Meet Frankincense, derived from the gummy sap that oozes out of an unassuming little tree found sunbathing in the dry, mountainous regions of India, Africa and the Middle East: the Boswellia tree.
When the sap (A.K.A resin) hardens on the outside of the tree, it becomes a tasty chewing gum that is often scraped off and enjoyed by the locals… with it’s antisceptic properties helping to maintain oral health!
Frankincense has a long history, dating back thousands of years. It was hot property in Egyptian times, traded for its multiple uses from make-up to incense to it’s vast medical uses.
The ancient Greeks and Romans started documenting it’s antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, prescribing it for everything from indigestion and chronic coughs to haemorrhoids and bad breath.
Frankincense made many a man rich, and was so valuable that at the time of Jesus’ birth it may have been worth more in its weight than gold!
In more recent times, Frankincense has been investigated as a possible treatment in several medical conditions. Most importantly for us here at Soothe Natural Pain relief, it has been highly researched for it’s pain relief properties – hooray!
Studies have shown that frankincense extracts {boswellic acids) may be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and may reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis .(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15829470/)
The reason for this is because of their effects on leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammatory chemicals released by the body. The Boswelic acids in Frankincense inhibit the production of leukotrienes, thereby reducing inflammation. Pretty cool huh?
In one recent study, boswellia helped reduce morning stiffness and the amount of NSAID medication needed in people with rheumatoid arthritis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23194870/)
All in all, Frankincense is just a little bit special! Which is why it is one of the ingredients found in Soothe 4 Action Arnica Cream…. We just love it and think everyone with musculoskeletal pain should have access to products containing frankincense!
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