Transcript: Plants & Trees Have Feelings Part II

What follows here is the second part of the transcript of a lecture I was asked to give at a healing conference...please keep in mind that this was spoken...during this 60 minute lecture, I was running a Power Point program of 111 of my photographs that truly connect with the personalities of many flowers, trees...I mean really...they literally HAM IT UP for the camera...so sexy, playful, wise...I'll post a few, but the purpose of the photos was to somewhat DISTRACT my audience so that they would only hear my words semi-consciously...this is where I wanted them to be processing the information....the images invited attendees to drift off, or to read the short quotes or poems that accompanied and complemented them. It was a great effect and it worked...people sank into their hearts and understood from deep within what I was communicating to them...what the plants are communicating to us all...
Anyway, I hope that you like it, I am still receiving offers to give this lecture elsewhere, so I hope that you might have a chance to feel the entire effect. Still, each time I look at the images and read the words of such wise teachers as Thoreau, Goethe, Rachel Carson and more, well I get choked up.
Here is part II...any feedback is really welcomed.

“All self-organized systems are, in fact, intelligent. They have to be, for they must continually monitor their environments, internal and external; detect perturbations; decide on the basis of those perturbations what the likely effect will be; and respond to them in order to maintain self-organization.” –Buhner

Perturbations can be extremely subtle, such as chemical cues in the ppm, ppb and ppt.

Plants communicate with each other and their environment with EM waves and chemical cues. They pass this information to other plants, to insects, different species…it doesn’t matter…this information is exchanged frequently via the vast mycelium network. Information vital to survival, information about viruses, predators, information about healing, chemicals for healing and for protection…all passes through this complex network. Gaia Consciousness.

Paul Stamets is a world renowned mycologist (he studies mushrooms). His book, Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, reveals complex relationships between mycelia and the ecosystem. Toxic waste, including petroleum sludge, is inoculated with oyster mushroom spores and within weeks the toxic waste is consumed and rendered benign. Stamets feels that mycelium are the world’s first “internet” system and proposes that the silicon-based internet that has “mushroomed” over the last 15 years, may be a construct of Gaia Herself; a thought spore planted in humanity’s collective consciousness.

EM fields naturally interact/synch with other EM fields forming Ecosystems.

We are part of an Ecosystem. We use this information gathered from EM fields for rebalancing the Dynamic Tension, in other words, self healing.

In his book, The Lost Language of Plants, Stephen Harrod Buhner tells the story of the logging industries practice of slash and burn from an intimate and personal perspective. He witnessed the clear cutting of old-growth forest and the deliberate burning of acres of destroyed forest. As part of the ecosystem in which this was happening, Buhner felt deep loss and grief and felt his ecosystem and the Earth sharing in his spiritual and emotional pain. He understood it to his core when the following Spring, thousands of young wild lettuce plants took root on the devastated forest floor. You see, Wild Lettuce is known for its ability to comfort and soothe a burn, to calm scorched lungs and it produces an opium-like latex that comforts pain on all levels, spiritual, emotional and physical. The Earth and the plants responded to the injury of the land and manifested the appropriate balm to help re-harmonize the delicate balance…dynamic tension.

In Ecosystems all life works together. Ecosystems consist of enormous (infinite?) groups of Individuals and Individual Species.

Plants. Trees. Grass. Herbs. Shrubs. Soil. Worms. Beetles. Snails. Birds. Four-legged’s. Fish. Mushrooms. Fungi. Insects. Bacteria. Viruses.

Like radio waves, EM signals from all living organisms continue outward indefinetly…

“The characteristics of conduction in the plant nerve are in every way similar to those in the animal nerve.” –Jagadis Chunder Bose

A plant’s Central Nervous System has synapses like our brains; their neurotransmitters are identical to those in our brains.

Plants experience feelings.

In the famous book, The Secret Life of Plants, we learn of the “Backster Effect.”

Testing the sensitivity of his polygraph, on a whim Backster attached the lie detector’s electrodes to the the leaf of a Dracaena plant in the office. Trying to think of a way to get a positive reaction from the plant, but never really expecting one, he decided to burn one of the leaves. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the machine’s needle jumped. The plant was creating a huge reaction on the polygraph. It had appeared to read his mind! Backster would later come to recognize this particular reaction as Fear or Anxiety. Years of research ensued… he observed that plants would react to the cracking of a fertilized egg and show response to a spider on the other side of a large room. Plants that would “witness” the uprooting of another plant could identify the culprit later. If a bond of Love had formed between a human and a plant, the plant would pick up on their human companion’s emotional state even if they were halfway across the world.

Love is an important ingredient in getting the response from the plants.

Love opens the channel.

This sensitivity we see demonstrated in the plants is mirrored by our CNS and accurately felt with our Hearts.

The Mind of The Heart

The human heart is much more than a muscle that pumps blood. It is one of the most powerful EM generators and receivers known in the universe. It is an organ is Perception and Communication. By the way, blood is an excellent conductor of EM energy.

The heart is a receptor organ of internal and external environments. The heart’s wave forms are experienced as emotions.

MEANING…Emotional meaning can be extracted and comprehended just as visual and auditory input is. Emotions are like flavor and color.

Between 60-65% of heart cells are neural! The heart is directly wired to the CNS and the brain to assist

• Emotional memory processing

• Sensory experiences

• Memory & special relationships and extraction of environmental meaning

• Problem solving, learning and reason

The heart stores memories, mostly those with an emotional aspect. Information comes at the body and first impacts the heart, the heart then sends this information to the brain…AFTER the heart has already perceived it.

Neurons: The Heart generates the strongest EM field of the body…over 5,000x more powerful than the brain’s EM field. A heart-centered consciousness leads to a coherence of that signal, which in turn leads to improved health of self and others. The more caring a practitioner, the more coherent their EM field, the better the healing.

Communications within the EM field of an organ or organism are experienced as emotions.

(Plants have feelings.)

Emotions give us clues to internal functions. The ancients knew that organs sent signals in the form of emotions that indicated internal imbalance before a physical symptom manifested. I like to use the “dashboard light” analogy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine anger indicates imbalance of the Liver; over-thinking and worry points to disharmony of the Spleen; depression shows that the Gall Bladder needs attention; Grief is an emotion associated with the Lungs; while pronounced fear would benefit from Kidney tonification. An experienced practitioner knows how to read subtle clues on the radial pulses to identify and diagnose the troubled areas of the body.

“Whatever the complaint is, it’s always the same thing: something beneficial is trying to happen. In true medicine, there is no conflict, no enemy, no disease, only the opportunity to bring someone out of the dream of strife into the dream of wholeness.” – Eliot Cowan

Click Here for Part III

Chamomile: The Original “Mother’s Little Helper”

Chamomile
(Chamaemelum nobile, Matricaria recutita, M. discoidea)

German Chamomile ©L.Huebner 2009

When it comes to choosing safe herbs to bring comfort and relief to your whole family, look no further than the darling of the herb gardener, Chamomile. This precious herb is often one of the very first herbal remedies that many people become familiar with, and for good reasons. Her ability to soothe, calm and bring relief to a range of everyday troubles - from stomach and headaches to common stress - is the source of her well deserved notoriety.

Most people know that a soothing cup of Chamomile tea in the evening will help one to unwind, and gently encourage a good night’s rest. In fact, this simple herb helps with cramps and premenstrual tension, many types of nervous anxiety, reduces the production of stress hormones, and can relax the mind when there is a tendency to overthink. It’s interesting to note here that too much thinking, even if it doesn’t quite qualify as obsessive thought, can lead to a myriad of health issues including menstrual disorders, chronic pain and even heart dis-ease.

