[Continued from Part 1]
With respect to frankincense, Wikipedia adds, "Recent studies have indicated that frankincense tree populations are declining due to overexploitation. Heavily tapped trees have been found to produce seeds that germinate at only 16% while seeds of trees that had not been tapped germinate at more than 80%." The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species says, "In Oman the tree [B. sacra] is so heavily browsed that it rarely flowers or sets seed. Trees appear to be dying and regeneration is poor." (If desired, you can find out more about the IUCN and its Red List.)
Myrrh
The Myrrh Plant
Myrrh comes from a number of small, thorny trees in the genus Commiphora, where the main species that provides myrrh is a C. myhrra, which grows to a height of about 13 feet. Here are pictures of the trees, leaves, thorns, and flowers. (The pictures are all of C. myrrha, except for the flowers, which are from an unknown species of Commiphora.)
Myrrh has much the same range as frankincense and grows in the area of the Horn of Africa and southern Arabia (see map above). Myrrh trees tend to grow on the lower slopes, while frankincense grows on the higher slopes.
Production and Use of Myrrh
Myrrh is harvested much like frankincense. The process is described by this site.
Tapping is the method to extract resins which is done twice a year. To extract resins, an incision is made in the trunk of the tree, which pierces gum resin reservoirs located in it. The incisions are made all the way up from the root to those of the branches that are strong enough to bear it. The sap slowly oozes from the incisions and drips down the bark, forming tear-shaped droplets that are left to harden on the side of the tree. These droplets flow as pale yellow liquid, but harden to reddish-brown masses of many sizes, the average being that of a walnut.
Below are pictures of myrrh resin oozing from the tree and of the hardened lumps of myrrh.
In Africa myrrh resin is used to treat infections because of its anti-microbial properties. This use goes back to at least 1100 B.C.
Because the wood of the myrrh tree is extremely soft, it is the favored wood to use as the base when when it is necessary to start a fire with friction; see picture below.
The bulk of the world's supply of Frankincense and myrrh goes to China, where they are used in traditional medicine.
Frankincense and myrrh both have an incense-like aroma, which is dispersed by burning the lumps. Frankincense and myrrh are used in perfumes; the picture below shows a selection of myrrh perfumes.
Other mundane uses of myrrh are in mouthwashes, massage oils, liniments, and tooth powders. Veterinarians use myrrh to heal wounds. Some think that myrrh can be used to treat schistosomiasis.
New Age types find many uses for myrrh, with skincare being one of the more credible uses. Also, it releases fears and helps us to be non-judgmental. In addition, burning it will clear your space of negativity. A 15 ml bottle of the essential oil of myrrh (pictured below) costs $85.20. (To get a sense of what a tiny amount this is, keep in mind that a one liter bottle of Coke contains 1000 ml.) WebMD provides a list of ailments, ranging from bad breath to hemorrhoids, for which myrrh is claimed to be effective, but it notes that there is insufficient evidence that myrrh is effective for any of them. Also, nail lacquers using myrrh are thought to be effective against nail fungus because of the anti-microbial properties of myrrh; for the surprisingly elaborate instructions, see this site. It is best if you begin your preparation of the tincture at the new moon; this is an application of the astrological approach to plant medicine.
Some think that the name "Mary" is derived from "myrrh."
Current and Future Status of Frankincense and Myrrh Trees
As you can tell from the pictures, frankincense and myrrh trees do not grow in orchards; since wild frankincense and myrrh trees apparently produce enough resin to meet demand, there is currently no pressure to domesticate these trees..
The FAO describes the effect of property rights on the conservation status of frankincense and myrrh trees:
In some cases, as in Somalia, the wild Boswellia stands belong to extended families who live in the resin-producing areas. There is therefore some incentive on the part of those who tap the trees not to do it in such a way as to damage the trees and jeopardise their livelihoods. On the other hand, it is impossible to prevent grazing of livestock and in times of drought nomads cut branches for fodder. Severe drought also affects the trees directly, slowing their growth and causing problems of regeneration. The more accessible trees are often tapped continuously through the year, with no rest periods, and this puts them under further stress.
There are no ownership rights over Commiphora species in Somalia and the trees are exploited by nomads on a less systematic basis, and with less concern for their state of health, than Boswellia.
