Overview

Frankincense is a hardened gum-like material (resin) that comes from the trunk of the Boswellia tree. People use its oil on the skin and in aromatherapy.

Frankincense oil seems to kill some types of bacteria and fungi (yeasts). It is commonly used as a fragrance in soaps, lotions, and perfumes.

People use frankincense for aging skin, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any use. There is also no good evidence to support using frankincense for COVID-19.

Boswellia tree extracts are also sometimes taken by mouth. For information on taking frankincense by mouth, see Boswellia serrata.

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© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.