Twelve Essential Oils of the Ancient Scripture

Properties of the
12 Essential Oils of the Ancient Scriptures:




Excerpted from: Essential Oils Desk Reference, May 2000
 

1. Aloes also called Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Botanical Family: Santalaceae (sandalwood)
Plant origin: India
Steam distilled for the wood.
 
Sandalwood is high in sesquiterpenes that have been researched in Europe for their ability to stimulate the pineal gland and the limbic region of the brain, the center of emotions. The pineal gland is responsible for releasing melatonin, a powerful antioxidant that enhances deep sleep. Sandalwood is similar to frankincense oil in its support of nerves and circulation.
 
Traditional Uses: Sandalwood has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. It was used traditionally for skin revitalization, yoga, and meditation.
 
Sandalwood (or aloes) is mentioned in Proverbs 7:17, Song of Solomon 4:14 and John 19:39
 
Because of over harvesting sandalwood oil is very expensive and hard to find.
 

2. Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia)

Botanical Family: Lauraceae (laurel)
Plant Origin: China
Steam distilled from bark.
Action: antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.

Note: While its aroma is similar to cinnamon, cassia is chemically and physically quite different.
 
Excerpt from “New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses”, 2001
 
“Cinnamomum cassia is one of the oldest spices known, first recorded in China in 2700BC and in Egypt in 1600BC.”
 
It is recommended for aromatic use, not recommended for topical application or as a dietary supplement, it is “hot”.
 
Mentioned in the Scriptures: Exodus 30:24, Psalms 45:8 and Ezekiel 27:19
It is one of the ingredients in the Holy Anointing Oil. Available only in “Twelve Oils of Ancient Scripture” kit, available at my website: The Very Essence
 
 
3. Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

Botanical Family: Pinaceae (pine)
Plant Origin: Morocco, USA. Cedrus atlantica is the species most closely related to the Biblical Cedars of Lebanon.
Steam distilled from bark.

Traditional Uses: Throughout antiquity, Cedarwood has been used in medicines and cosmetics. The Egyptians used it for embalming the dead. It was used as both a traditional medicine and incense in Tibet. It is recognized for its calming, purifying properties and is used to benefit the skin and underlying tissues.
 
Cedarwood may help with acne, anxiety, arthritis, congestion, coughs, cystitis, dandruff, psoriasis, purification, respiratory system, sinusitis, skin diseases, and fluid retention. It may help open the pineal gland. It also helps to reduce skin oiliness.
  
Cedarwood is mentioned in the Bible in Leviticus 14 and Numbers 19:6
 
 
4. Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).

Botanical Family: Cupressaneae
Plant Origin: France, Spain
Steam distilled from branches
 
Cypress is one of the oils most used for the circulatory system. It improves circulation and supports the nerves and intestine. Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and strengthens blood capillaries. Acts as an insect repellent.
 
The cypress tree is renowned for its durability. Some Bible scholars believe cypress may be the “gopher wood” used to build Noah’s Ark. It works well for dizziness, believe me I know.
 
It has also been used for asthma, reducing cellulite, circulatory system, strengthening connective tissue, coughs, nosebleeds and lessening scar tissue.
 

5. Frankincense (Olibanum-Boswellia carteri).

Botanical Family: Burseraceae
Plant Origin: Somalia
Steam distilled from gum/resin

Frankincense is an expectorant, anti-tumoral, immuno-stimulant, and antidepressant. It has been used for asthma, ulcers, over coming stress and despair, allergies, insect and snake bites, bronchitis, cancer, respiratory infections, headaches, high blood pressure and warts.
 
Because frankincense symbolizes divinity, it was one of the three gifts given to the Christ child. The ancient Egyptians used it for everything from gout to a broken head.
 
 
6. Galbanum (Ferula gummosa).

Botanical Family: Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (parsley)
Plant Origin: Iran
Steam distilled from resin derived from stems and branches.

Galbanum is anti-infectious, stimulant, supporting to the kidneys and menstruation, analgesic and light antispasmodic.
 
Galbanum may also help with abscesses, acne, asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughs, indigestion, muscular aches and pains, nervous tension, poor circulation, scars, wrinkles and wounds.
 
Galbanum has a low electrical frequency but when added to another essential oil the frequency rises dramatically.
 
Ancient incenses included spices or perfumes with lovely fragrances, but were not complete without the earthy odor of galbanum.
 
 
7. Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).

Botanical Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint)
Plant Origin: France, Hungary
Steam distilled form the stems/leaves

Hyssop has been used for almost a millennium for its antiseptic, disinfecting and anti-infectious properties. It has also been used for opening the respiratory system. It has been used for anxiety, arthritis, asthma, bruises, respiratory infections, cuts, fatigue, nervous tension, sore throats, viral infections and wounds. Branches from the hyssop plant were used during the exodus from Egypt to dab Hebrew doorposts with lamb’s blood as protection from the plague of death. It smells kind of minty.


8. Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha).
Botanical Family: Burseraceae (Frankincense)
Plant Origin: Somalia
Steam distilled from gum/resin.

The Arabian people used myrrh for many skin conditions, such as chapped and cracked skin and wrinkles. It has been known to help asthma, athlete’s foot, candida, coughs, eczema, digestion , gum infections, and many others.

It is fitting that myrrh symbolizes suffering since it is produced by slicing the bark of a myrrh tree so that the precious resin oozes out and hardens into drops called “tears.” It was often used during the birthing process it helps with skin elasticity.


9. Myrtle (Myrtus communis).

Botanical Family: Myrtaceae (myrtle)
Plant Origin: Tunisia, Morocco
Steam distilled form leaves.

