Frankincense
Profile
| Latin Name | Boswellia carterii |
| Chinese Name | Ru Xiang |
| Family | Berseraceae |
| Note | Base |
| Aroma | <Strong> Balsamic |
| Color | Clear to Yellow Brown |
| Parts Distilled | Gum resin / milky-white oleoresin |
| Regions | Africa, Arabia, Iran, Lebanon |
| Taste | Spicy, Bitter |
| Nature | Slightly Cooling (drying) |
| Affinity | HT, KD, LU |
| Major Chemical Constituents | Monoterpenes (pinene, dipentene ~40%) |
| Skin Type | Mature |
| Dosage | 8% dilution |
Used as a fixative in blends (see Fixatives).
TCM Categories
Functions
- Relaxes the diaphragm to promote circulation of Lung qi for deep breathing (e.g., asthma, bronchitis)
- Invigorates blood and calm the shen-spirit (e.g., anxiety, irritability, agitation, insomnia, worry, and depression)
- Clears heat in the Lungs (coughing, wheezing), Stomach (e.g., ulcers, fibrocystic breast), and Kidneys (cystitis)
- Reduce swelling and treats non-healing wounds, ulcers, and scars
Indications
Topical Applications
- Apply direct to scar tissue to promote healing and regeneration of new cells.
Other Applications
- Add 5 drops of Frankincense and 5 drops of Neroli to bath water for anxiety and depression.
Specific Protocols
- 6% dilution of Frankincense (40%), Eucalyptus citriodora (40%), and Helichrysum/Everlast (20%) for Lung Heat and Lung Luo Vessel.
Actions
- Expectorant (dries up phlegm)
- Vulnerary (used in the healing of wounds)
- Sedative
Contraindications & Cautions
- Not Used During Pregnancy
- Not for Pre-Pubescent Children
Notes
- Reduces Brain edema
- Strong affinity to the lungs, freeing from sadness
- Increases anxiety in some people by over invigorating the blood
- For wounds and injuries, generates flesh
- Luo Lung
- Helps the transition from survival mode to interaction mode
- Ritual, prayer, meditation
- To cultivate the mind that can accommodate all experiences
- Promotes Heart kidney communication by relaxing the diaphragm
- With sandalwood for HT KD communication
- The possibility of liberation, freeing someone from things they are hanging on to
- Can stir up uncomfortable things for people (invigorates blood); sandalwood can help with that
- Helps to bring perspective
Additional Comments
- Frankincense is a strong antioxidant oil and can be used as a fixative to prevent rancidity
From Class
- Benzoin or frankincense: Oil that resonates with BL-15 Xinshu; apply a drop on the point. (Yuen)
- Frankincense: Resin that penetrates deeply to heal emotional wounds; invites other spirits in to take the dying person home. (Lewis)
- Frankincense (Ru Xiang) and myrrh (Mo Yao): For dying people who can't let go/rigid — moving blood; can be blended. (Yuen)
- Luo oils: myrrh/frankincense for fullness, parsley for emptiness: For latency/empty luo combine parsley with hyssop and apply to LU-9, BL-13, GB-37, Ren-15, SP-21; luo channels give an avenue to reduce in cancer. (Yuen)
- Myrrh: Resin that addresses wounds that haven't been able to heal. (Lewis)
- Myrrh (Mo Yao) + Frankincense (Ru Xiang) over the Dai Mai: Myrrh and frankincense, base-note resins for unhealing wounds, go into fat and scar tissue; in the Yin Chen carrier over the Dai Mai they break up stubborn adipose tissue. (Yuen)
- Remission blend (ylang ylang, vanilla, vetiver, frankincense, violet): Ylang ylang (~60%) nourishes yin and relaxes the liver; vanilla (~20%) tonifies spleen/stomach; vetiver, frankincense and violet share ~20%; no top note needed when not expelling. (Yuen)