"...they presented unto him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11.
The three wise men presented gifts to Jesus in the story of his birth in the Bible. To get into the holiday spirit, MI decided to focus on the two lesser known gifts of the three- frankincense and myrrh.
Frankincense is a dried resin used in perfumes, aromatherapy, and religious celebrations. The essential oil is created from steam distillation of the resin. It is harvested from the boswellia sacra tree that is predominantly found in Yemen and Somalia. The tree's bark is slashed and the sap that bleeds from the cut bark is dried to create frankincense. Quality is determined by size, color, harvest location, age, and shape. Traditionally it was used to mask the smell of corpses at funerals. The Egyptians used it to create eyeliner from the charred resin called kohl. Today, it is used medicinally to treat ailments like leprosy, inflammatory diseases, and depression. There is even research that shows frankincense may be effective in cancer treatments.
Myrrh is created in the same manner as frankincense. The dired resin from the cammiphora myrrha tree found in Yemen, Somalia, and Ethiopia. It is used in religious rituals, specifically in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgical ceremonies. The essential oil is created from steam distillation and is also used medicinally for stomach, gum, and respiratory issues.
This post is to serve as a little historical lesson in how essential oils are used throughout the years. Also, since Epiphany just passed last week, which is the celebration of the visit of the three wise men, it seems appropriate to show how essential oils have been of value throughout the ages.
Gjithe te Mirat,
"All the best"
MI
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