Hampshire - View Magazines

View
vhealth
Gold, frankincense and myrrh: the
precious gifts that the wise men
brought to the Nativity. We are all
familiar with the names and the story but
have you ever stopped to wonder why they
chose to bring these gifts to the crib? I don’t
think you need me to tell you why gold was
seen as a precious gift for the infant Jesus
but frankincense and myrrh… what good
would they be?
Frankincense and myrrh are trees
belonging to the same botanical family, and
have a number of features in common.
52
Three precious gifts
The three kings from the Orient knew a thing or two about gifts.
Mark Sparrow adds a few wise words
‘… frankincense and myrrh…
what good would they be?’
Frankincense tree
Frankincense is a small tree native to North
Africa and some of the Arab countries.
When the bark is damaged the tree exudes a
resin in drops and the essential oil is
extracted from the resin by steam
distillation. Frankincense has been burnt on
altars and in temples since early times – its
name derives from medieval French
meaning ‘real incense’ – and it has among
its physical properties the ability to slow
down and deepen breathing, thus making it
conducive to prayer and meditation. It is
also much sought after in skin care, where it
is particularly useful for older skin, helping
slow down the appearance of wrinkles and
perhaps even reduce the extent of those that
have already formed. On an emotional level,
frankincense has a calming effect and can
help people suffering from anxiety.
‘… it is particularly useful for
older skin, helping slow down
the appearance of wrinkles’
Myrrh found similar uses in ancient
times as a perfume, incense and medicine.
It was highly valued as a healing ointment
and today it is used in aromatherapy and
herbal medicine as a powerful antiseptic
and anti-inflammatory. It is especially useful
for wounds that are slow to heal and makes
an excellent remedy for mouth ulcers and
gum disorders. Its uses overlap with
frankincense in the treatment of chest
infections, catarrh, colds and sore throats,
for which the oils may be combined to
make a soothing inhalation. Myrrh is rich in
anti-oxidants making it another excellent oil
to use on the skin.
So, how might you be lucky
enough to be given such
precious gifts yourself? At
Neal’s Yard Remedies we
make extensive use of both
frankincense and myrrh
in our skincare
range and you
can discover it
in face creams,
body creams
and shower gels.
The essential oils
are widely available
and they can be used Myrrh powder
in burners, for
massage or in the bath. Try blending
frankincense with a lighter oil, for example
bergamot or mandarin, for a calming and
uplifting fragrance that would help you to
relax after a long day. Both the resins are
available in their raw form and these make
powerful incenses to burn on charcoal or on
an open fire. As an aid to meditation this
will help stabilise and still the mind,
enabling you to access a higher state of
consciousness and spirituality.
And gold? Well, we can’t provide that
for you at Neal’s Yard Remedies but maybe
someone who loves you will pop that into
your Christmas stocking… V
Mark Sparrow is from Neal’s Yard Remedies, 27 Market Place, Salisbury (01722 340736)
Top Quality
Handmade
Solid Wood
Furniture
www.jufurniture.co.uk
Traditional
Continental
Antique
Modern