Spiritual Meaning Of Frankincense

Spiritual meaning of frankincense: Frankincense, also called olibanum or oliban, is a resin used in incense and perfumes. This aromatic resin is often used as an ingredient for incense-making, either by itself or mixed with other fragrant substances such as myrrh and balsams. Check out the frankincense spiritual benefits and  the spiritual meaning of smelling frankincense.

Frankincense is a common word used as a name for trees or shrubs of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. The word Frankincense is derived from Old French franc encens and Latin, meaning all-European or best incense to mean the resin extracted from trees of the genus Boswellia. It can be used in perfumes, soaps, skin care products and oils as well as an incense to be burned on special occasions. Nowadays, you can find frankincense being used as a smoking cessation agent and herbal remedy as it is known to bring great results.

For centuries, the aromatic resin of frankincense has been revered not only for its earthly fragrance but also for its profound spiritual significance. Prized by ancient civilizations and mentioned in sacred texts, frankincense holds a revered place in various spiritual practices. In this blog post, we explore the spiritual benefits of frankincense, delving into its historical roots and its transformative impact on the spiritual journey.

Frankincense: Tapping into the Spiritual Tapestry of Ancient Wisdom

Historical Roots:
Frankincense, derived from the Boswellia tree, has a rich history intertwined with ancient civilizations. It was a precious offering in religious ceremonies, symbolizing purification, spiritual elevation, and connection to the divine. From ancient Egyptian rituals to biblical narratives, frankincense has left an indelible mark on the spiritual landscape of human history.

Spiritual Significance:

1. Purification of Spaces: In many spiritual traditions, burning frankincense is believed to purify the surroundings, creating a sacred space for prayer, meditation, and spiritual practices. The fragrant smoke is thought to dispel negative energies and invite a sense of tranquility.
2. Enhancing Meditation and Prayer: The use of frankincense is often associated with enhancing the depth of meditation and prayer. Its aroma is believed to facilitate a connection between the earthly and the divine, allowing individuals to enter a state of heightened spiritual awareness.
3. Symbol of Devotion: In religious ceremonies, the offering of frankincense is a symbolic gesture of devotion and reverence. The act of burning this resin is seen as an offering to the divine, a tangible expression of one’s spiritual commitment.
4. Calming the Mind: The soothing fragrance of frankincense has been linked to calming the mind and reducing stress. This calming effect creates an environment conducive to introspection and spiritual contemplation.

Incorporating Frankincense into Spiritual Practices:

1. Burning Frankincense Resin: Utilize a charcoal burner or incense holder to burn frankincense resin. As the smoke rises, allow yourself to enter a meditative state, focusing on your spiritual intentions.
2. Essential Oil Diffusion: Frankincense essential oil can be diffused to infuse your living spaces with its spiritual essence. This method is convenient for those who prefer a subtler way to experience the benefits of frankincense.
3. Prayer and Reflection: Incorporate frankincense into your prayer or meditation routine. As you engage in spiritual practices, allow the aroma to envelop you, creating a sacred and intentional atmosphere.

Frankincense Spiritual Benefits

Frankincense is a sacred tree that has been used for thousands of years in spiritual ceremonies. It is associated with divinity, purification, and healing.

The word frankincense means “the content of a free man.” The word comes from the Latin ‘francus’ meaning free and ‘incensum’ meaning incense. This name refers to the fact that frankincense was so valuable that it was only available to those who could afford it.

When burned, frankincense releases a sweet aroma that brings comfort and joy to all who smell it. In ancient times, this aroma was thought to help cleanse the body of negative energy and toxins.

In addition to its use as an incense during religious ceremonies, frankincense has also been used in medicine since ancient times. It is often taken internally as an anti-inflammatory agent or used externally as an antiseptic cream or salve on cuts or wounds.

Frankincense is a fragrant, resinous substance that comes from trees. People have been using frankincense in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years.

Frankincense has a number of uses in spiritual practices. It can be burned as incense or used as an oil to anoint candles and statues. Frankincense can also be mixed with other substances like wine or honey to create a sacramental drink called “ciborium.” The smoke from burning frankincense is said to purify the air and help people focus on spiritual matters during meditation.

spiritual meaning of frankincense

Frankincense is the gum or resin of the Boswellia tree, used for making perfume and incense. It was one of the ingredients God instructed the Israelites to use in making the pure and sacred incense blend for the most holy place in the tabernacle.

Frankincense

• Frankincense was a precious spice with great significance and worth in ancient times.
• The fragrant gum resin obtained from balsam trees (Boswellia) can be ground into a powder and burned to produce a balsam-like odor.
• Frankincense was a key part of worship in the Old Testament and a costly gift brought to the baby Jesus.

The Hebrew word for frankincense is labonah, which means “white,” referring to the gum’s color. The English word frankincense comes from a French expression meaning “free incense” or “free burning.” It’s also known as gum olibanum.

