The mention of Frankincense and Myrrh for many people in the Western world conjures up the thought of Christmas. Two of the three gifts presented to the infant Jesus were said to be these valuable resins - symbolic then of spirituality and healing and highly prized as incense for religious rituals and medicine. The very name of 'frankincense' meant 'pure incense' and like myrrh - whose name derives from the Arabic 'murr' meaning bitter- the resin was burned for its aromatic and cleansing properties. Frankincense and myrrh are both hardy bushes which grow in the arid regions of Arabia and East Africa - the bark of these bushes when cut oozes a resin to seal the wound and it is this hardened resin which is so valuable. It is usually broken into fragments known as 'tears'.

In many different cultures these two substances have been revered as sacred to the gods. In Ancient Egypt, frankincense was regarded as sacred to the sun god and in Babylon it was burned at the altar in the temple of Baal. The smoke from the burning resin was thought to symbolise the link between mortals and the gods and it is from the Latin per fumum, 'through smoke' that our word 'perfume' derives. 

The Chinese, Egyptians and Indian healers used incense to drive out evil spirits and to cleanse and calm both body and soul. Similarly today, aromatherapists use the essential oil derived from these same resins to cleanse the body of infection and to instil a feeling of serenity and balance. Frankincense oil can help soothe respiratory infections of all kinds and is beneficial for asthmatics as breathing the aroma helps slow and deepen the breathing. Myrrh, which in ancient times was carried as a paste to apply to wounds, can be used to heal cuts and sores. A drop of myrrh essential oil applied to the gauze of plaster can accelerate the healing process as I have found myself. Do not apply the oil directly to the skin. Tincture of myrrh (not the essential oil but a herbal tincture) can be used to heal mouth ulcers and is one of the best natural cures for this problem.