Frankincense is truly an amazing resin. Last week I told you what frankincense is, where it comes from, and how almost two hundred studies to date have shown that it is highly beneficial to the human body: Frankincense Benefits and Types. The next question is, of course, what are the ways to use frankincense? What methods are safe? When studies say that it removed joint pain and greatly reduced other types of inflammation, in what way was it used where it was shown to be effective? You need to know how to make frankincense extract oil, as well as how to use the powder and tears in order to use frankincense extract oil for pain, anxiety, depression, or even cancer tumor reduction.
Frankincense Extract Oil Benefits
Since I’ve already discussed this the Frankincense Benefits in greater detail, I just wanted to mention a few of them quickly here. Frankincense has been shown to reduce:
- Inflammation
- Arthritis Pain
- Asthma
- Osteoporosis
- Cancerous Tumor Growth
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Auto-Immune Diseases
That’s quite a list! How is one resin able to do so much? It mainly focuses on reducing inflammation and regulating white blood cells and T-Cells. This, in turn, impacts a number of conditions and diseases that are triggered by inflammation and a poor immune system.
Powder, Sap, Extract, or Essential Oil?
What’s better, the frankincense tears (sap), resin that has been ground into a fine powder, an extract (frankincense oil and resin extracted through light heat into an oil), or frankincense essential oil? They are all fabulous, but you will choose different forms depending on what you want to use it for and your method of use.
Reminder: Frankincense is about 65% gum (water soluble), 30% resin (alcohol soluble), and 4% essential oil (oil soluble). Boswellic Acid (the key component for cancerous tumor reduction) is found in the resin and is not volatile enough to become an essential oil. Frankincense essential oil is the one essential oil that I use almost daily, but it doesn’t contain boswellic acid. It is super valuable without it!! But you may also want to use another form in order to also utilize the gum and resin.
Caution: Frankincense powder can be taken internally, but you need to talk with a naturopathic doctor first. For example, I have read that it interferes with some medications (like blood thinners), and it shouldn’t be used in high doses within the first trimester of pregnancy. If you don’t live near a naturopathic doctor, you can often call and they will answer questions over the phone.
Starwest Botanicals has been producing fabulous products since 1975 and are 3rd party tested for purity. I’ve given links below to help you find some of the ingredients.
Frankincense Powder
I’ve bought frankincense resin powder from a few companies and have been very happy with it. It is bitter to taste if simply added to..tea, for example (though some people like it), but it is wonderful placed in capsules.
- You can buy the powder here: Frankincense Powder
- You can buy the capsules here: Capsules
- A can also get a: Handy Dandy Capsule Filling Machine
Some use 200mg per day to battle arthritis pain and other internal inflammation issues, as well as cancer.
Frankincense Tears
Sap droplets are called frankincense tears. These can also be purchased online these days: Here.
Uses:
- The Frankincense tears can be ground down to a very fresh powder and used in that way, or can be used to make an extract.
- You can carefully place a frankincense tear on a hot charcoal and use it as an incense. You don’t have to buy a burner, but they also sell those. You can simply place it in a cast iron pot (it will get hot so make sure you are setting it somewhere safe, like on your cold stove). Light it, and when it is hot carefully drop a tear or place a tear with tweezers onto the coal.
- You can place one or two tears in boiling water and inhale the vapor to help with anxiety, stress, and even asthma.
Great Tips for grinding tears into powder:
- I once read a tip that frankincense resin should be frozen before grinding in an electric hand grinder to keep it from becoming a melty goopy mess. It’s true and makes the grinding a lot easier.
- It must be kept airtight after grinding, otherwise it’s like brown sugar and will absorb moisture and become like a rock.
How to Make Frankincense Extract
The purpose of an extract is to extract valuable properties of a plant so that they are more easily consumed. Since a few of Frankincense’s valuable components are not present in the essential oil, it’s great to know how to make an extract as well.
Frankincense Oil Extract
You will be able to dissolve about 40% or so of the frankincense in oil (the oil and resin). The rest will be the gum. I like an oil extraction because you can rub it all over the body.
Frankincense Extract Oil
Ingredients
- ½ cup frankincense powder
- 1 cup jojoba oil
- 3 drops rosemary essential oil
Instructions
- Combine 1 Part Frankincense powder to 2 parts jojoba oil in a jar (Jojoba often lasts longer than other oils because it’s technically a wax).
- Place in a pot of simmering water and let simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Pour through a sieve or cheese cloth, pressing with a spoon to make sure you get as much of the oil as possible. You may need to let it set for a day and pour off again, leaving sediment behind.
- Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil or pure vitamin e oil to help preserve the oil.
To Use
- Talk to your doctor, as frankincense may possibly interfere with some medications. If he or she says it is ok, I have taken this extraction with food (1tsp once a day) with success and have friends with serious joint pain who do so and have experienced great results. Otherwise, use externally on painful areas as many times as you see fit. Listen to your body.
Frankincense Alcohol Extraction
With vodka you will gain a higher percentage of yield from the Frankincense. Even the water soluble gum is extracted to a degree, making this a stronger tincture. Again, you must decide whether to make an alcohol or oil extraction based on how you want to use it – or make both.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup frankincense powder
- 1-1/4 cup 80 proof vodka
Instructions
- Combine 1 Part Frankincense powder to 5 Parts Vodka.
- Close the lid and shake. Shake once daily for 8 weeks (It can last indefinitely if you forget it for a while).
- Sift through a cheese cloth or coffee filter and it’s ready for use. You may need to let it settle for a day or so and re-sift, but I usually don’t worry about extras on the bottom.
To Use
- Talk to your doctor, as frankincense may possibly interfere with some medications. If he or she says it is ok, you may use this in tea or coffee, 1 tsp. at a time. Pay attention to your body.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Essential oils can be used neat (undiluted), but it makes sense to dilute essential oils so that the oil covers a larger area of the body and is more readily available to soak into the skin.
Evening Primrose oil is known to help reduce inflammation, but it goes bad very quickly. Keep in the refrigerator to help preserve the oil.
Frankincense Oil for Pain, Anxiety, and Asthma
Equipment
Ingredients
- 30 drops frankincense essential oil
- 15 ml evening primrose oil
Instructions
- Combine oils. Keep refrigerated.
- Apply to painful joints or apply 6-10 drops to chest to help relieve anxiety or asthma.
Use your head, share this with others, and let me know if you have any questions.
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