ProgramsUser's Dashboard

The Earth Spirit Medicine Program

With Robert Rogers & Laurie Szott-Rogers

Contact Us

Where Intellect & Intuition Merge

C. The Burseraceae Family – The Devas of Spirit

The Northern Star College offers a Practical Potions, Aromatherapy Program, e-course. We also have Distance Education Courses available.

Questions or Comments?

Ask Robert Rogers or Laurie Szott-Rogers

Contact Us


The Burseraceae Deva
The Burseraceae Deva

Orientation-

Trish, your animated instructor, will help orient you to this page’s contents. Please take the time to listen to her.

Then, head over to the Ship’s Library to engage in self-study. Bring a drink, your laptop and any oils from this family you want to sniff. Get cozy and enjoy this small chapter.

The study sequence will include reading the write-ups, watching the videos, downloading the workbook, doing the exercises, filling in the scent impressions sheets, and corresponding with your Facebook group.

 

 

Introduction to The Burseraceae Family

This family grows mainly in the desert. The oils are thick and gummy, and they are anti-inflammatory. Essential oils from the Burseraceae family have an affinity for the body, primarily the lungs, skin, and the third eye.

The plant uses the gum resin to heal itself. Like the environment in which it grows in a hot desert, it has evolved to protect itself against HOT and DRY conditions. It does the same for humans. Generally, these oils are good wound healers.

Myrrh and Frankincense were believed to be as valuable as gold because of their ability to heal infections and their spiritual effect. It was always unclear to me why the Wisemen offered Jesus frankincense and myrrh, as it seemed to be an unusual gift for a baby. But essential oils and plant resins were gifts for gods and royalty. Emperors and people of great wealth and importance were embalmed with oils. The wise men thoughtfully gave the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and the latter two acknowledged Jesus’ connection to the realm of the gods.

They are processed through steam distillation of the gum resin. This is problematic because the oils are so thick and gummy that they clog up the equipment.

Elemi (gum resin)

Elemi Leaves
Elemi Leaves

Canarium luzonicum

From: Philippines, Manila, Java, Central America & Brazil

Steam Distillation of the Gum Resin or oleoresin. It contains lemony, spicy and balsamic notes.

Class: Alcohols, triterpenic acids, Monoterpenes (<24%), Sesquiterpenes

3 Key Constituents: (+)-Limonene (26-65%), Elemol, Alpha-Phellandrene, elemicin (2-10%) (Lawrence 1981 p/ 26-27, 1989 p. 109-110, 2003)

Elemi is a tropical tree up to 98 feet high that yields resin. When the tree sprouts, a resin solidifies when it contacts air.

Cosmetic: It has a history of being used in medical balms and salves. It has been used for fungus, growth, and inflammation. It may heal and close infected wounds (Sheppard-Hanger, pg. 137). In French medicine, it is an analgesic stimulant and antispasmodic for digestive stagnation and a stimulating expectorant for the lungs.

Elemi is a cell rejuvenator for wrinkles, aged skin, ulcers, varicose veins, furuncles, and scar tissue.

Muscles and Joints: Dilute with a carrier and use Elemi for rheumatic pain.

Immune: Diffuse at the beginning of an illness to fortify the body.

bottles-spa-1-aRespiratory: Use in a diffuser, bath or bowl; inhale for bronchitis, unproductive coughs or excessive mucous.

Mental and Nervous System: Diffuse for stress and nervous exhaustion. Grounding and uplifting, but fiery!

Perfumery: Balsamic, lemony scent; Mid-base note; Odour Intensity midrange.

Blends with bay, benzoin, bergamot,  cardamom, cedar, cinnamon, cistus, clary,  clove, frankincense, galbanum, geranium, ginger, hyssop, labdanum, lavender, lemongrass, litsea cubeba, marjoram, melissa, myrrh,  nutmeg, orange, petitgrain, rosemary, rosewood, sage, sandalwood and tangerine

Spiritual: Encourages the states of- soothing, calm, stillness and peacefulness.

The ancient Egyptians used it for embalming. Brings higher awareness into consciousness. It makes what’s unknown and subconscious visible.

Research:

Antimicrobial Activity

Elemi essential oil has shown promising antimicrobial effects against several bacteria, including Staphylococcus spp., demonstrating its potential for treating infections. A study identified its significant antibacterial activity and biofilm inhibition capabilities against various bacterial strains. Citation: Soyocak, A., Ak, A., & Önem, E. (2022). “Anti-quorum sensing and cytotoxic activity of elemi essential oil.” International Journal of Secondary Metabolite. DOI: 10.21448/ijsm.1059886.