Myrtle has bee researched by Dr. Daniel Penoel for normalizing hormonal imbalances of the thyroid and ovaries, as well as balancing the hypothyroid. It has also been researched for its soothing effects on the respiratory system.

This oil may help anger, asthma, respiratory ailments, flatulence, hemorrhoids, hormonal imbalance, support the immune system, acne, psoriasis.


10. Onycha (Styrax benzoin).

Botanical Family: Styracaceae, also called benzoin
Steam distilled from the resin.

Like frankincense and myrrh, onycha is a resin and was used in various religious ceremonies. It smells like vanilla.

It is astringent, expectorant and antiseptic, circulatory stimulant and sedative. It has been used for coughs, colds, bronchitis, sore throats, and is an ingredient in Friar’s Balsam, according to the New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses by Deni Bown. It is also used as an anti-oxidant in cosmetics and a fixative in perfumes.


11. Rose of Sharon/Cistus (Labdanum-Cistus ladanifer).

Excerpt from Essential Oils Desk Reference, May 2000
Botanical Family: Cistaceae
Plant Origin: France, Spain
Steam distilled from branches

Cistus is also known as “rock rose” and has been studies for its effects on the regeneration of cells. It is anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, a powerful antihemorraging agent and helps reduce inflammation.

Anciently, the gum that exudes from this plant was collected from the hair of goats that had browsed among the bushes. Cistus is calming to the nerves and is recommended for healing wounds. The story is that shepherds discovered its healing powers. They had to pick the sticky residue out of their sheep’s wool and noticed that when they did the scratches on their hand healed quickly.


12. Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi).

Botanical Family: Valerianaceae
Plant origin: India
Steam distilled from roots

Hebrews and Romans used spikenard in the burial of their dead. It is well known for healing allergic skin reactions. It is highly regarded in India as a perfume, medicinal herb, and skin tonic. It was one of the most precious oils in ancient times, used only by priests, kings, or high initiates. In the New Testament Mary of Bethany used a salve of spikenard to anoint the feet of Jesus.

It has been used for allergies, candida, indigestion, insomnia, menstrual difficulties, stress and wounds.


Get the “12 Oils of Ancient Scriptures” boxed kit, available at:
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Malignant Melanoma in Horses and Frankincense Essential Oil

Virginia Tech researcher examining malignant melanoma in horses
Public release date: 31-Jan-2006
Contact: Jeffrey Douglas
jdouglas@vt.edu


Malignant melanoma is a dangerous, aggressive form of cancer and approximately 54,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Interestingly, there are many similarities between malignant melanoma in horses and malignant melanoma in people.

Recognizing the extraordinary opportunity for translational research that the disease represents, Dr. John L. Robertson, a professor in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech and director of the college's Center for Comparative Oncology (CECO), has been looking at one experimental treatment.

During a presentation before a regional meeting of the American Cancer Society in Roanoke, Va., Robertson detailed some of the work he is doing with the use of Frankincense essential oil as a possible treatment for malignant melanoma in horses. The risk factors for malignant melanoma in people and horses are very similar, according to Robertson. In people, risk factors include pale complexion and hair, exposure to excessive sunlight and sunburns and aging. Horses at risk also have a pale coat of grey to white and there seems to be a correlation to aging, which could be a result of chronic exposure to sunlight, he said. In each, the disease is an infiltrated pigmented malignancy that is difficult to manage. Conventional therapies include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and surgery. The disease often affects horses with the development of lesions on the lips, neck, and perineal area.

Robertson presented the story of Chili, a handsome, 11-year old Thoroughbred and champion jumper that was diagnosed with multi-centric malignant melanoma at the age of seven. Told by her local practitioner that there was not much that could be done for Chili and aware of Robertson's interest in evaluating an experimental therapy, Chili's owner asked if Robertson would work with Chili. That experimental therapy involved the use of frankincense oil, a compound known as a valuable treatment for wounds for more than 2,000 years, and one people are reminded of every Christmas when they recall the Gifts of the Magi brought to the Christ-child.

Frankincense essential oil is a fragrant botanical oil distillate made from fermented plants, explains Robertson, who adds that it contains hundreds of constituents, including boswellic acid, a component that is known to have anti-neoplastic properties. Scientists have demonstrated that the oil has potent anti-inflammatory effects and anti-tumor properties when evaluated in tissue culture with tumors such as astrocytomas, melanomas, and fibrosarcomas. Furthermore, he said, it appears to have fairly selective anti-tumor activity and does not appear to disrupt normal cells. But much about how it affects actual cancer patients is unknown. Chili's experimental protocol involved daily injections of medicinal grade, sterile frankincense essential oil directly into his tumors and the application of oil on topical tumors, while Chili's comfort and well-being was carefully maintained through pain and nutritional management, including copious amounts of his favorite peeled baby carrots and peppermints.

The lesions were observed, measured, photographed, and periodically biopsied, according to Robertson. Those tumor biopsies demonstrated that some small tumor cells were destroyed by the treatment and those treated topically were reduced in size. Unfortunately, however, Chili passed away on October 18, 2005 as a result of the progressive and relentless growth of the non-treated tumors. Chili's involvement with CeCO and the experimental protocol did result in some important achievements, according to Robertson.

"I think this research on frankincense essential oil suggests that this ancient medicine may have significant modern uses for chemotherapy of non-resectable malignancies," said Robertson, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology. "This research showed that equine melanomas respond to this therapy."

Information gleaned from this Phase I-II National Cancer Institute format clinical trial has supported the development of grant applications and helped in the treatment of five additional horses, Robertson said. A collaboration with the Clinical Research Program at Wake Forest University's Comprehensive Cancer Center is being discussed.

To obtain pure, organic, therapeutic-grade Frankincense essential oil visit my website: The Very Essence