Burning Frankincense Incense May Help Anxiety And Depression

May 21, 2008

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Burning incense, such as frankincense, has been a practice used for meditative and religious purposes for many years. It had been assumed that the benefits were in the practice, rather than the incense itself being beneficial for relaxation, anxiety and depression.

Many studies have looked at frankincense, which is resin from the Boswellia trees. The trees are slashed and the resin is exuded through the wound. After it has hardened into “tears” it is collected.

Boswellic acids which are found in frankincense have been suggested to be anti-inflammatory and have a range of properties. There is still some argument about these acids and their role in cancer, colitis and other inflammatory diseases.

Recent research has identified another compound in frankincense that is called incensole acetate. This compound has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and to be neuroprotective.

Incensole acetate has now been suggested to act on a class on ion channels (TRPV4) in the brain that may be involved in anxiety and depression. If this is confirmed by further research it shows that burning incense may be good for calming and mood elevation. It also provides a basis for the potential development of a new class of anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs.

So - the beneficial effects of incense on anxiety and depression that have been claimed for centuries but pooh-poohed by most of science, now do in fact have a sound scientific basis.

Note: There is a shortage of frankincense due to an increased demand and overtapping of trees. Research has suggested that overtapped trees are not producing as many healthy seeds and so the numbers of new trees produced is dropping.

photo credit: garryknight