Chamomile is a frequent ingredient in many herbal formulas and her claim to fame is her value as a nervine and a carminative. Those who suffer from frequent headaches, especially those that are brought on by stress, will find an exceptional ally in Chamomile. Insomnia sufferers often need no more than a strong cup of Chamomile tea to bring ease, comfort and sleep. In cold remedies, the addition of Chamomile can not only help to reduce a fever by encouraging diaphoresis, but it also brings calm and peace so one may rest comfortably. Chamomile is also a mild expectorant that’s used with other herbs in cough remedies to help loosen and bring up mucous. People of all ages can benefit from the pleasant tea that gives welcome relief to indigestion and stomach pain and everyone else will appreciate Chamomile’s ability to deter flatulence.

When it comes to children, Chamomile is a gentle remedy for even the most sensitive child. For colic, a mild cup of Chamomile tea will soothe the belly and tame the crankiness that unfortunately often accompanies those awful tummy aches. The anti-inflammatory quality of Chamomile that makes it useful for reducing fevers will also help your precious babe get the healing rest she so badly needs when she’s sick and restless. Fix yourself a nurturing cup of Chamomile tea to ease your frayed edges when baby is teething, then gently apply the cooled tea bag as a compress to her sore gums; you’ll both feel better for it. Chamomile is the original “Mother’s Little Helper.”

German Chamomile ©L.Huebner 2009

Don’t think that children are the only ones who need pampering; we grown-ups need a reassuring hug from Mama Chamomile too! Spoil yourself with a personal spa day and allow yourself to receive all the gifts that your compassionate friend Chamomile has to offer. No spa day would be complete without indulging in an herbal bath, and enjoying a Chamomile tubbie is as simple as tying a muslin bag filled with chamomile to the faucet so your hot bath water passes over it, infusing the bath with its soft fragrance. Alternately, pouring a hot pot of strong chamomile infusion into your ready tub will delight you from head to toe; consider it a mini-vacation from all your worldly troubles.If that’s too much trouble for someone who’s really on the go, consider a chamomile footbath to care for tired, achy feet; and adding milk to a tub or foot bath will really put you over the moon!

Throughout history women have treasured the benefits of a Chamomile herbal wash; a simple infusion rinsed through the tresses after a shampoo leaves silky locks that lighten in the sun. For a divine facial treatment, wet a soft flannel with a warm Chamomile infusion and apply lightly to your whole face; better still, enjoy a facial steam by leaning over a steaming bowl of chamomile tea with a towel “tent” over your head. After about 5 minutes or so, stimulate your pores with a rinse of cool water and moisturize with Rose hip or Cucumber seed oil. Not only will your complexion feel smooth, clean and radiant, but your sinuses will reap the benefits from the Chamomile steam treatment as well.

When late nights and lack of sleep leave your eyes puffy and dark, or if seasonal allergies have your peepers looking red and inflamed, Chamomile will do double duty as a tea to calm allergies and relieve tension and insomnia but don’t throw out those tea bags! Cooled Chamomile tea bags placed over the eyes comforts eye strain, reduces inflammation and lightens the appearance of dark circles. A Chamomile compress placed over the eyes and forehead can also ease tension, sinus and even migraine headaches.

Your pets can also profit from Chamomile’s bevy of benevolent benefits. For nervous animals, a few drops of Chamomile floral essence in their water or the light scent of essential oil on a comforting toy or blanket can really help. For hot spots on their skin (or yours, for that matter) a soothing wash applied to the irritation will promote healing and ease discomfort. The amiable Chamomile is a lovely friend to have on hand.

The essential oil of Chamomile has been valued throughout the ages; simply by inhaling its gentle fragrance, one can feel their irritability melt away as her complex medicinal compounds begin working on ragged nerves, restoring a positive outlook and peace of mind. Chamomile’s essential oil has a sapphire blue color due to the presence of the compound azulene. If you have an understanding of chakra healing, you’ll understand why Chamomile is used on the blue-colored throat chakra to assist positive expression and productive communication, especially when there is some difficulty in speaking up for yourself.