Quorum Sensing Inhibition
Elemi oil is also effective as a quorum-sensing inhibitor, which could play a role in managing bacterial pathogenicity and resistance. This makes it a promising avenue for new antimicrobial strategies by interfering with bacterial communication systems. Citation: Hinspeter, K., & Danowitz, A. M. (2018). “Investigations of Essential Oils as Quorum Sensing Inhibitors of Vibrio fischeri.,” The FASEB Journal, 32. DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.656.13.

Cautions: Avoid with babies, children, and pregnant women—some contact sensitivity. Old and oxidized oils should be avoided. Store in a dark, airtight container in a refrigerator to minimize oxidation. Tisserand pg. 272. Please do not use it internally. Contains low levels of methyl eugenol (0.2-0.3%).

The Elemi Video

Elemi- Student Project Video- by Leanne McKinnon

Could you record your impression of Elemi on your Scent Impressions Sheet or in your journal?

 

Frankincense (Gum resin)

A frankincense tree
A frankincense tree

Boswellia carteri/B. sacra

From: Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen (Hadramawt), Oman

Gum or white sap is usually allowed to harden into tears, collected and steam distilled. 15-20 kilos of resin tears yield about one kilo of oil. However, it is prone to adulteration, as the resin can be dissolved in alcohol for higher yield.

Class: Diterpenes, Sesquiterpenes & Monoterpenes (40%), esters.

3 Key Constituents: Alpha-Pinene (36%), Sabinene (6%), Alpha-Thujene (24%) (Tucker 1986; Lawrence 1995g p.20-30, Hall 2000)

History:  Frankincense has been used as an incense in India. It is favoured for ritual use in the Greek, Egyptian, and Roman cultures. Islam considers Frankincense and Myrrh holy scents. It has also been influential in Jewish ceremonies.

My favourite use is in skin creams and lotions and to strengthen a spiritual bond.

5-candlespg-aCosmetic: Frankincense may be diluted with carrier oils such as Seabuckthorn and Argan and used on dry, mature, aged skin. It is said to smooth wrinkles.

Frankincense is an excellent wound healer for scars, ulcers, wounds, and stretch marks. Sheppard-Hanger pg. 125

Frankincense can be used neat on wounds and acne or as a perfume.

It has been used in Egypt since the 15th Century B.C. Egyptian elites used it spiritually for face masks, cosmetics, and perfumes. In cold weather, they perfumed their hands with frankincense.

Frankincense was one of the most common kinds of incense offered to the gods among the Greeks. The Romans used Frankincense not only for religious ceremonies but also on state occasions and in domestic life. Egyptian inscriptions dated 2,800 B.C. document expeditions to the land of Punt, from which Egypt was importing incense. Punt is the area of Arabia and Africa at the extreme south of the Red Sea, comprising today’s Oman, Yemen, and Somalia, the only places where frankincense and myrrh grow naturally. Frankincense was also valued by the Near East and the Mediterranean cultures, including the Chinese, who sent porcelain to Arabia to trade for it.

The earliest recorded use of frankincense was inscribed on the tomb of a 15th-century BC queen named Hatshepsut. The charred remains of the burnt frankincense were ground into a black powder called kohl. Kohl is the substance used to create the distinctive black eyeliner found on the figures in Egyptian art. Ancient Egyptians used it to rejuvenate face masks, cosmetics, and perfumes. In cold weather, the Egyptians warm their rooms with a brazier where incense is burnt.

Incensole acetate, derived from Boswellia resin, is a potent TRPV3 agonist that plays a role in emotional regulation, including anti-anxiety and anti-depressive activity. Moussaieff A et al, FASEB Journal 2008 22(8): 3024-34.

The ancient world believed that the incense smoke carried their prayers to heaven. No matter what religion observance was celebrated, incense had to be burned. Frankincense was used to embalm corpses. When the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was opened in 1922, one of the sealed flasks released a whiff of incense after 3,300 years. It was noted that the old embalmers did not fall prey to the diseases of which the people had died. During the Black Death in England, from 1603 to 1666, the perfumers of the period were immune to the plague since essential oils always surrounded them. Frankincense was used in medical prescriptions by the Arabs for many generations. Arabic doctors had their clothes strongly scented with incense when visiting patients.
www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/f.html

Respiratory: Diffuse to utilize its anti-infectious, soothing properties. Good for bronchitis, pleurisy, catarrh, coughs, laryngitis, excessive mucous. Eases shortness of breath. Sheppard-Hanger pg. 125

A blend of Ravintsara aromatica, Sandalwood and Frankincense relieved perennial allergic rhinitis symptoms in a randomized, controlled trial of 62 patients—Choi SY et al., Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2016;2016:7896081.

