Popular Uses and Medical Treatments of Frankincense

• Publish Date: 31 - July - 2019

Research Abstract:

Since ancient times, natural resins have played a significant role in daily life and established religious rituals due to their aromatic fragrance and various medicinal effects. Frankincense is considered one of the most important of these natural resins and is the primary subject of this research. The frankincense plant (Boswellia) is a genus within the Burseraceae family, belonging to the order Sapindales. Aromatic gum resins are extracted from these plants—secreted by laticiferous ducts—through the process of incising the bark of the branches. This results in the flow of a yellow gum that solidifies under natural conditions into small granules known as frankincense. Through the study of formulations and mixtures recorded in various manuscripts and modern research, it is evident that frankincense has been utilized in numerous fields across different historical periods. It continues to be used in religious ceremonies within the Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Eastern Orthodox churches, as well as among Hindus. Furthermore, it has been employed as a fixative in cosmetic products such as perfumes, soaps, creams, and lotions, and as an oriental-scented fragrance for leading products in the perfume and cosmetic industries. Frankincense has also been used since antiquity in medicine as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and wound astringent. These applications have prompted scientists and pharmaceutical companies over the past twenty years to identify its superior varieties and study its indications to highlight its various medicinal effects and determine the components responsible for them. Therefore, this research aims to compare the most significant uses of frankincense in pharmaceutical preparations as mentioned across major ancient civilizations with its modern applications. This is achieved by identifying its medical indications, mechanisms of action, and potential side effects.

Publishers:

Mais Kataya