There is a bit of confusion when you start to investigate Chamomile; there are two very well known varieties that go by several names each, depending upon where you live in the world and when you learned about Chamomile. I don’t wish to further confuse the issue, but it should be noted that Roman chamomile was once referred to as Anthemis nobilis; its Latin moniker is currently Chamaemelum nobile. The other type, generally preferred by most herbalists, is German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita). Some sources say that Chamomile can cause allergies; this is actually a rare occurrence and is really only an issue with the Roman variety. While the Roman Chamomile tends to be the slightly more sedating of the two and German Chamomile is just a little more anti-inflammatory, for the most part these two herbs can be used interchangeably.

A local wild Chamomile is available throughout the US, often found in poor soils, vacant lots and waste areas is the charming little Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea). Named for the sweet fragrance it produces, this friendly herb is readily available in backyards everywhere and its uses are fairly similar to its cousins. Pineapple Weed’s therapeutic properties are found in the whole plant, not just in her flowers, but when harvesting the entire herb, be sure to take no more than 20% of the crop so that they may continue to thrive.

Pineapple Weed ©L.Huebner

In Victorian times, Chamomile lawns were very much in vogue; instead of cutting the grass on a Saturday afternoon, one could find peace and contentment by lying idly upon a cushion of tranquility. Imagine how delightful it would be to daydream on a lawn like that. It makes me wonder if the dreaded deer tick would be offended to find everyone’s grassy landscape suddenly transformed into fields of Chamomile. In any case, I can’t believe anyone would miss the sound of lawnmowers!

Growing Chamomile in your own garden bed will improve the overall health and vigor of the other plants in her company. The flowers are also edible, so you and your children can enjoy picking them for remedies and to decorate a salad too. Chamomile was once frequently used in love potions, and inviting Chamomile to your gardens will also help to attract love and prosperity. Because faeries love Chamomile, their presence in your garden will bring good luck, and who couldn’t use a generous helping of love, luck and prosperity?

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com
Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Home Remedies

Readily Available Herbal Treatments 
For Common Ailments*

To understand Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is necessary to first understand the concept of Qi (chee). Qi is the vital energy in our bodies and in the world around us. There are different types of qi that are named according to where the qi is located; there is food qi, air qi and so on. The defensive (Wei) qi is similar to the immune system and resides between the skin and the muscles. The strength of the Wei qi is dependent upon the quality of the food and the air we take into our bodies, as well as our emotional health.

The lungs rule the surface of the body (the skin), including the opening and closing of the pores. If an external pathogenic influence (EPI) were to threaten the health of an individual, one might get a chill or feel cold before the onset of other symptoms. It is very important to treat an invasion at the earliest stage possible because an EPI can invade the body’s defenses quickly. Treatment of an invasion by an EPI is done through addressing the lungs and their relationship with the skin. An EPI may be classified as either wind-heat or wind-cold. Wind-heat will present symptoms such as sore throat, headache, feeling feverish, slight sweating, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, cough, and the presence of yellowish phlegm. Wind–cold will be similar, but the person will feel colder, be achy and the phlegm will be white or clear.

To treat an invasion of either wind-heat or wind-cold a person would take a combination of pungent, diaphoretic (induces sweating) herbs that were either cooling or warming in nature. Some cooling herbs include peppermint; and the flowers of chrysanthemum, forsythia, honeysuckle and Echinacea can be detoxifying if there is a sore throat and a feeling of feverishness (even if there is no actual fever). Some warming herbs that induce sweating are jalapeno pepper and fresh ginger. These herbs are readily available and may even grow in your own yard; however, you must be sure that these plants have not been exposed to poisonous chemical sprays and that you have properly identified them.

Drinking a tea that has been strongly infused with these herbs, or taking pills or tinctures will help the defensive energy to push the EPI back out of the body. Releasing an invasion of wind can be difficult; you must take the herbs several times a day, stay covered and warm, and drink enough fluids to replace what is released through perspiration. To prevent the spread of these contagions, it is advisable to stay at home, resting peacefully.

