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Frankincense (Boswellia serrata or thurifera) has historically been traded on the Arabian Peninsula, North
Africa, and Somalia for more than 5000 years. A mural depicting sacks of
frankincense from the Land of Punt adorns the walls of the temple of the
Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut c. 1458 BCE. When burned it emits a fragrant
odor that made it a symbol of divinity, holiness and righteousness in ancient
times.
In Exodus 30:34 the Lord said to Moses: “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts to make the sacred anointing oil."
In Matthew 2:11 coming to the Bethlehem the three wise men, “saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
In Revelation 18:13 when Babylon falls the merchants will mourn because their “cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves” will no longer be sought after or bought.
The lost city of Ubar in Oman, now under archaeological excavation, was the main producer of frankincense in ancient times. The Greek historian Herodotus reported it was harvested from trees in southern Arabia who burned the gum of the styrax tree to drive away snakes that were plentiful in that region. Frankincense was a precious commodity traded throughout the Middle East and China.
A Chinese customs inspector named Zhao Rugua wrote that it came from the remotest mountains of Murbat (Maloba), Shihr (Shihe), and Dhofar (Nufa). “The tree which yields this drug may generally be compared to the pine tree. Its trunk is notched with a hatchet, upon which the resin flows out, and, when hardened, turns into incense, which is gathered and made into lumps. It is transported on elephants to the Dashi (on the coast), who then load it upon their ships to exchange it for other commodities in Sanfoqi.”
Raiding and desertification made travel on the Arabian Peninsula more difficult by the fourth century and the frankincense trade dried up until reintroduced by the Frankish Crusaders who gave it the English name Frank incense. It was used to treat colic and intestinal gas and to prevent dry skin. Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Islamic faith traditions all use frankincense mixed with oils to anoint newborn infants, initiates and members entering into new phases of their spiritual lives.
Frankincense is used today in the perfume, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
In Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, the main ingredient in
the incense used to purify the objects and raise the prayers of faithful to
heaven vary is frankincense. Parishes may also use myrrh and other ingredients
such as balsam or storax to perfume the incense. Formulations outside of
Catholic tradition may be used if the pastor chooses.
Boswellia frereana from Somalia is typically traded in Saudia
Arabia and exported for use in Coptic churches around the world. The most
commonly used frankincense in the Roman Catholic Church today are Boswellia
sacra from Oman, Yemen and Somalia, Boswellia papyrifera from Ethiopia, Eritrea
and the Sudan or Boswellia serrata from India, Pakistan and Palestine.
Boswellia thurifera or serrata has been
used in India for hundreds of years for the treatment of arthritis. Extracts have been
clinically studied for osteoarthritis and joint function, particularly for
osteoarthritis of the knee, with the research showing a slight improvement of
both pain and function compared to a placebo. Positive effects of
Boswellia in some chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis,
bronchial asthma, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have
also been reported, and it is being studied as a promising alternative to other
pain relievers.
