Facets of Faith for Dec. 24, 2011

Study warns frankincense production in decline

Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIGFrankincense is a resin harvested from Boswellia trees in Africa and Arabia.

One of the well-known sets of symbols in the Bible’s Christmas story is the gifts brought by the Magi to the baby Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

These were quite valuable gifts. At the time of Jesus’ birth, a pound of gold and pound of frankincense were each worth about $600. A pound of myrrh was valued about $4,000.

All three items were used in medicines and luxury goods.

In the news

Frankincense has been in recent headlines.

Reuters and other news services reported a study from the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology that predicts frankincense production could decline more than 50 percent in the next 15 years and 90 percent in the next 50.

That is because frankincense is a resin from the Boswellia tree, found in southern Arabia and northeast Africa.

The study says burning of the trees, turning land into pasture for cattle grazing and attacks by the long-horn beetle are causing the number of trees to decline.

The study also found that not enough saplings are surviving to replace the dying adult trees.

The researchers say that better management is needed to protect the Boswellia trees and ensure continuation of a substance that has been traded internationally for thousands of years.

The trees’ resin is harvested by cutting the bark in summer. The sap runs out and hardens into golden globs. These are scraped off and are the frankincense.

Uses and meanings

Frankincense was considered a divine substance. When burned, it gives off a strong, pleasant odor. It was a component of incense and was thought to communicate with gods. It was used in incense in the Jewish Tabernacle.

It was also used in cosmetics and medicine. It was chewed for bad breath and dental problems, made into salve for wounds and smoked for breathing issues.

Modern studies show it has a topical antiseptic property, and inhalation of its smoke eases breathing problems.

Sources: http://www.journal
ofappliedecology.org/;
http://af.reuters.com/
article/ethiopiaNews/
idAFL6E7NJ1O120111221;
http://www.livescience.com/;
“The Gifts of the Magi,”
Metropolitan Museum of Art;
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, editor; Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The Interpreter’s
Dictionary of the Bible

Send ideas to Leila Pitchford-English, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588 or e-mail [e-mail].