The “King of Essential Oils,” frankincense is one of the world’s most important and well-known natural remedies. It was one of three gifts the wise men gave to Jesus at his birth, indicating reverence for this particular oil.
Frankincense essential oil is derived from resin of the Boswellia tree.
Highly revered in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, frankincense has been used since antiquity in religious ceremonies, perfumes, and incense, as well as medicine.
In traditional medicine, frankincense was used to treat constipation, microbial infection, and chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatic disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Frankincense essential oil is known for its ability to combat fatigue. A 2018 case report concluded that frankincense provided relief from fatigue in a cancer patient. According to the report, “The topical application of the frankincense helped to take her fatigue from being barely able to lift her head to being able to do some basic activities of daily living.”
Studies have confirmed that frankincense contains numerous healing properties, including:
- Anti-cancer
- Anti-diabetic
- Anti-arthritic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Stress reducer
- Antidepressant
- Immunomodulatory
- Antimicrobial
- Anti-fungal
- Analgesic
- Neuroprotectant and memory enhancer
Because of its diverse array of healing properties, frankincense can replace several man-made medications commonly found in a modern first-aid kit.
When experiencing muscle soreness or joint pain, I reach for frankincense instead of Bengay, Aspirin, Aleve, or Motrin.
Because of its ability to reduce pain and swelling, frankincense is an effective topical treatment for muscle soreness and joint pain.
While frankincense and Bengay are both topical analgesics, frankincense is a natural plant remedy while Bengay can contain ingredients derived from fossil fuels, such as propylparaben and methylparaben.
Aspirin also contains synthetic ingredients including carnauba wax, D&C yellow No. 10 aluminum lake, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, and triacetin.
Meanwhile, Aleve and Motrin are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have well-known adverse effects such as increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding “from the first day of use,” according to a 2016 editorial in the British Journal of General Practice.
When experiencing a minor cut or scrape, I reach for frankincense instead of Neosporin.
Frankincense was used to treat infected wounds in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent remedy for minor cuts or scrapes.
According to a report in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, frankincense has “measurable antiseptic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties” and therefore is valuable for “wound dressings.”
The common man-made alternative is Neosporin, which contains petrolatum, a synthetic chemical made from fossil fuels.
When to Use Frankincense
Frankincense has been shown through scientific studies to be useful due its ability to:
- Reduce pain
- Decrease joint stiffness
- Enhance memory
- Decrease anxiety
- Elevate mood
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve sleep
- Combat skin infection
- Reduce headache
Different Forms to Choose From
The best options for a first-aid kit include undiluted frankincense essential oil and aromatherapy. Below are my favorite recipes along with common dosages.
A Word on Frankincense Quality
Avoid frankincense essential oils that state “fragrance oil” or “perfume oil” on the label. Those oils can be synthetic. Only purchase oils that are labeled “100 percent essential oil.”
When choosing an essential oil, I only purchase products that are organic, don’t contain additives or synthetic chemicals, and have been tested for heavy metals, microbes, and glyphosate.
Frankincense Used Topically
Frankincense essential oil can be applied neat (with no dilution) directly to the skin.
For sensitive skin, or if using for the first time, prepare a dilution by adding 10 drops frankincense essential oil to two teaspoons organic fractionated coconut oil. I add the oils to a glass essential oil roller bottle for ease of application, but a glass bottle with eye dropper also works well.
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Apply the frankincense oil, neat or diluted, to the skin where needed. For example, to relieve a tension headache, apply frankincense essential oil to the temples and back of the neck; gently massage into the skin. For joint pain, massage the oil directly on the joint. For minor cuts or scrapes, gently dap or drip oil on the cut.
Frankincense for Aromatherapy
Add 2 to 3 drops frankincense essential oil to a vaporizer or diffuser and enjoy the woody aroma. For a soothing bath, add a couple drops of essential oil directly to the bathwater and breath in the vapors. Alternatively, add five drops of frankincense to three cups distilled water in a spray bottle and spritz your home, car, or office.
To clear congestion and reduce inflammation in the lungs, stir a few drops of frankincense oil into a large bowl of hot water. Drape a towel over your head and inhale the fumes deeply. Make sure the water isn’t boiling or the steam may burn the skin.
To ease throbbing pain from a sinus infection or headache, soak a washcloth in a solution of warm water and frankincense oil, then lay the washcloth across the eyes, nose, and forehead. For muscle soreness, place the soaked washcloth directly on the muscle.
When on-the-go, simply open the lid of the frankincense essential oil bottle and breath in the earthy aroma for 1 to 3 minutes. Alternatively, place a drop of frankincense under your nose and take deep breaths.
Frankincense in Mouthwash
Due to its antiseptic properties, frankincense is an effective mouthwash.
Frankincense contains a compound that is so effective at killing “oral cavity pathogens,” researchers recommended using frankincense as a “mouthwash for preventing and treating oral infections,” according to a study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.
Add 2 to 3 drops frankincense essential oil to one cup of warm water. Swish the solution through your teeth for one minute, making sure it contacts the front and back of each tooth, under the tongue and across the roof of the mouth. Next, gargle and then spit into the sink.
Frankincense Used Orally
Frankincense can be consumed orally if diluted properly and unadulterated. Add one drop frankincense essential oil to eight ounces of water or one tablespoon honey. If ingesting frankincense essential oil, make sure the product is 100 percent pure oil.
Frankincense capsules are also available for purchase online.
Precautions and Possible Interactions:
Frankincense “has not shown any serious side effect and is considered to be safe,” according to a review in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their health care provider before consuming frankincense.
Frankincense may interact with conventional medications to create toxicity or undesired side effects. For instance, frankincense has reportedly interfered with warfarin and leukotriene inhibitors. Frankincense has blood-thinning effects and, therefore, shouldn’t be used if on blood-thinning medication.
Although rare, frankincense can cause minor skin rashes and digestive problems, including nausea and stomach pain.
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Article cross-posted from our premium news partners at The Epoch Times.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