Frankincense in the Bible

Frankincense was a key part of the sacrifices to Yahweh in Old Testament worship. In Exodus, the Lord said to Moses:

“Gather fragrant spices—resin droplets, mollusk shell, and galbanum—and mix these fragrant spices with pure frankincense, weighed out in equal amounts. Using the usual techniques of the incense maker, blend the spices together and sprinkle them with salt to produce a pure and holy incense. Grind some of the mixture into a very fine powder and put it in front of the Ark of the Covenant, where I will meet with you in the Tabernacle. You must treat this incense as most holy. Never use this formula to make this incense for yourselves. It is reserved for the Lord, and you must treat it as holy. Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community.”  (Exodus 30:34–38, NLT)

Wise men, or magi, visited Jesus Christ in Bethlehem when he was a year or two old. The event is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, which also tells of their gifts:

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11, KJV)

Only the book of Matthew records this episode of the Christmas story. For the young Jesus, this gift symbolized his divinity or his status as high priest. Since his ascension to heaven, Christ serves as high priest for believers, interceding for them with God the Father.

In the Bible, Frankincense is often associated with myrrh, another expensive spice that features prominently in Scripture (Song of Solomon 3:6; Matthew 2:11).

A Costly Gift Fit for a King

Frankincense was a very expensive substance because it was collected in remote parts of Arabia, North Africa, and India and had to be transported long distances by caravan. Balsam trees from which Frankincense is obtained, are related to turpentine trees. The species has star-shaped flowers that are pure white or green, tipped with rose. In ancient times, the harvester scraped a 5-inch long cut on the trunk of this evergreen tree, which grew near limestone rocks in the desert.

Gathering frankincense resin was a time-consuming process. Over a period of two or three months, the sap would leak from the tree and harden into white “tears.” The harvester would return and scrape the crystals off, and also collect the less pure resin that had dripped down the trunk onto a palm leaf placed on the ground. The hardened gum might be distilled to extract its aromatic oil for perfume, or crushed and burned as incense.

Frankincense was widely used by the ancient Egyptians in their religious rituals. Small traces of it have been found on mummies. The Jews may have learned how to prepare it while they were slaves in Egypt before the Exodus. Detailed instructions on how to properly use frankincense in sacrifices can be found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

The mixture included equal parts of the sweet spices stacte, onycha, and galbanum, mixed with pure frankincense and seasoned with salt (Exodus 30:34). By God’s command, if anyone used this compound as personal perfume, they were to be cut off from their people.

Incense is still used in some rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Its smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven.

spiritual meaning of smelling frankincense

Today, frankincense is a popular essential oil (sometimes called olibanum). It is believed to ease stress, improve heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, boost immune function, relieve pain, treat dry skin, reverse the signs of aging, fight cancer, as well many other health benefits.

Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is made from the resin of the Boswellia tree. This tree typically grows in the dry, mountainous regions of India, Africa, and the Middle East.

Frankincense has a woody, spicy smell and can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or taken as a supplement.

Used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, frankincense appears to offer certain health benefits, from improved arthritis and digestion to reduced asthma and better oral health. It may even help fight certain types of cancer.

Here are 5 science-backed benefits of frankincense — as well as 7 myths. Frankincense/Shutterstock

1. May reduce arthritis

Frankincense has anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce joint inflammation caused by arthritis.

Researchers believe that frankincense can prevent the release of leukotrienes, which are compounds that can cause inflammation (1Trusted Source, 2).

Terpenes, including boswellic acid, appear to be the strongest anti-inflammatory compounds in frankincense (3, 4).

In one 2014 study, both oral and topical boswellic acid reduced cartilage loss and joint lining inflammation in osteoarthritis in mice (5).

In humans, frankincense extract may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (6Trusted Source, 2).

In one 2018 review, frankincense was consistently more effective than a placebo at reducing osteoarthritis pain and improving mobility (7).

However, the review noted that the quality of most studies was low and more research is needed.

In a subsequent study, participants took 169.33 mg of boswellia extract twice daily for 120 days. Results indicated that the supplement reduced inflammation, joint pain, and stiffness in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, without serious side effects (8Trusted Source).

Another study found that oliban oil, another name for frankincense, reduced osteoarthritis pain when applied to the skin for 6 weeks. However, participants’ ability to do daily activities or participate in sports didn’t show significant improvements (9).

Combinations of frankincense with other supplements may also be effective.

A 2018 study found that 350 mg curcuminoid and 150 mg boswellic acid supplement taken 3 times per day for 12 weeks was associated with reduced osteoarthritis pain. The combination was more effective than curcumin on its own or a placebo (10Trusted Source).

Similarly, taking a combination of 5 g of methylsulfonylmethane and 7.2 mg of boswellic acids daily for 60 days was more effective at improving pain and function than taking glucosamine sulfate, a standard supplement for osteoarthritis (11).

For rheumatoid arthritis, researchers induced arthritis in rats then treated them with 180 mg/kg of boswellia extract. They found that frankincense reduced inflammation but wasn’t as effective as standard medications (12Trusted Source).

Overall, more research is needed, particularly for rheumatoid arthritis (5, 6Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

Summary

Frankincense’s anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and possibly rheumatoid arthritis. However, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these effects.

2. May improve gut function

Frankincense’s anti-inflammatory properties may also help your gut function properly.

