://archive.org/details/AnUniversalHistoryFOLIOEDITION1734}}</ref> Frankincense is mentioned in the [[New Testament]] as one of the three gifts (with [[gold]] and [[myrrh]]) that the [[Biblical Magi|magi]] "from the East" presented to the [[Christ Child]] ({{Bibleverse||Matthew|2:11}}).

In [[traditional Chinese medicine]], frankincense ({{lang-zh|乳香}} {{transliteration|zh|rǔ xiāng}}) along with myrrh ({{lang|zh|沒藥}} {{transliteration|zh|mò yào}}) are considered to have anti-bacterial properties and blood-moving uses.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} It can be used topically or orally, also used in surgical and internal medicine of traditional Chinese medicine. It is used to relieve pain, remove blood stasis, promote blood circulation and treat deafness, stroke, locked jaw, and abnormalities in women's [[menstruation]].

===Essential oil===
[[File:FrankinsenceEssOil.png|thumb|Frankincense (''Boswellia carteri'') [[essential oil]]]]
The [[essential oil]] of frankincense is produced by [[steam distillation]] of the tree resin. The oil's chemical components are 75% [[monoterpene]]s, [[sesquiterpene]]s, and [[ketone]]s. Contrary to some commercial claims, steam distilled frankincense oils do not contain the insufficiently volatile boswellic acids (triterpenoids), although they may be present in solvent extractions. The chemistry of the essential oil is mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, such as alpha-pinene, Limonene, alpha-Thujene, and beta-Pinene with small amounts of [[terpenoid|diterpenoid]] components being the upper limit in terms of molecular weight.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Verghese J, Joy MT, Retamar JA, Malinskas GG, Catalan CA, Gros EG |year=1987 |title=A Fresh Look at the Constituents of Indian Olibanum Oil |journal=Flavour Fragr. J. |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=99–102 |doi=10.1002/ffj.2730020304  }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hayashi S, Amemori H, Kameoka H, Hanafusa M, Furukawa K |year=1998 |title=Comparison of Volatile Compounds from Olibanum from Various Countries |journal=J. Essent. Oil Res. |volume=10 |pages=25–30 |doi=10.1080/10412905.1998.9700833}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Basar S, Koch A, König WA | title = A verticillane-type diterpene from Boswellia carterii essential oil. | journal = Flavour and Fragrance Journal | date = September 2001 | volume = 16 | issue = 5 | pages = 315–8 | doi = 10.1002/ffj.992 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Frank A, Unger M | title = Analysis of frankincense from various Boswellia species with inhibitory activity on human drug metabolising cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry after automated on-line extraction | journal = Journal of Chromatography A | volume = 1112 | issue = 1–2 | pages = 255–62 | date = April 2006 | pmid = 16364338 | doi = 10.1016/j.chroma.2005.11.116 }}</ref>

Essential oils can be diluted and applied to skin or the fragrance can be inhaled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Health Benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil |url=https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-frankincense-essential-oil |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=WebMD |language=en}}</ref>