Here is a report on the implications of climate change for the production of frankincense and myrrh in Somalia, a major producer.
"The mist forests of the Golis Mountains of the northern regions are the only true forest areas of Somalia and are important centers of biological diversity and species endemism," according to a study of the area by the United Nations Environment Program.
But they are under threat from man-made changes both local and global, endangering the trees that have bled frankincense and myrrh for thousands of years.
The worldwide problem of climate change here thins the clouds of nourishing moisture that blow up from the Gulf of Aden, meaning there is less and less water to nourish the trees. Meanwhile deforestation is also taking its toll as trees are chopped down for charcoal to supply the growing fuel needs of a rapidly expanding population.
An Extremely Brief History of Frankincense and Myrrh
Frankincense was prized by the ancient Egyptians. Queen Hatshepsut in 1493 B.C. sent an expedition to Punt to bring back incense and incense trees. Punt is now thought to be the Horn of Africa, and this expedition is credited with opening the entire Red Sea to navigation and trade [Keay, pp. 34-35]. (Needless to say, these interpretations are controversial.) The Egyptians used frankincense as one of the ingredients in kohl eyeliner.
Frankincense and myrrh were common in Biblical times. For example, myrrh is mentioned 156 times in the Bible. There is elaborate Biblical scholarship that surrounds frankincense and myrrh, but I can't get interested and will skip over it, except to note that a temptress would perfume her bed with myrrh (Proverbs 7:17) and that in Old Testament times myrrh was used to purify a king's concubine (Esther 2:12).
Frankincense was known to the ancient Greeks. Herodotus [3.107] notes that frankincense came from Arabia but that it was hazardous to harvest since each tree was carefully guarded by great numbers of winged serpents.
For the ancient view of frankincense and myrrh, we can go to a little-known ancient writer, Agatharchides, who says at the end of the second century B.C., "For the fragrance appears as something divine and greater than the power of speech to describe since it strikes and stimulates the senses of everyone" [quoted in Keay, p. 51].
In the first century A.D. the export of incense from southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa is estimated to have been 1,675 tons per year, which for transport would have required about eleven thousand camels [Keay, p. 51]. The great value placed on frankincense at this time can be judged from the fact that clean-room techniques were developed for its processing, as described by Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.):
Great Hercules! At Alexandria, where the frankincense is prepared for sale, no amount of vigilance is sufficient to guard the factories. A seal is put upon the workmen's aprons, they have to wear a mask or a fine-mesh net over their heads, and before they are allowed to leave the premises they have to strip off all their clothes. [Quoted in Keay, p. 22]
Trade was greatly reduced after 300 A.D. due to the spread of Christianity, the desertification of the caravan routes, the depredations of the Parthians, and the fall of the Roman Empire. Though trade was disrupted, frankincense and myrrh retained their fashionable cachet through medieval times, but desire for these products eventually fell off in the 16th century and declined to the relatively modest level of the present day [Keay, pp. 100, 213-14].
Party Tip
At your Christmas party introduce your guests to the Three Wise Men cocktail, which is composed of Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, and Johnnie Walker. In this video a fun-loving blonde shows how to make it (see still below). To test if this cocktail really does make your guests wise, pose philosophical questions to them. Which is more important--Truth or Beauty? Are little white lies a sign or cultivation or moral degradation? What is justice? Can knowledge ever be secure? Can the ideal society exist? What separates Man from the Animals?
Gift Idea
I challenge you to think of a classier gift than frankincense and myrrh. You can buy half a pound of five-star Frankincense on Amazon for $10.15 and a pound of five-star myrrh on Amazon for $18.99. (The link in the previous sentence is to a highly rated myrrh. Watch out for cheap but low quality myrrh.) With these purchases, you will be in a position to give gifts that will take the recipients' breath away.
Here's another way to look at this. When you choose a role model, aim high. At the Christmas season, what loftier role model is there than the Three Wise Men? Follow in their footsteps and give frankincense and myrrh as gifts.
Alternate Party Tip
You can turn this gift idea into a party tip. Buy frankincense and myrrh in bulk. Imagine yourself handing out little plastic bags of frankincense and myrrh. You will be the life of the party. You will be lionized. The guests will never forget the party where they were given these precious substances.
[Continued in Part 3]
