Login or Register

Frankincense & Depression

May 31, 2011 | By Alicia Miller
Frankincense & Depression
Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

People have burned the resin of the Boswellia plant, known as frankincense, for thousands of years. Frankincense is thought to elevate your spirit during religious ceremonies. According to aromatherapist Suzanne Fischer-Rizzi in her book "Complete Aromatherapy Handbook," ancient societies burned frankincense as a way of sending their thoughts and prayers to the gods. In recent years, researchers have developed interest in frankincense's benefits for mental health and particularly its potential anti-depressant properties.

About Frankincense

When most people think of frankicense, they think of the gift of the three wise men to the baby Jesus; however, frankincense, also known as olibanum, has been traded throughout history since 500 BCE. People have used frankincense in resin and essential oil form during religious ceremonies; the essential oil was considered the "holy anointing oil" in the Middle East. Frankincense is still used around the world for both religious and medical purposes. According to the Middle East Institute, frankincense is used as an insect repellent and to treat medical conditions such as nausea, indigestion, chest coughs and hypertension. In modern times, researchers have begun to evaluate frankincense's effects on mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Depression Facts

Depression is a real mental illness that affects around 121 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization. It's not something you can just snap out of; it's a serious disorder that can cause severe impairment to your ability to function. Depressive symptoms include physical and mental changes. Symptoms include weight change, sleep disturbances, changes in your appetite and mood, frequent feelings of sadness, tearfulness, irritability or agitation, loss of self-esteem and interest in activities you once enjoyed, relationship problems, unexplained aches and pains and feelings of hopelessness. Depression is often successfully treated with psychotherapy and/or medication; however, recent research into alternative and holistic treatments has also shown the potential benefits of healing herbs and compounds such as frankincense on depressive symptoms.

Clinical Evidence

Clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of frankincense on depression are limited; however, a noteworthy study published in the August 2008 issue of the "Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology," or FASEB, showed that incensole acetate, a component of frankincense, had anxiolytic-like and antidepressant effects on laboratory mice. Another study, published in the August 2008 "Journal of Korean Academy for Nursing" showed that aromatherapy hand massage using a mixture of the essential oils bergamot, lavender and frankincense had pain-relieving and anti-depressant effects on study participants suffering from terminal cancer. Whether this result was due to the essential oils or the hand massage is unclear. More research is required to confirm the potential benefits of frankincense for depression.

Considerations

While preliminary evidence suggests that frankincense may be helpful for depression, you should not use frankincense in place of conventional medical treatment. If you think you may be depressed, do not attempt to self-diagnose your condition. If left untreated, depression can become worse. Consult your doctor or a qualified mental health professional to obtain a proper diagnosis and to discuss treatment options.

References

Article reviewed by Sue Last updated on: May 31, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries