By Charles Kidder
Most of us are familiar with the biblical account of the three wise men—or kings—who brought gifts to Jesus. Even as a child, I knew that gold was extremely valuable. But frankincense and myrrh? Having been raised in a smells-and-bells Catholic church, I had some idea what frankincense was, but no real grasp on myrrh, despite being told that it was a precious oil. It always seemed to me that one of the kings was really breaking the bank with his purchase, while the other two were picking up some things that were lying around the house. Even re-gifting, perhaps.
Turns out that frankincense and myrrh were indeed quite valuable, however. In ancient times, myrrh was even more valuable than gold on a unit-weight basis. But what exactly are these two substances?
Whether we have ever used it or not, pretty much everybody has some idea what incense is: a botanical product that is burned to produce a pleasant smell, and in some instances, for religious or medicinal purposes. It can be made from a wide variety of substances, but the true frankincense comes from four species in the genus Boswellia,
especially from B. sacra. The name comes from the Old French franc encens, roughly meaning “pure incense.”
Boswellia sacra is native to the southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Eritrea and Somalia, harsh environments that receive only four to 10 inches of rain annually. The mountains of Yemen are frequently foggy during the summer monsoon, however, and this wetter climate is favored by the Boswellia. Small trees or large shrubs, they may top out at about 25 feet, but are often much shorter. The flowers are not particularly ornamental, and the trees are often described as “scraggly.”
Boswellia trees are tapped for their resin by making cuts in the bark, generally two to three times a year. When exposed to air, the resin hardens and can be easily collected; it has been traded in the Middle East since at least 2000 BC.
In addition to being burned as incense, the resin can be distilled to produce an essential oil. The resin is reportedly “edible,” meaning it can be chewed like a gum, but should not be swallowed. In fact, the World Health Organization warns that “swallowing the gum (olibanum) can lead to stomach problems.” The WHO goes on to say that “on account of its mildly euphoric and stimulating effects, smoke from burning frankincense is classed as ‘slightly hazardous’.” Good grief. We wouldn’t want mild euphoria and stimulation, now would we?
The outlook for B. sacra plants (and frankincense) is not rosy. Never a particularly abundant plant, it has declined precipitously over the last few decades. It has been over-harvested for its resin, leading to a much lower rate of reproduction. Also, it has been cut to provide more land for agriculture, even while goats are grazing the young trees.
Which would lead one to wonder: what are the prospects for raising Boswellia as a crop? Not favorable, apparently. First, there is not a huge demand for frankincense; the largest exporter, Ethiopia only ships 5,000 tons per year, the Catholic Church taking 50 of these. Also, like many plants that survive harsh conditions in their native habitat, Boswellia can be hard to grow elsewhere. Jason Eslamieh, a native of Iran, raises it in Arizona, but even there it has to be protected when it gets really cold. He sells the seeds, but at $25 for a hundred, they’re pretty dear. And he makes no guarantees regarding germination, saying the rate can range from 0% to 8%. If you want a more sure thing, he will sell you a small plant for $55. Of course in our area, it would survive only as a houseplant.
And what about myrrh, the other botanical gift? This is yet another aromatic resin, produced by various trees in the genus Commiphora. (Commiphora and Boswellia are from the same family of plants, the Burseraceae, or Torchwoods.) Like its cousin Boswellia, the myrrh tree (C. myrrha) is native to the southern Arabian Peninsula, Somalia and Eritrea. Small, shrubby trees to about 15 feet, they sport impressive thorns. The method of production is the same as with Boswellia: wound the bark, and the tree bleeds a resin that hardens and becomes glossy. This can then be used as an incense, perfume or medicine. (Reportedly, it can be ingested by mixing with wine, but please note: I am making NO representations as to its effectiveness or safety. As in: Don’t try this at home.)
Googling around in the world of counterculture products and alternative medicines can be a murky experience. I came across “Peruvian Myrrh” for sale that was also being called Commiphora myrrah. But it was allegedly from a Styrax tree, an unrelated genus growing in the Peruvian rainforest. Perhaps it produces a similar aroma, as well as other effects, to the actual Commiphora, but caveat emptor.
In the spirit of investigative reporting, I can now state that for the first time in decades, I am now burning frankincense, or at least a product labeled as such. (Admittedly, I was heavily involved in incense burning as an altar boy many years ago.) I get the feeling that the sticks I am using are really “an incense-flavored product,” rather than the real McCoy. For one thing, I am not yet experiencing any euphoria. But with the attendant aroma, at least I can’t tell if the cats’ litter box needs to be cleaned. Hmm. Maybe that does qualify as mild euphoria.
With or without frankincense and myrrh, I do hope your holidays are truly euphoric!
