Frankincense, a gift that was given to the wealthy in Bible times, may still have uses today. Because it is generally considered a safe essential oil, trying the different home remedies to see what works should be fine. The biggest caution you need to take is to test it on yourself in a small spot to make sure you won't have any skin irritation or an allergic reaction to it.
If you respond fine to the test spot, giving some of these remedies a whirl might be in order. Because it isn't a "traditional medicine," research as to whether the oil works as people claim just doesn't exist. If you want to see what frankincense may be able to do for you, try one of these 5+ home remedies.
1. Colic. According to WebMD, there really isn't evidence that frankincense oil works on colic, but when nothing else is working for your baby, it might be worth a try. Balance Me Beautiful puts forth a caution against using essential oils topically on a baby. Rather than trying to rub diluted frankincense oil into the skin, you should diffuse it into the air. For babies, 1 drop in an ultrasonic diffuser is more than enough. You need to be sure you place the diffuser in a separate room from the baby, so your infant doesn't inhale too much.
2. Gas. If you fight gas, you might want to try frankincense oil to see if you can get some relief. The Hearty Soul says to be sure that any oil you use for gas should be diluted with a carrier oil like jojoba or sweet almond oil. Once you dilute it, rub it on your stomach to find relief.
3. Bath. According to Dr. Axe, you can drop a few drops in your bath before you take a long soak. The oil is supposed to help you relax and release your stress. Whether the stress relief is a result of the oil or the bath is unclear, but if you find you relax, does it really matter?
4. Skin. Frankincense oil is a natural astringent, so Mercola says that it's good for toning skin and cleansing a wound. The oil is supposed to help reduce stretch marks as well. Dr. Axe says to mix 6 drops of frankincense oil with 1 ounce of a carrier oil. You can apply this directly to your skin.
5. Cleaner. To help keep the surfaces in your home clean, Dr. Axe recommends using the oil in a diffuser. It is supposed to disinfect your air and the surfaces it lands on.
6. Pain killer. Medical News Today says that frankincense oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and may help with arthritis pain. Mix a few drops with a carrier oil and rub it directly into the skin on the region that is bothering you.
Non-traditional doesn't mean ineffective. You may have just discovered a new favorite oil.