A word of caution to those who are very young, elderly, or those who have a weak constitution: sweating can be very exhausting and depleting to the body and leaves the pores wide open and vulnerable to other diseases. It is inadvisable to attempt this course of treatment unless under the direct supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Common Conditions

Wind-Cold Invasion: Sometimes referred to as “the Common Cold”

Symptoms: fever, absence of sweating, aversion to cold, chills, stiff neck, headache (usually occipital), body aches, lower back ache, shortness of breath, tight and floating pulse.

Remedy: “Sweat it Out!”
1 one-inch piece of fresh Ginger, grated or sliced
1 fresh Jalapeño pepper
2 Tbs. Cinnamon twigs
2 Tbs. dried Catmint

Decoct fresh Ginger, Jalapeño pepper & Cinnamon twig (if available) in 16oz. water for 20 minutes. Add dried Catmint herb and steep for 10 minutes, covered. Strain the decoction and drink as hot as possible. Cover up (especially the neck!) and sweat. Rest and rehydrating is absolutely necessary!

Stuffy Nose with Chills ~ White or Clear Mucus
Please note: if this condition is chronic, has been around a while, or the face is also flushed, chances are that this is a condition of Heat and this protocol may not be appropriate.
Remedy: “Blow That Schnozz!”
2 Tbs. dried Peppermint
1 one-inch piece of horseradish root, or 1 Tbs bottled horseradish (not “prepared” horseradish)
~ OR ~
1 Tbs. Wasabi

Infuse Peppermint in 8oz. boiling water and steep for 10 minutes, covered. Meanwhile slowly chew horseradish/Wasabi and inhale slowly through the nose. This may be intense. Follow with the hot Peppermint tea.

Maintenance:
Neti Pot: Using a neti pot once or twice daily helps to keep nasal passages clear and hydrated. Nettles Tea: A cup or two daily acts as a natural anti-histamine and provides nutritional value.

Coughs:

Hard to Expectorate with White/Clear Mucous: There will likely be an accompanying aversion to cold, and no fever. If this condition is chronic, has been around a while, there is a fever, or the face is also flushed, chances are that this is a condition of Heat and this protocol may not be appropriate.

Remedy: “Mustard Plaster ~ Hold the Mayo”
½ teaspoon Mustard powder
1 Tablespoon Flour Warm Water

Combine flour and mustard powder and slowly add warm water until a paste is formed. Spread evenly on a piece of cotton flannel or clean cotton rag. Spread olive oil over the patient’s chest, then put the patient to bed in a tight cotton t-shirt, and place folded flannel with mustard paste on chest. This will provide 2 layers of cotton between the plaster and the patient’s oiled skin to protect against burning. Skin sensitivity can vary, so check the skin frequently to make sure the mustard hasn’t caused burns. The skin will become red as blood is drawn to the area, providing increased circulation, warmth and promoting expectoration. Itchiness may be an indication that the plaster is too strong. Ratio of mustard to flour can be adjusted individually according to skin sensitivity. Usually left on anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours, if made mild enough, this plaster can be left on overnight.

The Stubborn and Unrelenting Keep-You-Up-All-Night Cough: Often a dry cough associated with colds and flu, or post-nasal drip, this is an annoying cough that keeps a patient from getting the much needed rest required for healing.
Remedy: “Steve’s Super Cough-Busting Syrup” Mince one onion and place in a shallow bowl Pour raw honey over the chopped onion to cover. (About 1 Cup of honey to 1 Cup minced onion). Allow to infuse for 8 hours Strain out the onion Take 1-2 teaspoons as needed for persistent coughs.

Fever: A fever is the body’s way of raising temperature to encourage sweating or to create a hostile environment in order to rid itself of a pathogen. If a fever persists for more than a couple of days without overall improvement or if the fever exceeds 102°, then taking measures to reduce the fever are suggested.

