What is Frankincense?
Frankincense or olibanum is a viscous aromatic oleo-gum resin exuded from species of Boswellia tree, such as Boswellia sacra and Boswellia carterii [1, 2, 3]. It is valued as a source of bioactive compounds, particularly boswellic acids and their derivatives. The gum resin has been used for rituals, cosmetics, and folk medicine [2].
What is Frankincense used for?
In traditional medicine, frankincense is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and is often used more generally to treat gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders as well as common inflammatory diseases, including asthma and arthritis [1, 2]. However, the scientific evidence behind these benefits (especially for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease) is limited, and more research is needed.
Other uses of frankincense include oral hygiene, wound treatment, and calming—all of which are traditional uses of frankincense oils [3].
Besides its medicinal application, the aroma profile makes frankincense relevant for the cosmetic, perfume and food and beverage industries [1, 4] and for aromatherapy treatments that encourage relaxation, peacefulness and a sense of well-being [5].
Research also has indicated that frankincense could be useful in treatment of chronic and inflammatory diseases, and brain and memory disorders [2, 6] although, much clinical work needs to be done for establishing therapeutic value of frankincense.
What is Myrrh?
Myrrh is an oleo gum resin obtained from the stems of different Commiphora species. Given its well-demonstrated historical uses such as incense and perfume, as well as in traditional medicine for numerous human diseases, myrrh continues to be used across the globe [7].
Volatile oils, resins and gums are some of the constituents of myrrh. So far, 75 compounds have been isolated from myrrh, comprising 56 sesquiterpenoids, two diterpenoids, 15 triterpenoids and two other compounds. [8]
What is Myrrh used for?
Myrrh is used for typical healing purposes: it has significant antimicrobial activity and has been known to be effective in treating many diseases [7].
In conventional medicine, it has been used to treat wounds, mouth ulcers, pains, fractures, stomach ailments, microbial infections and inflammatory diseases [9].
Experimental research has shown that myrrh has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities and even wound-healing capabilities: it has cytotoxic activity against some cancer cells and is also anti-inflammatory (for wound healing) [10]. This doesn't mean that myrrh can cure cancer, but it suggests a possible direction for future research.
Myrrh has also been applied as an antiparasitic therapy; it shows efficacy against human trematode infections and fascioliasis [11, 12].
In addition, myrrh may possess abortion-inducing ability, with an 82.9% complete abortion rate in patients with incomplete abortion [13].
Furthermore, myrrh has been found to inhibit inflammatory responses and protect against sepsis [14].
Although it is used for many applications, myrrh is also a highly toxic substance. According to traditional Chinese medicine, vinegar processing decreases its toxicity [8].
Can Frankincense and Myrrh provide benefits for skin health?
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Two plant-based natural resins, frankincense and myrrh, contribute to skin health. They contain essential oils and terpenoids with anti-inflammatory [15].
Frankincense and Myrrh are known to improve skin health by increasing the efficacy of transepidermal absorption, improving the distribution of drugs in the stratum corneum (the uppermost layer of the skin), and alteration in its structure to increase the permeation of the skin [16]. Improving the permeation of the skin may be of value in topical medications and skincare products.
Furthermore, it was observed that Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils increased the skin blood flow which serves to remove drugs from the epidermis to dermal capillaries, thus enhancing the transdermal permeation amounts of drugs [17].
Moreover, Frankincense oil formulated into solid lipid nanoparticles had an anti-photoaging effect in UVB-irradiated rats, radically recovered antioxidant capacity, inhibited inflammatory markers, stimulated Procollagen I synthesis, and simultaneously downregulated MMPs (MMP1, MMP9) that actively contributed to the degradation of collagen in the skin [18].
Conclusion
In the end, skin health benefits from using Frankincense and Myrrh can be summarised as enhanced transdermal absorption, increased skin blood flow, and demonstrated anti-photoaging effects, but much more data is required to fully understand these benefits and provide targeted skincare applications going forward.