Used in a chest massage, it slows breathing and is helpful during an asthma attack, Purchon and Cantele, pg. 59.

Lymph: Dilute with a carrier and apply to varicose ulcers. Relieves breast inflammation. A poultice could be made with the oil of frankincense for this purpose.

Immune: Stimulant. Beneficial for colds and cases of flu. Frankincense oil induces apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells. Dozmorov MG et al, Chin Med 2014 9:18.

It may be helpful in some cancers. Please take a look at a specialist for this issue. We do not advocate internal use. It may be more effective to use frankincense tincture for this purpose. It is widely adulterated with pine family sesquiterpenes. McCutcheon A et al., Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program. ABC. June 2018.

Frankincense essential oil and cancer:
Why EOs and chemotherapy sometimes conflict.

Digestive: Soothes the stomach, belching and chronic diarrhea.

Genito, Urinary, Reproductive: Nephritis, cystitis, uterine disorders and genital infection. Sheppard-Hanger pg. 125

Mental and Nervous System: Use in the bath or diffuser for anxiety, tension, stress, nightmares, and fear of the future. Frankincense creates elevated states, helps break obsessive thoughts, and uncovers past patterns that block growth. It helps slow down breathing to create a feeling of calm.

Perfumery: Rich, warm, balsamic, base note: Odour Intensity mid-high.

Blends with Basil, bergamot, black pepper, cinnamon, clary sage, coriander, cypress, elemi, fir, galbanum, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, melissa, mimosa, neroli, myrrh,  nutmeg, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, pepper, pine, rose, sandalwood, vetiver, and ylang.

Modifies the sweetness of citrus blends.

Frankincense is a good fixative for spicy, exotic and flowery perfumes. Like sandalwood, its lighter scent allows it to mix with milder notes without dominating.


Mythical and Spiritual:
Promotes a peaceful feeling and fosters divine connections, cleans the aura, is suitable for meditation, and is protective—one of the oils given to Jesus by the 3 Wisemen. The Catholic Church is one of the most significant users of frankincense.

It connects with the karmic past and is used to heighten the dream state. It may act as a pineal stimulant (Holmes 2016).

In a Druid’s Herbal, pg. 35 frankincense is burned in rites of exorcism, purification, and protection. It speeds up spiritual growth and eliminates unwanted influences. In a Druid’s Herbal, pg. 142, Frankincense helps one reach one’s highest spiritual potential. Pg. 145- “The scents of sandalwood and frankincense have some of the highest vibration inherent in any plant. They will resonate with aspects of ourselves or our Angelic/Devic beings of the highest order”.

Frankincense was one of the most common incenses offered to the gods. According to the angelfire.com/journal, “The ancient world believed that the smoke of incense carried prayer to heaven.”

Charred remains of frankincense were called Kohl and used to create black eyeliner on figures in Egyptian art.

More Research:

Evidence of Anticancer Properties
Boswellia sacra essential oil has been shown to induce tumour cell-specific apoptosis and suppress tumour aggressiveness in cultured human breast cancer cells. The study found that Boswellia sacra essential oil exhibited anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities. It effectively reduced cell viability and elevated cell death in breast cancer cell lines while being less toxic to normal human breast cells. The oil also disrupted the formation of cellular networks and spheroids involved in tumour aggressiveness. Furthermore, it influenced the regulation of proteins involved in apoptosis, signal transduction, and cell cycle progression, suggesting that it may be effective against advanced breast cancer. The study concludes that Boswellia sacra essential oil could be a promising therapeutic agent for treating breast cancer, underscoring the need for future clinical studies to establish its efficacy and safety fully.
Citation: Suhail, M. M., Wu, W., Cao, A., Mondalek, F., Fung, K., Shih, P. T., … & Lin, H. K. (2011). “Boswellia sacra essential oil induces tumour cell-specific apoptosis and suppresses tumour aggressiveness in cultured human breast cancer cells.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 11, 129. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-129.

Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Activities Against Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Frankincense essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins induces human pancreatic cancer cell death in cultures and a xenograft murine model. The essential oil showed potent anti-tumour activity and induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.
Citation: Ni, X. R., Suhail, M. M., Yang, Q., Cao, A., Fung, K., Postier, R., Woolley, C. L., Young, G., Zhang, J., & Lin, H. K. (2012). “Frankincense essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins induces human pancreatic cancer cell death in cultures and a xenograft murine model.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12, 253. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-253.

Managing Colon Cancer Stem cell proliferation and Apoptosis
Boswellia sacra essential oil manages colon cancer stem cell proliferation and apoptosis, offering a new perspective for treatment. The oil significantly decreased β-catenin signalling and promoted apoptosis in colon cancer stem cells.
Citation: Becer, E., Kabadayı, H., Başer, K., & Vatansever, H. (2020). “Boswellia sacra essential oil manages colon cancer stem cells proliferation and apoptosis: a new perspective for cure.” Journal of Essential Oil Research, 33, 53-62. DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2020.1839586.

Stress Reduction in Rats: Frankincense essential oil significantly reduced corticosterone levels and improved sleep in sleep-deprived rats, suggesting potential benefits in stress management (Okano, Honda, Kodama, & Kimura, 2019).

Myrrh resin
Myrrh resin

Memory Enhancement: Maternal injection of frankincense extract improved memory performance and upregulated the expression of hippocampal calcium/calmodulin kinase II-α in offspring rats, indicating positive effects on cognitive functions (Beheshti, Ghorbanpour Skakakomi, Ghaedi, & Dehestani, 2018).

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-cancer Activities: Frankincense has been shown to inhibit key inflammatory enzymes and pathways, showing potential for treating conditions like osteoarthritis, asthma, and various cancers. It also holds potential for brain tumour-related edema management, although it does not reduce glioma size (Efferth & Oesch, 2020).

General Pharmacological Effects: Frankincense is known for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of its chemical composition, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, and adverse reactions, underlining its significance in traditional and modern medicine (Li Wei, 2012).

Safety: Avoid it during pregnancy, as the composition is highly variable. Please do not use it internally, especially with epilepsy. If oxidized, it can cause skin sensitization. Keep in a cool, dark place in an airtight container. For example, the oil is drying and should not be used in dry cough.

The Frankincense Video-

Could you record your impression of this oil in your Journal?

Leanne McKinnon’s Student Project Frankincense- Song

Leanne McKinnon: The Frankincense Song from Laurie on Vimeo.

Spirit of the Temple -(Diffusion Blend)

Shadows-at-Monastery-aPlease try this one if you’d like a blend to meditate with or unwind.

4 drops frankincense
2 drops sandalwood, Atlas Cedar or Jamaican Rosewood
15 drops mandarin, bergamot or neroli

Mix and drop into an air-type diffusor, or mix with water and drop into a water-based diffusor.

Relax and breathe deeply. Frankincense connects us to breath, spirit, and our karmic past. It may be in the collective history. Our ancestors inhaled the same scent to commune with spirit.

This plant holds spiritual energy. When you return from your communion with spirit, breathe deeply, enjoy it, and ground yourself with more earthy essential oils.

The Frankincense Video – Student Project, Tina Mathieu

 

Myrrh (gum resin)

myrrh1-aCommiphora myrrha

Class: Sesquiterpene, like frankincense, biochemicals extremely variable.

3 Key Constituents: Furanoeudesma-1,3 diene, Furanodiene, Lindestrene (Dekebo et al. 2002) Contains sesquiterpenes (<70%) including delta elemene, (28%), alpha copaene (11%), beta elemene (7%), alpha bergamotene (5%), and numerous other minor compounds.

NOTE: It is rarely analyzed in labs as Myrrh oil clogs the system. Highly adulterated or stretched with other species of myrrh with inferior odour.

DON’T USE MYRRH STRAIGHT IN A DIFFUSER, OR IT WILL CLOG.

Grows in the same areas as Frankincense Plus, Libya and Iran

Steam Distilled gum resin.

Favourite Use: To help heal gums.

Cosmetic: Inflamed skin, boils, athlete’s foot, skin ulcers, weeping eczema, infected wounds, ringworm–avoid with highly damaged skin. Although used for healing skin issues in the past, when dealing with sensitive skin, always dilute very well and do a patch test to check for sensitivity. Myrrh may be thinned with alcohol or other dilutants to make it pourable. It is also strong and somewhat aggressive. So, when dealing with sensitive skin, you may choose Roman chamomile, frankincense, or lavender. Myrrh is also used for scars and skin infections.

