The Frankincense resin is one of the oldest medicinal remedies. The wound-healing, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties of frankincense resin have been recognized in all cultures. The Romans and Greeks in ancient times, Ayurvedic and Indian medicine, and the ancient Egyptians all valued the versatile power of frankincense resin.
The harvesting of frankincense resin is done exclusively by hand. By scoring the branches and trunk, the milky resin oozes out. It dries in the air. The first scrapings produce "inferior" resin drops. With each subsequent harvest, the resin drops become larger, clearer, and purer. The number of times and places a tree may be scored depends on the individual tree. The decisive factors are the size of the tree, the trunk circumference, the thickness of the branches, and also the number of leaves.
The hand-harvested incense lumps are stored in baskets in dry, shady places. These provide ideal conditions for the resin drops to harden. The duration of the hardening process depends on the season and the weather. The subsequent sorting according to size, color, and purity is also done by hand.
Clinical studies and experience demonstrate positive effects in diseases involving inflammation in the joints, intestines, and respiratory tract. The potent anti-inflammatory effect of frankincense resin is due to boswellic acid. Boswellic acids can bind to and inhibit the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase, which causes inflammatory and allergenic processes in the body.
