Ethnobotanical Derived Incense
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Amber is a fossilized tree resin that is highly appreciated for its color and unique beauty.[7] It's used in everything from jewelry to a healing agent in folk medicine.[7] It has a really yummy honey-like appearance to it, which creates a comforting feeling when I look at it. It was burned in ancient China, during large festivities.[7] There are lots of imitation substances out there that are being passed off as Amber but are NOT.[7] Buyer Beware. It's very beautiful to look at though, isn't it? Amber has been used since prehistory (Solutrean) to make ornaments.[7] It has such a beautiful appearance that it almost hypnotizes you to look at it doesn't it?
Black Spruce Resin
(Picea Mariana)
Camphor Crystals
(Cinnamomum Camphora)
What you know about Camphor mane? Around 250 species of Cinnamomum are native to Asia and Australia.[8] This type of tree is considered a shrub, and or a tree, and has aromatic bark.[8] Some species of Cinnamomum are used for timber.[8] Camphor can be derived from the bark of this tree(and it is the original most well known organic source for the substance), however a lot or most of the camphor that exist on the market is synthetic.[8] It grows in the deep south of the United States.[8] There are lots of other interesting things about camphor as well. "Safrole (4-allyl-1,2-methylene dioxybenzene) occurs in essential oils originating in many plants used for seasonings, e.g., sassafras, camphor, nutmeg, and black pepper"[9] and what is safrole? "Safrole is a synthetic precursor for synthesising MDMA, MDA, piperonyl butoxide, and piperonal."[10]
(Bursera odorata)The image above is Copal from Madagascar son, isn't that rad?
Image by HerbsPedia
Eucalyptus has astringent, tonic, antiseptic, and antispasmodic properties.[9] To my understanding, it is mostly something used externally, and something you must be careful with, as I believe there are potential dangers with its use(seems that I've heard somewhere). Eucalyptus is also employed by indigenous healers for: croup, diphtheria, bronchiritis, asthma, piles, neuralgis, malarial diseases, catarrh, ulcers and sores, and chronic inflammation.[9] One of the most prized phytochemical components of Eucalyptus is Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole), which is a terpenoid oxide that can be isolated from Eucalyptus species.[11] Eucalyptol has been scientifically proven to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, and is beneficial for respiratory disease, pancreatitis, colon damage, and cardiovascular as well as neurodegenerative diseases.[11] Modern scientific studies indicate to us that: "Eucalyptol has been found to have analgesic and antianxiety effects in humans"[11] Something for entrepaneurs and DIY medicine men and woman to keep in mind, is that one academic source tells us: "Furthermore, eucalyptol can pass the blood–brain barrier and hence can be used as a carrier to deliver drugs to the brain via a microemulsion system"[11] This is valuable information that any herbalist can utilize. One last thing I want to mention, is that Eucalyptol has even been studied as a potential inhibitor of covid-19 corona virus infection.[12] The results of the study concluded that "Eucalyptol may represent potential treatment to act as covid-19 Mpro inhibitor."[12]
Frankincense
(Boswellia carteri)
Image by HerbsPedia
The Three Wise Men from the bible story, brought frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus. Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures burned frankincense and/or myrrh as incense during rituals.[1] It has been studied by phytochemist in the laboratory to determine its pharmacological properties. Studies show it produces something called boswellic acid, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and memory boosting properties[2] One academic source on frankincense medicinal properties states: "we have accumulated research evidence from the beneficial effect of Frankincense consumption in memory improvement and the prevention of inflammation and cancer."[2] Frankincense is also good for nausea I've noticed. It can be eaten, and is in Saudi Arabia.
