The medical properties of traditional frankincense

The medical properties of traditional frankincense

We use medicinal plants in a variety of ways. We drink you (infusion, decoction, flower essence, alcohol tincture, glycerin tincture, syrup, honey extract, oxymel), eat (capsule, tablet, homeopathic pills, electric, kitchen spices, vegetables, pot herbs), take your skin (ointment, lotion, wrap, mask, oil, ointment, balm, cream, cream, cream, cream, cream, Compress, steam frame, essential oils, ear drops, bathroom, soak, sitting pool), take over our mucous membranes (suppositories, sinus flushing), enema, shower, eye drops) and use them in a spiritual way (talisman, amulette, medicine bundle, stains, incense). We also inhale your medicine through cigarettes, whistles, vapors, diffusers for essential oils, atomizers and, yes, frankincense.

The medical effect of frankincense depends on our sense of smell. The process occurs when molecules hike up the sinuses, dissolve in the mucous membrane and are recognized by the odor receptors at the tips of the olfactory sensory neurons. How these molecules are perceived is controversial whether the neurons perceive the vibration of the molecules or their shape, with the theory between the two ideas over the centuries. In any case, our sense of smell is very weak compared to other animals. For example, people have 10 cm² of smell in their sinuses, while dogs can have up to 170 square centimeters of smell tissue with a hundred times more receptors per square centimeter. Smell is the only sense that is perceived in the right half of the brain, the side of the brain, which is geared towards intuition and imagination, in contrast to the left brain, which is geared towards analyzes and logic. For this reason, the effects of the smell are physically, psychoactive and emotional. Interestingly, fragrance is considered the spirit of the plant and thus influences our spirit. Smell is also processed by the limbic system, which deals with emotions, desire, hunger, memory and imagination. Therefore, smell can trigger emotions and memories. Smell is also our oldest sense, part of the original "lizard brain", which is 450 million years old and is preceded by other old senses such as seeing and balance.

There are records of the use of frankincense throughout the ancient world. The oldest documented use can be found in Egypt, although in antiquity it was also used extensively in other African countries, Arabia, India, America and Europe. The old incense road transported frankincense from southern Arabia on camel caravans to the north to the Mediterranean and to Europe and east to Mesopotamia and India. The spice Trade of past centuries brought aromatic plants across the Red Sea and the Monsunwinde between Europe and the islands of Indonesia. The silk road brought the use of frankincense together with Buddhism from India via China and further to Japan (Ikibana), tea ceremony (sado) and the Japanese lyre (Koto). Formal frankincense schools were founded in Japan's EDO era 1603-1867, although the frankincense ceremony in the 19th. Fortunately, the craft and ceremony of incense were revived in Japan in the 1920s by the descendants of the masters of the Koh-Do ("incense"), and in the 1960s, frankincense schools began to offer courses.

synthetic frankincense differ in its composition significantly from natural frankincense. Synthetic frankincense is usually with a binder, usually starch, a bamboo seed that creates plenty of smoke and adds the smell of burning bamboo, and a ignition source such as charcoal, sodium nitrate, paraffin or a molarger solemn. The paraffin and petroleum solutions are particularly harmful because they are neurotoxic and can cause the inhalation of their smoke asthma, skin reactions, nausea, dizziness, sneezing and headache. The smoke also irritates eyes, nose and throat. Synthetic incense typically also contains synthetic flavors, 95 % of which come from oil and cause the same symptoms. These synthetic flavors are preferred by certain manufacturers because they are more cost -effective and consistent, can be used to generate new scents that are not found in nature, and are an ethical replacement for ingredients of endangered species such as musk, AMBRA and ZiBet. However, synthetic flavors are not identical to natural scents in their complexity, so that they can smell artificially. In addition, they do not have the same physical, emotional and psychoactive properties such as natural fragrances and have the above -mentioned adverse effects. Unfortunately, there are no legal restrictions on the quantities or combinations of synthetic fragrances, the ingredients of these synthetic aromas do not have to be listed and only a fraction of it has been checked for safety.