Cosmetically, myrrh is also suitable for mature skin and wrinkles. It preserves the skin so well that it was used in embalming). Add it to a carrier and apply it with a nail brush to help brittle nails. But Myrrh has a “stubborn” personality. It is often very thick and needs to blend more easily. It should be mixed with other oils when used topically.

Highly diluted with suitable carrier oils, it is good for cracked and chapped skin on the lips, heels or hands.

Respiratory: Mix a drop of myrrh in water and gargle for voice loss or a sore throat. Alternate this gargle with salt water.

Gum disease and gingivitis (blend in water with a blender, gargle, or put a drop on a toothpick and put on toothpaste–it tastes terrible). Inflammations of the mouth.

You may also buy myrrh as an herbal tincture that is easier to gargle.

Immune: Colds, coughs, —wasting, degenerative diseases, anti-histaminic.

Digestive: Ulcers, gas (rub on tummy). Hemorrhoids (use in a vegetable glycerin suppository).

Endocrine: Regulates hyperthyroid (slows it down) and slows production of thyroxine. Sheppard-Hanger pg. 183

Genito: Thrush, candida (as a douche–1 drop in a bag), balances sexual appetite.

Mental and Nervous System: Calming for emotional coldness and apathy. The oil is helpful for those prone to worry, over-thinking and obsessing. It supports the critical transitions of life, such as birth, coming of age and death (Holmes 2016).

Perfumery: Base note, fixative: Balsamic, resinous, rich,  smokey, acrid, odour; Odour intensity high.

Blends with benzoin, bergamot, German chamomile, clove, cypress, eucalyptus citriodora,  elemi, frankincense, galbanum, geranium, grapefruit, hyssop, juniper, lavender, lemon, mandarin, oakmoss, palmarosa, patchouli, pine, rosemary, sandalwood, thyme, ylang, and spices.

Myrrh-Bark-a

“From the days of Moses to the time of Christ and since then to the 20th century, myrrh has proven over and over again to be one of the finest antibacterial and antiviral agents placed on the earth.”

John Heinemann, The Science of Herbal Medicine, 1978.

Mythological and Spiritual: One of the three gifts given to Jesus by the Wisemen. An older Greek myth tells of the princess Myrra, who was seen to rival Aphrodite in her beauty. She was forced to the barren lands of Saba, turned into a tree and wept tears of resin in her grief. The resin has been collected and traded for over three millennia.

Purifies the spiritual environment, clears upper and lower chakras, enhances visualization, brings up hidden emotions, and balances sexuality with a cosmic connection.

In A Druid’s Herbal, pg. 44, Myrrh brings peace, healing, and blessings and aids meditation and contemplation. The Egyptians used myrrh for embalming and as incense. Myrrh brings blessings to any situation. Purchon and Cantele, pg. 85, say, “Use myrrh to ease the anguish of grief when someone close has passed away.” It creates a bridge between this world and the next, making the transition less painful for both the person who is dying and those who are left behind.

Research:

Anti-Itch and Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Commiphora myrrha inhibits itch-associated histamine and interleukin (IL)-31 production in stimulated mast cells, demonstrating its potential in treating conditions that cannot be managed with histamine receptor blockers alone (Shin et al., 2019).

Cytogenotoxic Effects: At high concentrations, Commiphora myrrha essential oil exhibits cytogenotoxic risks to human peripheral lymphocytes, indicating potential risks at excessive dosages (Abdelsalam & Ila, 2021).

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition: The plant exhibits inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase, which is significant for developing treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s. This study provides computational insight into the phytochemicals of C. myrrha acting as dual inhibitors (Hussein et al., 2019).

Hepatoprotective Activity: Commiphora myrrha shows hepatoprotective effects against induced hepatic injury in rats, attenuating inflammatory cytokines and related genes, which might help manage liver-related diseases (Ahmad et al., 2015).

Dental and Oral Medicine Applications: Myrrh is recognized for treating oral ulcers, gingivitis, and other oral conditions due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (Almaghlouth, 2021).

