7 REASONS THE WISE MEN BROUGHT FRANKINCENSE TO THE BIRTH OF BABY JESUS

Many historical references will note that the three Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus (Matthew 2:11), but why exactly was frankincense chosen as a gift? Frankincense is known for its aromatic appeal. In its raw form, it is a whitish resin and was frequently burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). When it’s burned it releases a highly fragrant smell, used similarly to incense, which may have been much appreciated given that, due to lack of vacancies at the Inn, The Savior was born in a less-than-sterile environment surrounded by hay, farm animals, and the accompanying odors (Luke 2:12). Today, frankincense is recognized as symbol of holiness and righteousness throughout the Christian world and is still used as a key ingredient in many essential oils.

1. Cuts and Scrapes

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Frankincense serves as a natural antiseptic well-suited to treating scrapes and cuts. It’s at least possible that Mary was worried about splinters from the manger…

2. Face and Body Moisturizer

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All that sweating during labor dehydrates your face and body. Essential oil with frankincense helps to restore parched skin.

3. Stretch Mark Eliminator

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Massaging an affected area with special essential oils that include frankincense can aid in the removal of stretch marks caused by pregnancy. ‘Nuff said.

4. Makeup Remover

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Okay, so we all know Mother Mary did not wear makeup, but in today’s world removing makeup is an important step to take before birthing a child so as to avoid awkward post-labor photos of baby and mommy with streaky makeup on her face from the tears and sweat.

5. Chapped Lips

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All of that hee-hee-hoo breathing technique in natural birthing is sure to chap the lips of even the most hydrated of mothers-to-be. Frankincense is the original dry lip solution—the original ChapStick, if you will.

6. Meditation

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No doubt it’s difficult to be Zen while sustaining the worst kind of physical pain known to man… er woman, fortunately frankincense aids in overcoming pre-meditation hang-ups. Meditation, said to be key in positive birthing experiences, has many physical, cognitive, and spiritual benefits.

7. Grief

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Postpartum depression is not mentioned in the Bible—probably because Mary handled the delivery of the Messiah like a saint. Ladies of the 21st Century, however, might find frankincense to be an effective tool in curbing excessive grief.