Image by HerbsPedia
The menthol above has been isolated from Peppermint plant material. It can also be made synthetically as well(artifically), unfortunately. I for sure prefer organic over synthetic. "Menthol, a natural product of the peppermint plant Mentha x piperita (Lamiaceae), is a monoterpene which is widely used as a natural product in cosmetics, a flavoring agent, and as an intermediate in the production of other compounds."[3] It's been used in traditional medicine recipes for ages for things like infections, insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome as well as an insect repellent.[3] It is literally the active ingredient in many big brand products, including vapo-rub, cough drops, menthol cigarettes, icy-hot, listerine, toothepaste, and many other every day products. These products rely on Menthol to give them their tingly fresh minty anesthetic properties. Menthol exist naturally in various members of the plant species. Aside from what you already knew about it, it has more complex and miarculous pharmacology on top of that: "Aside from its cold-inducing sensation capabilities, menthol exhibits cytotoxic effects in cancer cells, induces reduction in malignant cell growth, and engages in synergistic excitation of GABA receptors and sodium ion channels resulting in analgesia."[3]
(Comminphora myrhha)Image by HerbsPedia
Myrrh can be found in different locations, primarily in the southern part of Arabia, the North Eastern part of Africa, in Somalia, and Kenya.[4] Myrrh acts on opioid receptors, but doesn't get you high.[5][6] Traditional applications for Myrrh in medicine are: for treating wounds, mouth ulcers, aches, fractures, stomach disorders, microbial infections, and inflammatory diseases[4] Myrrh is used as: an antiseptic, astringent, anthelmintic, carminative, emmenagogue, and as an expectorant[4] In terms of the phytochemicals that it produces, phytochemist have discovered it produces: "(monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and volatile/essential oil), diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and steroids"[4] Listen up entrepaneurs, because you can compete with the big F500 companies by making your own cosmetics, perfumes, and other DIY products. Because Myrrh and its essential oil, has applications in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and perfumery.[4] It's only used in the best of the best, the finest of perfumes and cosmetics. Get this, one scholarly source even goes as far as to state that: "Research has shown that it exerts various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic, anti-parasitic, and recently, it was found to work against respiratory infections like COVID-19."[4]
This is not the full list, as this site is under construction.
Academic citations:
[1] https://extension.missouri.edu/news/frankincense-and-myrrh-ancient-scents-of-the-season
[2] Khajehdehi, Mina, Mohammad Khalaj‐Kondori, and Behzad Baradaran. "Molecular evidences on anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, and memory‐boosting effects of frankincense." Phytotherapy Research 36.3 (2022): 1194-1215.
[3] A Farco, Joseph, and Oliver Grundmann. "Menthol-pharmacology of an important naturally medicinal “cool”." Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry 13.1 (2013): 124-131.
[4] Batiha, G. E. S., Wasef, L., Teibo, J. O., Shaheen, H. M., Zakariya, A. M., Akinfe, O. A., ... & Papadakis, M. (2023). Commiphora myrrh: a phytochemical and pharmacological update. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 396(3), 405-420.
[5] Dolara, P., Luceri, C., Ghelardini, C., Monserrat, C., Aiolli, S., Luceri, F., ... & Romanelli, M. N. (1996). Analgesic effects of myrrh. Nature, 379(6560), 29-29.
[6] Cao, B., Wei, X. C., Xu, X. R., Zhang, H. Z., Luo, C. H., Feng, B., ... & Zhang, D. K. (2019). Seeing the unseen of the combination of two natural resins, frankincense and myrrh: Changes in chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Molecules, 24(17), 3076.
[8] University Of North Florida | Cinnamon & Camphor | https://www.unf.edu/botanical-garden/plants/cinnamomum-camphora.html
[11] Seol, Geun Hee, and Ka Young Kim. "Eucalyptol and its role in chronic diseases." Drug discovery from mother nature (2016): 389-398.
[12] Sharma, Arun Dev. "Eucalyptol (1, 8 cineole) from eucalyptus essential oil a potential inhibitor of COVID 19 corona virus infection by molecular docking studies." (2020).
[9] Hutchens, Alma R. Indian Herbalogy of North America. Boston ; London, Shambhala, 1991.
Encyclopedia Sources:
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber
Other resources:
M.A.P.S. Ethnobotanical Studies By Scholars
PubChem - pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov