An ancient couple
Frankincense and myrrh are often named in one breath and used together. People familiar with the Christian tradition will recall that two of the three mages (wise men) that brought presents to the infant Jesus offered these resins. They are from the same general family of trees and shrubs – burseraceae, which also includes the Palo Santo from Mesoamerica – but very distinct.
These resins are often used together for medical and spiritual purposes. Cleopatra used both for her skincare and perfumes, both were ingredients of the ointment used to mummify bodies in ancient Egypt, and they are treated as a couple in traditional chinese medicine. Indeed, they seem to reinforce each other’s anti-inflammatory effects.
Contemporary research shows both resins are powerful natural neurocosmetics. This means that besides their topical effect, these bioactive agents operate through neural skin-brain connections, affecting your central nervous system and mood.
Among Christian populations, frankincense and myrrh are strongly associated with church liturgy, which may cause some people to react negatively to these scents. The Catholic and Orthodox church inherited this practice from the Romans and Near-Eastern cultures, which themselves inherited it from the ancient Egyptians. A rational reason for its use is that frankincense is a powerful air disinfectant. When an airborne disease reigns in a community, the burning of frankincense (temporarily) inhibits its spread. Thus the faithful could congregate in a place of worship without becoming infected, giving a boost to the religion practiced, as the God(s) seemed to protect the worshippers.
In its facial oil and wound serum, 2Mages also combines both frankincense and myrrh, in different proportions and concentrations.
Northern Somalia, a prime production area
Frankincense and myrrh are harvested in the wild, as this species resists cultivation. The Horn of Africa – Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya – accounts for about 90% of worldwide production of both resins; other major producers of frankincense are Oman and India. Within this region, Somaliland is a major producer. Most trees grow in rocky outcrops or steep, dry mountain valleys where they collect moisture from the evaporated sea water from the Gulf of Aden.
Somaliland and the region to its East, Puntland, are home to two of the most cherished species of frankincense: carterii and frereana in Western taxonomy, moxor and maydi in Somali. Carterii is chemically similar to the even more famous frankincense sacra from Dhofar, Oman, and scientists treat them as one species with two names. Frereana has a different composition.
Harvesting frankincense and myrrh
Frankincense comes from the boswellia tree, and myrrh from the commiphora tree. These trees rarely grow above 6-8 meters in height. Both species of trees take 10-30 years to reach maturity; only mature trees should be cut to harvest the resins. These are obtained by making an incision in the bark. The tree responds by sending resin to the cut to heal itself. This resin is then collected. A tree is often harvested three times in one year, the third tapping producing the best and most resin, but then it needs at least one year without tapping to regain its strength.
Sometimes trees exude resin naturally. This happens, for example, with the myrrh tree after abundant rains. It then produces ‘suhul‘, meaning ‘given freely’ in Somali. It is considered the top quality of myrrh, although chemically it is the same as other types of myrrh from the same tree.
These trees grow in groves (or small forests) in often inaccessible places, which require hours over difficult foot paths to reach. Harvesters then camp around their trees for about a week, until they have a full load – usually a few bags of around 25kg each.
The resin is then transported (usually by camel, sometimes on donkeys or pick-ups) to caves or other locations where it is left to dry – otherwise it is too sticky to handle. After a few weeks of drying it is picked up and brought to nearby towns where it is sorted and cleaned. While harvesters are usually men, women do most of the sorting, cleaning and packing. This is done by hand and takes a lot of time. 2Mages’ partner in Somaliland, Beeyo Maal, has made a name for itself by a rigourous sorting and cleaning of the resins.
The groves of trees are handed down within families. They are not for sale, and extended families pride themselves on their ancient connection with the forests that produce this valuable gum. Harvesting communities have lived in synergy with the forests they tap for many centuries. But collecting the resins rarely provides enough to get by, and other sources of revenue are usually necessary. Since the harvesting and sorting of resins is very hard and nowadays very poorly rewarded work, some families lease out their forests to poorer relatives or neighbours to collect the resin.
A recent and very complete overview of the challenges of frankincense production (worldwide) and contemporary research into the use of frankincense can be found in this publication by the American Botanical Council, authored by Sue Canney-Davison, Frans Bongers and Denzil Phillips.
For the less scientifically minded, curious about these wondrous resins and how they can be used, I suggest visiting the apothecary’s garden website by frankincense passionado Dan Riegler, Canadian. If you’re based in North America, I recommend you purchase frankincense and myrrh products on his website.
