FRANKINCENSE: NUGGETS OF GREAT POWER

Frankincense, a precious, affordable
and versatile gift!

Apart from shoveling snow, there are so many ways of warming oneself! You may like vigorous cardio-vascular exercises, hot yoga, a Cuban beach, or a warm cup of chai tea by the stove. I discovered a fabulous new and affordable way recently. Using frankincense. A student asked if it was possible to make tincture with the resin of the frankincense tree. Intuitively, I believe it was, but could not say yes outright so we both researched it. I had frankincense resin at home that I burn occasionally for meditation and its essential oil used in healing work to balance the seventh chakra. That was the extent of my knowledge. Thanks to Chantal’s curiosity we discovered a treasure worthy of the cave of Ali Baba.

A multi-faceted healer

The research started on the Internet. Of course, I saw hundreds of commercial offers and tidbits that kept repeating the same thing over and over, mostly copies from the same source. But I found a few sites with valuable information that guided the experiments we would do during our next class. For a comprehensive list of frankincense’s healing properties, visit Sacred Earth. I also found an amazing documentary on YouTube with narrator Kate Humble.

First, it comes in many colours. Chantal had a fresh, dark brown, chewy kind that slowly melted off in the mouth. Mine was off-white and crystallized, brittle before it became chewable with saliva; its texture was like Chicklet gum and it didn’t thin. The taste was both bitter and pungent and it’s effect was quite warming. The Yoga of Herbs confirmed that it is heating, therefore excellent for Vata and Kapha. By end of class, we knew that it is definitely aggravating for the Pitta dosha.

An acquired taste

Colour varies from white, to caramel, to light
brown, dark or reddish brown.

After tasting it, we sat for meditation while burning a few nuggets and asked the spirit of the tree to share its knowledge with us. While getting warmer and warmer physically, I guided a colourful meditative journey that led us by sea to the desert where wet joined a camel caravan, then to the dreamland. By then, I was sweating and Chantal had rosy cheeks. Returning our consciousness to the living room, we both agreed that frankincense has a quite warming, drying, joyful and expansive sky energy, yet grounding and welcoming. We then moved to the kitchen to make several types of kohl--also known as kajal--, and a tincture. In retrospect, I wonder why people in countries among the hottest on the planet would want to increase their body heat. The other benefits have to make up for it.

Notice the kohl is inside the lid
 as well as under the eyelashes.

That deep, mysterious look

Millions of women, men and children wear kohl everyday. Most North Americans see it as eye-liner, which highlights the beauty of the eyes. Elsewhere in the world, it is worn as much for health reasons as for beauty. In fact, kohl protects the eyes from the harsh rays of the equatorial sun, but also from infections and infestations of insect eggs that can cause blindness, especially in babies.

Back to the kitchen, we decided to make small quantities of different kinds of kohl. We wanted to find out which one we would like best before making a large quantity.

Recipe experiments:

We started with small quantities.
 Photo: Chantal Clément.

First, we used a cast iron pan and placed a couple of nuggets each in different spots, some with Chantal’s frankincense and some of mine. We first put the element to high, then lowered it to medium. Hers melted more quickly. I added to the first cluster mustard seeds, thinking it was cloves, but realized it was an error; so started again with about 1/8 tsp. of cloves (antiseptic) to next, ¼ tsp. turmeric (immune system booster) to the next, 1/4 fennel (cooling) seeds to the other, and almond slivers to the last cluster.

Then we had a surprise which we should have expected. Once burned, they all looked similar and we had to refer to the picture she took to identify which one was which. We were a bit more systematic for the rest of our experiment.

We crushed the cooled off clusters in a stone mortar, one after the other, then placing them in tiny plates we lined up. We added a few drops of my precious 18-year old ghee to the powder of the first cluster and applied on our third eye. More expansion, more physical warmth, beautiful yet simple visions. Then the real test: application to the eyes.

We started with the cloves mix. OUCH! Way too heating for both of us but it is the one that had the most staying power. Despite my tears, it stayed one well and did an amazing job at decongesting my head. However, unless you are used to a very spicy  diet and ayurvedic beauty care, neither of us recommends it.

We proceeded with the turmeric mix, which turned out to be too grainy for comfort. Chantal, with her beautiful brown pitta eyes, enjoyed both the fennel mix and the almond mix. Naturally more oily by essence, the two mixes was more pasty than the previous. The almond mix was more comfortable for my sensitive blue eyes, but still not totally. I will try with almonds by themselves next time.

Frankincense tincture

So simple to make! - Photo: Chantal Clément.

And last, we did an ayurvedic tincture of frankincense and turmeric, a combination recommended to boost the immune system and prevent cancer, including skin cancer.

Recipe:

In a 300 to 400 ml jar, place ¼ cup of resin.

Add enough organic turmeric powder to fill the space between the nuggets and slightly cover the them.

Fill the jar to the rim with organic vodka. Leave as little air as possible.

Shake well and tap the bottom of the bottle every day as you would for homeopathic remedy. Keep the jar in the dark. Repeat for the duration of the 4 to 8 weeks needed for the maceration.
To make any tincture, fill a jar with any plant you want to use, fill the jar with vodka or brandy to the rim.

For the complete experience of making tincture, get The Book of Beauty: Making Skin Care Products with Aromatherapy and Ayurveda.