One 2017 study found that frankincense, in combination with other herbal medicines, reduced abdominal pain, bloating, and even associated depression and anxiety in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (14Trusted Source).

Another study also indicated that boswellia 250 mg tablets taken daily for 6 months improved symptoms in people with IBS (15).

This resin appears particularly effective at reducing symptoms of ulcerative colitis, one of the main inflammatory gut conditions.

A study found that boswellia extract taken daily for 4 weeks improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis in remission (16).

Boswellia extract also had anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in rats with colitis (17Trusted Source).

However, most studies were small or not done in people. Therefore, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.

Summary

Frankincense may help reduce symptoms of IBS and and ulcerative colitis by reducing inflammation in your gut. However, more research is needed.

3. Improves asthma

Traditional medicine has used frankincense to treat bronchitis and asthma for centuries.

Research suggests that its compounds may prevent the production of leukotrienes, which cause the bronchial muscles to constrict in asthma (18).

Frankincense may also affect Th2 cytokines, which can cause inflammation and mucus overproduction in people with asthma (19Trusted Source).

In one small study, people who took a daily supplement of 500 mg boswellia extract in addition to their standard asthma treatment were able to take fewer inhalations of their regular medications during the 4-week study (18).

Additionally, when researchers gave people 200 mg of a supplement made from frankincense and the South Asian fruit bael (Aegle marmelos), they found that the supplement was more effective than a placebo at reducing asthma symptoms (20Trusted Source).

In another study, asthma symptoms in mice improved with boswellic acid, a component of frankincense resin (21).

Summary

Frankincense may help relieve asthma symptoms and reduce the amount of asthma medication needed. Larger studies should be done to confirm these results.

4. Maintains oral health

Frankincense may help improve oral hygiene and prevent gum disease.

The boswellic acids it provides appear to have strong antibacterial properties, which may help prevent and treat oral infections (4).

In one test-tube study, frankincense extract was effective against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a bacteria that causes aggressive gum disease (22Trusted Source).

In another very small study, participants chewed gum containing frankincense for 5 hours, with saliva samples indicating reduced numbers of microbes each hour (23).

The authors suggested that frankincense may decrease sources of infection in the mouth.

However, more research is needed on the effect of frankincense on oral health.

Summary

Frankincense extract may help fight gum disease and maintain oral health. However, more studies are needed.

5. May have anticancer properties

Studies show that frankincense may have anticancer effects.

Test-tube studies suggest that the boswellic acids it contains might prevent cancer cells from spreading (24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

A research review notes that boswellic acids may also prevent the formation of DNA in cancerous cells, which could help limit cancer growth (1Trusted Source).

So far, test-tube studies suggest that frankincense may fight breast, prostate, pancreatic, skin, and colon cancer cells (25Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source, 27, 28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).

It may also help reduce side effects of cancer treatment.

In one study of people being treated for brain tumors, 4,500 mg of boswellic acid extract taken each day helped reduce brain edema — an accumulation of fluid in the brain — while also lowering participants’ regular medication dose (30Trusted Source).

However, more research in humans is needed.

Summary

Compounds in frankincense may help kill cancer cells and prevent tumors from spreading. However, more human research needs to be done.

Common myths

Although frankincense is praised for multiple health benefits, not all of them are backed by science.

The 7 following claims have very little evidence behind them. Yet, while very little research exists to support these claims, very little exists to deny them, either.

Until more studies are done, however, these claims can be considered myths:

1. Helps prevent diabetes. Some small studies report that frankincense may help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, and a recent research review also indicated that frankincense may help control diabetes. Still, other studies have found no effect, and more research is needed (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).
2. Reduces stress, anxiety and depression. Frankincense may help to lower depressive and anxious behaviors in mice and reduce stress in rats. However, more studies in humans need to be done (33, 34).
3. Prevents heart disease. Frankincense has anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce the type of inflammation common in heart disease. Some research has suggested heart protective effects from frankincense, but more studies are needed (35Trusted Source,36Trusted Source).
4. Promotes smooth skin. Frankincense oil is touted as an effective natural anti-acne and anti-wrinkle remedy. A recent study suggested that frankincense essential oil may have potential for skin care, but little other research has been completed (37Trusted Source).
5. Improves memory. Studies show that large doses of frankincense may help boost memory in rats. However, more research needs to be done in humans (38Trusted Source, 39Trusted Source).
6. Balances hormones and reduces symptoms of PMS. Frankincense is said to delay menopause and reduce menstrual cramping, nausea, headaches, and mood swings. One recent study found that some essential oils increased the amount of estrogen in women’s saliva, which could be linked to reduced menopause symptoms. However, frankincense was not found to have this effect, and research is needed to confirm any benefits of frankincense on menopause (40Trusted Source).
7. Enhances fertility. Frankincense supplements may increase fertility in rats, but few studies are available

Conclusion:
Frankincense, with its rich history and spiritual significance, continues to be a bridge between the tangible and the divine. As you incorporate this precious resin into your spiritual practices, may its transformative aroma elevate your consciousness and deepen your connection to the ancient wisdom it represents. Embrace the spiritual journey with frankincense as a companion, unlocking the doors to a realm where earthly and spiritual realms converge.