natural incense sticks, on the other hand, are usually 100 % vegetable. In Japan, natural frankincense is made on the basis of Makko, also known as Tabu NO KI. This is a water -soluble, adhering, odorless substance that burns smoothly and evenly. It is the powdered inner bark of Cercidiphyllum Japonicum (Katsura-Baum, Japanese Judasbaum), an evergreen plant from the family of magnolia, and acts both as a natural binder and as an ignition source. It is interesting that the magnolia family is the most primitive of all angiosperms (flowering plants), evergreen, but with leaves, and the flowers form cones similar to those of conifers. The fossil stock of these plants goes back to 100 million years! Other examples of plants in this family are cinnamon, cassia, laurel, champa, nutmeg, nutmeg blossom, star anise, ylang-ylang, camphor, avocado, mountain orbeer, Rhododendron and magnolia. In India, the traditional basis for incense sticks Halmaddi, the resin of the tree of the sky, which has an unusual hygroscopic property (it pulls water out of the air), which feels damp. Hamaddi In combination with honey, the sweet honey-vanilla note contributes to Champa incense sticks (spice mixture). The base of Makko and Hamaddi are ground and powdered herbs such as resins, bark, flowers, seeds, roots, leaves, fruits, branches, rhizomes, onions, wood, lichen, algae and animal ingredients such as ambra, musk animals, and mussel shells.

incense is used for many different reasons, especially for medical, ambient and spiritual applications. Medical applications include the increase in energy, the treatment and prevention of diseases (fence), induction and promotion of a relaxing sleep, the stimulation of libido, the increase in positive emotions and the reduction of fear, stress, fear, concern, sadness or anger. It is also used for the ambience to clarify and/or define a space, to cause a certain mood in a group to give rooms, clothing, hair or stationery in order to cover unpleasant smells to stimulate creativity or to learn to sharpen the focus. Historically, it was even used in front of mechanical watches to follow the course of time during meditation, meetings or in the Geisha-Haus. The spiritual uses of frankincense are diverse. For prayer, the frankincense is seen as a way to put on and enjoy the gods to sweeten their prayers, and the rising smoke should carry both prayers and the spirit of the deceased in heaven. Incense is also used spiritually to cause meditative conditions, dreams and visions and to help with prayer to concentrate. It can even improve acoustics in churches and other large rooms and help to accept messages from plants. It cleans and sanctifies space, people and ceremonial objects and sells evil spirits, insect pests, diseases and negative energy. It is used extensively to mark celebrations and transition rites and is burned as a victim. Finally it is used to cover the smell of cremation and animal sacrifices.

incense come from all parts of the plant and have a variety of effects: bark, flowering, fruit, sheet, resin, seeds and wood. Cinnamon is a frequently used bark that counteracts exhaustion, depression and weakness and tonizes and calms the nerves. Casting cloves are an example of a flower that is used (actually a flower bud) and they are considered mental stimulants. Juniper berry, a fruit, stimulates and strengthens the nerves, strengthens the mind in challenging situations and relieves anxiety, nervous tension and mental exhaustion. Eucalyptus leaves clarifies the spirit and improves concentration, while benzoe resin is soothing and uplifting, the sad and lonely consoles and acts as an antidepressant and sedative. A common frankly seeds is fennel that strengthens courage, determination and strength in the face of adversity. Sandalwood, one of the most common incense bases, has a calming and harmonizing effect, reduces stress and tension, acts antidepressant and fights fear, stress, nervous exhaustion and fear.

Finally, I would like to offer the "ten virtues of Koh". Koh is the Japanese word for frankincense and this list was by a Japanese Buddhist monk from the 16th offers a companion in the middle of loneliness, in the middle of the hustle and bustle it brings a moment of calm, if it is plentiful, you are not tired, if it is little, you are satisfied, the age does not change anything in its effectiveness and does not harm every day.