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Frankincense and Myrrh
“Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.” Song of Solomon 4:6
Healing oils were part of daily living among Hebrews, Jews and the early Christians throughout Biblical times. In the Bible, 36 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and 10 of the 27 books of the New Testament speak of essential oils or the plants that produce them with frankincense and myrrh being the most frequently cited. It is clear from the scriptures that these plants and their oils were to be used for health and healing.
“On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food . . . their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:12
“. . .and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2
Ancient uses for frankincense and myrrh were many including religious rituals, elevation of spiritual consciousness, all manner of healing purposes, transition after death, embalming, flavoring food, skin care and perfume. Frankincense was used to anoint the newborn sons of kings and priests. Myrrh was used by pregnant mothers to anoint themselves for protection against infectious diseases and to elevate feelings of well-being. They also believed it would protect their unborn children from generational curses. (Exodus 20:5. 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). During labor, women inhaled the vapors of myrrh to reduce anxiety and massaged the oil on their perineum to facilitate stretching. After childbirth, myrrh was used on the umbilical cord of the newborn to protect the navel from infection and on the mother’s abdomen to heal stretch marks. It may have been for all of these uses that frankincense and myrrh were brought by the three wise men to Mary and baby Jesus.
“They saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented to Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
Myrrh was one of the first oils to be received by the Christ child along with frankincense (Matthew 2:11) and the last to be offered as Jesus stood at the cross (Mark 15:23). It is the only ingredient that is part of the “holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:23-24) and the “holy incense” (Exodus 30:34-35) given to Moses by God. Frankincense and myrrh are both components of God’s “holy incense” which is referred to many times in the Bible simply as “incense,” such as in (Numbers 16:46-50), where Aaron stops a plague using “incense.”
“And the Lord said unto Moses, take unto thee sweet spices, stacte (myrrh), and onycha, and galbanum , these sweet spices with pure frankincense . . . and make an incense.” Exodus 30:34-35
Myrrh is an oil of beauty. Its aroma was celebrated by Solomon in his song of love. (Song of Solomon 1:13; 3:6; 4:6, 14; 5:1, 5, 13). Esther bathed in myrrh for six months in preparation for her marriage to the king (Esther 2:12) and David sings of myrrh as an oil of gladness (Psalms 45).
References:
Healing Oils of the Bible, David Stewart Ph.D.
Healing: God’s Forgotten Gift, David Stewart Ph.D.
Linda Hileman BS, CCA is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist. For more information or to make an appointment, call 256-325-4444 or email EssentialOptions@aol.com.
