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Snow Lotus Aromatherapy
Snow Lotus Books and Seminars
About Essential Oils
About Snow Lotus Aromatherapy
The Scent of Civilizations
The Medicinal Herb & Oil
The Neuroendocrine Essential Oil
Frankincense's Energetic & Spiritual Functions
The Source of Frankincense Resin & Essential Oil


The Neuroendocrine Essential Oil


Frankincense must have complex actions among the cerebral centers that are difficult to classify. It is thought, however, that the fragrance primarily stimulates two cerebral centers: the raphe nucleus to release serotonin and GABA for a calming effect; and the hippocampus and amygdala to release various neurotransmitters for a mental stimulant effect.

Frankincense's calming action is presumably encoded in its sesquiterpene content, and is mainly indicated in mental restlessness or agitation, as well as in acute emotions such as fear and anxiety. The oil's mental stimulant action is based in its content of monoterpenes and possibly the ketone verbenone; it applies to conditions of mental fatigue and depression. These two actions together account for most of the psycho-olfactory-based uses of this resin, whether traditional or modern, sacred or secular. They also dovetail nicely with Frankincense's energetic functions based on its primary fragrance notes, sweet-woody and spicy-pungent.