Frankincense essential oil benefits
It’s (unfortunately not) a surprise that Frankincense isn’t used in the modern medicine for it’s thoroughly demonstrated anti-cancer properties. One animal study even found it worked better at killing cancer than chemotherapy!(1)
It’s benefits however stretch a lot further than being an anticarcinogen. Sourced by tapping the Boswellia carter or Boswellia sacara tree for it’s resin, it’s potent anti-inflammatory qualities are used internally to treat chronic inflammation, but also externally to relieve inflammation of the skin(2)(3), such as eczema(4), psoriasis and rosacea. Frankincense also reduces pores size, prevents and reduces wrinkles and acne blemishes, scarring, pigmentation and stretch marks, as well as lifting and tightening the skin, thanks to it’s antimicrobial and astringent abilities. One study shows “significant improvements’ in photoaging, roughness, fine lines and elasticity of the skin with no adverse side affects(5).
It is used in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety and depression, as it's been shown to reduce stress reactions and negative emotions by reducing heart rate and blood pressure. The oil can be absorbed through the skin to transmit messages to the limbic system of the brain, which deals with emotional and psychological responses.
(1) https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-9-6
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26721216
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24725029
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17291738
(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20136919
