How Frankincense Helped my Mom with Alzheimer's to Talk

I remember so well the day my mom confided in me how much it embarrassed  her that she was forgetting words when out walking with her friends.   My  mother was  a sweet, light-hearted, silly, affectionate woman and all of a sudden, in the space of less than a year, her health started  to rapidly deteriorate.  She went  from being a healthy, active middle-aged woman to a (still) silly and affectionate woman , but who could no longer open doors with knobs that needed to be twisted instead of pulled straight. And she was losing her ability to articulate her thoughts, which was even sadder to watch and I'm sure much more difficult to experience, especially for someone who loved people as much as she did.    Alzheimer's is a treacherous  thief and I knew I couldn't "save" the belongings in her mind, but I wanted to help her to  continue to enjoy socializing for as long as possible. 

As a consulting herbalist and nutritionist I knew that Frankincense resin was highly acknowledged  for memory and brain function.  I had also  seen it   successful at  mobilizing speech for two of my young autistic clients.  So,  I looked at Frankincense to help my mom to reclaim her brain functions, especially  to find the words to express herself again.  I'm so glad that I did!

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 Frankincense has several attributes that point to  why it is good for the brain. 

• First, Frankincense is classified as an anti-inflammatory herb.    Researchers believe that frankincense can prevent the release of "leukotrienes", which are compounds that can cause inflammation.
• Second, Frankincense contains "sesquiterpenes", chemical constituents that help increase the amount of  oxygen  in the limbic system of the brain.    Sesquiterpenes are unique because they have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
• Third, Frankincense may help to support cellular function due to its cytophylactic properties, which means that it facilitates the regeneration and oxygenation of cells, including brain and skin cells.

Voila!  Here I'd found something that not only had the potential to cross into the brain, but to reduce  inflammation in the brain, and also improve cellular function in the brain.  With the young autistic clients I'd recommended frankincense to, incredibly,  one talked for the first time the day after his first application and the other sang for the first time the same week after his!  Both mothers applied Frankincense topically from the base of their children’s necks down their spines.  This oil has promise!

What's more... The American Medical Association has said that , "If they could find an agent that would pass the blood-brain barrier, they would be able to find cures for ailments such as Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease."

Feeling that I was on the right track, I dug through my herbal books and without much effort found that 4-5 drops of Frankincense could be taken in a capsule 2-3 times daily to support brain function.  Taking essential oils orally wasn't new to me, but I wanted to take every safety precaution with my mother because she was frail and more sensitive than me.  So I followed all of the safety guidelines for ingesting essential oils. 

• I used  certified therapeutic-quality  Frankincense.  Everyone should do this anyway, if hoping to see  the highest efficacy against health complaints with the least risk of harm - especially with internal use.  Further, since Frankincense is one of the most  precious and expensive essential oils, manufacturers  often sell a synthetic version of the scent of Frankincense  rather than the real resin with medicinal value. 
• She started with 1-2 drops per capsule and built up to 4-5 drops after a week to slow the detoxifying effects of ingesting essential oils as well as to gauge any adverse reaction, which is rare.
• Finally, I added a drop of liquid coconut oil to each capsule to protect her mucus membranes from potential exposure.​​

With a little trial and error, my dad and I started making my mom what she called her "talking pills".  The change was heart-warming.  She was more articulate and  talkative sometimes  and more mindfully pensive at others.   She was more capable of everyday tasks.  It was like each time she took a pill she leveled-up a step from wherever she was in her downhill progression.  We got a little more quality time with her and she got more quality out of her time.

The tree resin from which Frankincense essential oil is derived was traditionally used for many things, including as a preservative for embalming,  but I think of Frankincense more as a preservative for those still living!  The "talking pills" didn't stop the disease or make it less sad, but they did improve my mom's quality of life.   

Learn more...

Frankincense is a sacred tree resin with much  to benefit from its many qualities.    If you'd like to learn more, check out my webinars and  other blog articles on this cherished plant.

Read an excerpt from my book!

Frankincense is a highly complex, tree resin-derived Essential Oil with over 200 known constituents and hundreds of medicinal uses. It is well documented in ancient historical texts for its usefulness in childbirth.  Its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving properties make Frankincense useful in maternity for lessening lower back, nerve, and labor pain. ​  Read more.

Read a guest blog post:
​Frankincense for Mums & Bubs

As much as Peppermint essential oil provides mental clarity, Frankincense too is particularly good for memory and focus, making the combination great in combating the forgetfulness of “pregnancy brain”.  This is because Frankincense has powerful anti-inflammatory compounds for the brain. Diffuse Frankincense with a drop or two of one or more essential oils of Peppermint Lemon, Ginger or Spearmint to boost your memory.​ Read more.

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