Remedy #1: “Anti-pyretic Tea”
1 tsp. Yarrow
1 tsp. Elder flowers
1 tsp. Peppermint
1 tsp. Catmint
1 tsp. Feverfew
1 tsp. Lavender flowers
1tsp. Chamomile flowers

Combine all ingredients into a blend, and then infuse 1 tsp. of formula with 6 oz. boiling water for 15 minutes, covered. Drink infusion as hot as tolerable, cover up (especially the neck), rest and keep hydrated. The combination of cooling, anti-pyretic and diaphoretic herbs will help the patient sweat and reduce the fever; the nervines will help to calm the patient and allow them to rest.

Remedy #2: Auriculotherapy Point ~ Ear Apex
With a small blunt instrument, like a dull pencil, gently stimulate the fever-reducing point located at the top of the ear. To find the point, fold over the ear toward the face so that the back of the ear is revealed. Where the crease appears at the top of the ear is called the Ear Apex-the highest point on the ear. Once the point has been stimulated, a mustard seed affixed to a piece of band-aid can be placed at the site to keep the point stimulated. This usually reduces a fever within minutes.

Sore Throat: This is a symptom of a pathogen, and it’s a good idea to treat the root as well as the symptoms. Cooling, detoxifying, and anti-viral/bacterial herbs are good choices to get to the heart of the problem.

Remedy #1: Sore Throat Gargle
1 cup warm water
1 Tbs. Sea Salt ½ tsp.
Goldenseal powder
15 drops Sage (true) essence. (I can only recommend Wisdom of the Earth Essential Essences)

Gargle with mouthfuls of this mixture as frequently as desired to bring quick relief to the pain and discomfort associated with sore throat.
Remedy #2: “Coolio Tea”
1 tsp. Echinacea root
½ tsp. Goldenseal root
1 tsp. Dandelion root
1 tsp. Pepper mint leaf
1 tsp. Sage leaf
1 tsp. Chrysanthemum flower
1 tsp. Honeysuckle flower buds
1 tsp. Catmint herb

Add 12 oz. water to the first three ingredients and place in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and squeeze out all liquid from herbs. Drink ½ Cup of this formula every 2-3 hours until symptoms are gone, from that point on, drink it 3 times daily for another three days to keep symptoms from returning.

Headache: Headaches can have a number of causes, and without proper diagnosis, are frequently difficult to treat properly. If there are concurrent symptoms of “Wind-Cold,” sore throat, stomach flu, sinus trouble or fever, treat it accordingly. If the root cause cannot be determined, treating it only as a symptom is better than not at all.

Remedy #1: “Essential Headache Relief” Apply to temples, occiput and crown a total of 30-40 drops of the following essences: Rosemary, Holy Basil, Peppermint, Spearmint, Mugwort, Anise seed, Niaouli, Lavender, Pine, and/or Spruce (red). Use care with the mints, as their effervescence can be uncomfortable if not sandwiched between any of the others and if used in excess. (I can only recommend Wisdom of the Earth Essential Essences)

Remedy #2: Auriculotherapy Points ~ Ear Lobe Frequently massage the ear lobe, paying particular attention to the upper portion where the lobe meets the auricle. Applying essence to the area may be helpful as well. (I can only recommend Wisdom of the Earth Essential Essences)

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Frankincense: Humanity's Ally for Millennia

Frankincense

(Boswellia carterii)

We may think we know her. Frankincense has accompanied our human race for thousands of years; we have burned her sacred incense for religious ceremonies, we have used her essence for wounds and injuries, her medicine has helped to heal cancers, her very presence has helped human civilization advance and expand, but do we really know her? For as much as she has been by our side for the entire span of our existence, she holds herself in quiet dignity…a stark tree that grows in the arid desert, with us and yet isolated.

Frankincense (Olibanum) is a resinous tree that grows only at the most southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and the extreme northeastern tip of Somalia. Its value as a commodity opened trade routes as far away as China and Europe more than five-thousand years ago according to many sources, and created great wealth for Southern Arabia. The Silk Road, The Incense Road and The Spice Road among other trade routes connected the region to cities and kingdoms more than two thousand miles away and served to enrich cultures, religions and traditions of healing throughout the entire continent.