Cautions: It can be toxic in large doses; avoid it in pregnancy and with babies. Tisserand pg. 357 says it may be harmful to fetuses, so avoid it in pregnancy and with breastfeeding, all routes. Please do not take it internally. Please do not use it with an air-blown, intricate diffuser, as it will clog it up. The oil is drying, astringent and contraindicated in all dry conditions, including dry, unproductive cough and dry forms of constipation.

The Myrrh Video

 

Myrrh- An Infomercial- Student Project by Leanne McKinnon

Scents of Wonder specials advertised inside the video do not apply, haha.

Could you record your impression of myrrh oil in your Scent Impressions Sheet or Journal?

Opopanax/Opopanax/Bisabol Myrrh

An Opopanax Tree
An Opopanax Tree

Commiphora erythrea

Distillation of the gum

Class: Sesquiterpene. It is rarely analyzed because it clogs equipment tubes. It is often mixed with a solvent to make it pourable.

3 Key Constituents: (E)-B-Ocimene, (Z)-alpha-Bisabolene, Alpha-Santalene.

From: The Far East, Ethiopia, Somalia. This was the source of Opopanax resin for the perfume industry until the 1950s.

Like Frankincense and Myrrh, Opopanax comes from a tree which contains natural resin. The tree is incised, and a gum dries and forms tear-shaped lumps.

Cosmetic: Like its siblings, Opopanax can be diluted and used on boils, inflamed skin, athlete’s foot, chapped skin, weeping eczema, mature skin, and wounds. Sheppard-Hanger pg. 181

Respiratory: Blend with other oils and diffuse for bronchitis and cough.

Digestive: Historically used for mouth ulcers, infectious colitis, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids.

Deva of Opopanax
Deva of Opopanax

Mental and Nervous System: Aids meditation “frees one from evil thoughts.” Hysteria.

Perfumery: Balsamic, woody, powdery. Base note: High odour intensity.

Blends with bergamot, clary sage, coriander, fir, frankincense, geranium, labdanum, mimosa, myrrh, neroli, nutmeg, palmarosa, patchouli, sandalwood, tangerine, and vetiver.

Mythical Use: Chiron, the wounded healer, used it. Opoponax is sacred to Artemis.

Used as incense for purification purposes,

Research:

Phytochemical Composition: Commiphora erythraea resin is rich in furanosesquiterpenoids, particularly furanodienone, which shows promising pharmacological activity. This review details the composition and activities of the extracts and isolated compounds from the plant (Marcotullio, Rosati, & Lanari, 2018).

Essential Oil Composition: The essential oil from Commiphora erythraea is characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes, aiding in the differentiation of C. erythraea from similar species. This is the first report on the composition of oil (Marcotullio, Santi, Mwankie, & Curini, 2009).

Repellent and Toxicant Against Ticks: A hexane extract of Commiphora erythraea gum shows both larvicidal and repellent activity against several tick species, highlighting its potential as a natural pest control agent (Carroll, Maradufu, & Warthen, 1989).

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties: The hexane extract of C. erythraea resin exhibits significant anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant properties in topical applications, demonstrating its potential for therapeutic use in inflammation and oxidative stress-related conditions (Fraternale et al., 2011).

Please do not take opopanax internally. Do not use it when pregnant,  breastfeeding, with children, or with pets—cross-sensitization to Peru Balsam may sensitize the skin, especially if it is hypersensitive and damaged. Do not use it on children under 2, Tisserand, pg. 370.

The Opopanax Video

Could you record your impression of this oil in your Journal?

Here is your link to the Scents Impression; Download – https://www.northernstarcourses.com/lesson/f-the-scent-impressions-sheet/

 

Also, Check Out These Intuitive Puzzle Exercises! Courtney Meadows, an Earth Spirit Graduate, created them as a student project.

Courtney created these exercises for her Burseraceae family project. You can view them by clicking the Intuitive Impression Sheets under the downloads. I hope you have fun trying out her creation.

 

You may now head to the Ship’s Enchanted Atrium and Gardens and deepen your connection to essential oils in this family while surrounded by plants.
You may sit in silence, sketch your impression of a plant from this family, use the Dorothy MacLean model of connecting with plant Devas or follow Leanne’s lead and meditate.

Downloads

Intuitive Impression Sheets-2

The Burseraceae Family

Close Window

Questions or Comments?

Ask Robert Rogers or Laurie Szott-Rogers

Contact Us

Northern Star Courses

Questions or Comments?

Hello and welcome to Northern Star Courses. If you have any issues or have a questions, please feel free in contating us via the form below.