Essential Oils of the Epiphany

“And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” ~Matthew Chapter 2

The Feast of the Epiphany, honored on January 6th, celebrates Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar arriving to pay homage to baby Jesus. The 3 Wisemen honored Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Frankincense and myrrh are trees that grow in the Middle East and can still be used today for daily wellness. One the easiest ways to access these powerful plants is through essential oil form. The aromatic sap of the tree is released, which then hardens into a resin. This resin is then steam distilled to separate out the essential oil, which is then bottled and available for use!

Frankincense is one of my favorite essential oils. It is the second most referenced oil in the Bible. It is used in the Holy Anointing Oil by Moses in Exodus. It is used to anoint the newborn sons of Kings and Priests, which is one reason why it was presented to Jesus.

Frankincense is very versatile, like lavender. It enhances spirituality and meditation and is very grounding and balancing to the emotions. Frankincense is also a strong supporter of the immune system.

However, one of the best loved ways to use Frankincense is on the skin! This wonderful oil soothes, smooths, and clears. Frankincense is a key ingredient in many skin care products. However, you can also just mix 1 to 2 drops of Frankincense essential oil into fractionated coconut oil (or other carrier oil) to use as a face moisturizer.

Myrrh is the essential oil mentioned the most in the Bible. Myrrh has a soft, earthy and sweet aroma, similar to Frankincense. Myrrh was blended into many perfumes and ointments. It is a thick and heavy essential oil, which made it a great stabilizer for other oils. Myrrh is also a strong supporter of the immune system.

Myrrh was perhaps given to Baby Jesus and his mother, Mary to two reasons. The first was a more immediate need, as Myrrh was used by new mothers to ease stretch marks and promote healing. It was also rubbed on the umbilical cords of babies to keep it clean from infection. The second reason could be to foreshadow Jesus’ death years later as Myrrh was commonly used in burial rituals.

Ways to use Frankincense and Myrrh:

• Make an immune support roller by combining Frankincense, Myrrh, and Lemon in a roller bottle. Use 12 drops each in a 10 ml roller bottle and top with carrier oil.
• Diffuse during prayer, meditation, or yoga
• Healing bath soak for new mamas: To 1/2 cup of Epsom salt, add several drops of Myrrh and Frankincense, then pour into warm bath. Soak for 30 minutes to help healing and promote comfort.
• Myrrh, Frankincense, and Sandalwood (another Biblical oil) can be combined in a dropper bottle along with a carrier oil like Rose Hip or Jojoba. This makes a beautiful skin serum for the face!