The domestication of the camel was a necessary innovation for traveling such arduous paths, and it is believed that written communication was also developed and expanded as a direct result of the wide-ranging commerce. Ship-building burgeoned as a new skill, and the talent for that craft augmented trade via shipping routes and further increased prosperity for the country. It has been suggested that greed contributed to the fall of Rome; a high tariff was placed upon Frankincense - up to 25% tax was charged for this precious resin.

In southern Mesopotamia, archeologists discovered Cuneiform tablets dating back to 3200 BCE (before current era), that referred to Southern Arabia, strongly suggesting a trade market for Frankincense. An incense burner from the Bronze Age, (2,200 BCE) found in Oman had residue from burned Frankincense; current speculation dates the use of this sacred resin to 6,000 BCE or even earlier.

Of course, one of the most well known stories of Frankincense involves the blessed birth of a certain Child who was given the gift of Frankincense Myrrh and Gold by three Magi priests. Frankincense was found in the tombs of King Tutankhamen and Queen Hatshepsut not only to preserve the mummified corpses, but as an offering to accompany their souls’ journey to the Other Side.

Boswellia carterii (or B. sacra) had long been used as an embalming agent, not only to cover the unpleasant odor, but to also help preserve the body. To prepare a body for mummification, ancient morticians packed the empty cavities with the resinous tears after internal organs were removed. Frankincense was also quite valued for ritual burials, particularly when a person of high status passed on. At the funeral of his favorite concubine Poppaea, the Roman emperor Nero burned and entire year’s harvest of Frankincense, disrupting trade for several seasons.

The fragrance of Frankincense- mysterious, deep, and pleasant to our senses, is notably unpleasant to insects. The exotic aromas wafting from the garments of people in Arabia serves a very practical purpose: to repel disease-carrying mosquitoes and other insects. It is customary to suspend clothing upon specially crafted frames in order to impregnate the fibers with smoke from the burning incense.

Given the historical associations of this treasured substance, it is no surprise that in China, the name originally ascribed to Frankincense was fan hun xiang, meaning “fragrance to call back the soul.” Later the name was changed to ru xiang, or “fragrant milk,” and was historically used for a variety of ailments including leprosy, tuberculosis and gonorrhea. Frequently paired with Myrrh in medicinal formulas, this valued medicine addressed all levels of pain, trauma and injury, particularly as a topical remedy. The famous formula Qi Li San was known as “Seven-Thousandths of a Tael Powder” for the minute internal dosages that were measured out. This preparation is likely the predecessor of a popular patent formula known today as Yunan Bai Yao.

Frankincense, also referred to as mastic, is still used in modern Chinese herbal medicine for injury, trauma, rheumatic pain and arthritis. Generally applied externally, it has a pronounced Blood-invigorating quality that relaxes tendons, eases pain, reduces swelling, and promotes tissue regeneration. It enhances the flow of Qi (vital energy) throughout the meridians and its energetic warmth is especially welcomed when treating stiff, achy joints that tend to worsen in cold, damp weather.

Its ability to generate the flesh is particularly useful for sores, abscesses and carbuncles, and the pain-relieving properties extend to chest pain, colic, abdominal and epigastric discomfort-especially when the pain is sharp. Encouraging and vitalizing blood circulation makes Frankincense helpful for amenorrhea, dysmennorhea and post-partum issues of Blood-stagnation; obviously this is not an herb to be taken during pregnancy.

Its uses outside of Traditional Chinese Medicine are as an astringent to stop discharges and contract tissues; cosmetically it addresses acne for the youthful and dry, chapped skin for the more mature consumer. The high verbenone content indicates its anti-fungal quality, making it a good remedy for external complaints like athlete’s foot and ringworm as well as certain intestinal, vaginal and other internal fungal infections. Frankincense can stimulate energy, invigorate the mind, strengthen the body and promote feelings of well-being while also relaxing irritability, soothing anxiety and calming nervous tension.

The Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory for Immunology newsletter (May ’05) reveals that Frankincense has been shown to exhibit strong immunostimulating activity, having a pronounced regulating effect on the immune system. Further study, according to The American Society for Microbiology, indicates that its “chemical structure closely resembles anti-inflammatory steroids.” In their trials, it was suggested that Frankincense prepared by an ethanol extraction actually led to cellular toxicity, while the cleaner preparation had only positive effects. This strongly indicates that it is of the utmost importance to use only the purest, steam-distilled and medicinal-grade essential oil of Frankincense available-generally purchased from a practitioner and not at a retail establishment.

Recent scientific data shows that Olibanum not only powerfully inhibits the growth of cancerous cells; it also promotes apoptosis (programmed cell death) of malignancies. Promising studies are being done that spotlight the ancient resin in the treatment of a variety of cancers including cervical, colon and even Leukemia. Some of the most publicized information to date regarding the use of Frankincense with cancer treatment has been its potent inhibition of bladder cancer.

For brain tumors, Frankincense helps to hinder growth and reduces cerebral edema. In the treatment of colitis, Olibanum has been shown to be a better choice than the popular drug sulfasalazine. It is also one of the top three CAM choices (complementary and Alternative Medicine) for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Disease in Germany along with acupuncture and probiotics.

On a spiritual level, Frankincense slows and expands breathing, calms the mind and facilitates deep meditation. Her spirit allows one to become completely present and frankly aware of one’s senses. Her fragrance encourages peace, opens the mind and stimulates the higher chakras, while resonating a calm tranquility deep within. Inhalation of her divine perfume comforts grief and can connect ones heart and soul to the love of their departed. Access to higher realms of consciousness demonstrates why the smoke from her incense carries prayers to Heaven.

Burning the sacred incense was once a ritual shared by most religions, and the demand for Olibanum was unbounded; Dhofar at one time exported 3,000 tons annually. The Babylonian Temple of Baal burned 2 ½ tons of Frankincense a year and over-exploitation began to lessen the population of trees. Boswellia needs to be at least eight years old before it begins to produce resin, and a tree needs to be rested for a while if it has been tapped for more than 6 years. When a tree is frequently tapped, germination ratios for their seeds drop dramatically from 80% viability in the seed of an untapped tree to only 16% in the seeds from tapped trees.

Today, most Frankincense going to commercial markets is harvested in Somalia. The range of Olibanum’s habitat, dependent upon specific ecology and climate, is also subject to political climate for its distribution to consumers. The religious demand for the holy incense has certainly declined since its peak some two thousand years ago, however Frankincense has recently been seeing a resurgence in popularity; perhaps our return to natural medicines is driving that demand.

The name Frankincense is simply descriptive of what it is: true or real incense. This authentic incense is wild-harvested by indigenous people using the same methods that have been used for millennia. Twice a year, January-March and again from August-October, careful incisions are made into the outer bark of the mastic tree with a blade called a mingaf. Sap oozes out of these cuts, collects into larger lumps and often falls to the base of the short tree. The sun dries the pellets of resin and these “tears” are gathered approximately two weeks later. It is necessary for the luban (tears) to be completely harvested before the start of the monsoon season in April or May.

A medicinal-grade essence of Frankincense is produced by steam-distilling a resinous block of these tears, and this thin essential oil is marvelous for the treatment all types of pain, injury and swelling. Additionally, it has been found to be a potent adjunct in any complementary cancer protocol. Perhaps most significantly, her serene spiritual presence is more than palpable when her sweet aroma is inhaled.

Frankincense has maintained a frank and deliberate presence in our collective consciousness for the past several thousand years. Her significance in our history cannot be denied nor be dismissed as folklore, myth or erroneous religious belief. We have only been married to the predictability and false security of logical reason for a few hundred years, obsessively so for less than fifty. Many people are coming to realize that a balance between reason and enchantment creates a much more fulfilling existence. By allowing a space for Frankincense in our hearts we may at last penetrate her secrets and completely open our spirits to holier realms where peace presides.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

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