FRANKINCENSE
Boswellia carterii, sacra, papyrifera, frerena
Enjoy this excerpt from my new book, Essential Oils for Maternal Wellness
The doula who attended all three of my children’s births, and is also a close friend and midwife, told me the story of her second child’s birth. I don’t recall exactly how things unfolded but the most important parts of the story I could never forget. She and her husband had planned a home birth. She was very relaxed about birth so she wasn’t in a rush to ask for her midwife’s support during the first stage of labor. Things progressed very quickly, however, and before they realized it she was in transition phase and soon after that felt the urge to push. Her midwife hadn’t arrived yet, so she was obliged to teach her husband how to check her cervix to make sure that she had dilated to 10 centimeters. She had, so she did what all female mammals have done since the beginning of time; she began birthing her child. I’ve no idea how she was in a state of mind to be aware of this herself, but at some point during the pushing stage, she realized that her son’s umbilical cord was around his neck. This is very common but not without risks, especially when you’ve only your untrained husband standing by for support! So, she did what almost no woman would do, she reached inside of herself, carefully removed the cord from around her son’s neck and birthed her baby into her own arms! As if a joke, it was just then that her midwife arrived. Things calmed down a bit after that, and once labor was complete and her son checked, cleaned, and swaddled, my friend stepped out onto her front porch for fresh air. It was then that she saw that her neighbor’s house was on fire! The street was filled with echoes of sirens, herds of people, and emergency vehicles! It may sound unreal that no one had noticed the activity outside during the last several hours, but this is birth! It’s primal and otherworldly and just your own. Having heard this story before giving birth, it was empowering to me that it was this friend who sat on the bathroom floor in my zone with me during all three of my transition phases of labor. She was at my most primal moments, reminding me to stay focused, be strong, not to give up, and pay no attention to the world outside.
In hindsight...
Transition is a term used to describe the final part of stage one labor when the cervix completes the process of opening from seven to ten centimeters and transitions into stage two labor, the baby’s descent. Transition is intense because the last few centimeters of dilation usually happen very quickly and contractions are longest and most intense during this phase, sometimes even overlapping. There are physical signs that a woman is in transition, like strong pressure in their rectum and an urge to use the bathroom! Others feel nauseous or chilled. There are emotional signs that a mother is in the transition phase as well, the most relatable being that the laboring mom wants to give up! As devastating as this seems, it is actually a sign that labor is nearly over and it usually only lasts for a short amount of time, typically between 15-60 minutes.
OILS
A simple blend of Frankincense and Peppermint* in equal parts is my favorite choice for transition phase, with or without nausea and vomiting. Frankincense, Neroli, and Peppermint* may also be used alone.
APPLICATIONS
Apply as a compress to the forehead or abdomen, rub onto the chest, or simply inhale. Many women prefer direct inhalation from a cloth as needed during this phase rather than having a diffuser going or being touched with massage application.
PRECAUTIONS
*Peppermint and Spearmint Essential Oils may reduce breast milk production in some women. These oils are not known to cause a problem when used topically and aromatically during labor.
FRANKINCENSE
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. It tones and strengthens the uterus and is energizing on both mental and physical levels, which is particularly useful during the most intense time of labor. Frankincense blends well with Peppermint for any of these uses, but there are many oils that blend nicely with Frankincense; in turn Frankincense tends to enhances the properties of other oils. Frankincense is cytophylactic, which means that it promotes and accelerates cellular regeneration. In maternity, it can be used for all types of issues related to the skin, including for perineum support during childbirth and wound healing in postpartum. On an emotional level, Frankincense calms the nervous system and helps us to be more mindful in the present moment. This quality makes it an outstanding option for pre-labor anxiousness, transition phase of labor, and mother-infant bonding. Frankincense is also thought to facilitate physiological changes for infants (breathing air, digesting, etc.) and help mothers to adjust and cope with postpartum sadness.
Uses: Airborne pathogens, anxiousness, baby blues, chapped nipples, colds/infections (anti-microbial), constipation, depression (non-clinical), diarrhea, fatigue (mental and physical), inflammation, insomnia, labor pain (with or without nausea), low immunity, mother-infant bonding, pain, panic, perineum support, poor infantile adaptation, preparation for labor (cleanses the birth room, tones the uterus), respiratory troubles, skin conditions (acne, dryness, episiotomy, perineum tears, scars, stretch marks), sinus (congestion, infections), stress, transition phase of labor, and urinary tract infections.
Pregnancy and childbirth: Indications for use in maternity include: skin conditions (stretch marks, dryness, perineum tears and post episiotomy, and poor infantile adaptation and acne). This oil is helpful in pregnancy and labor for lower back and nerve discomfort and for labor pain. It tones and strengthens the uterus, particularly during labor when a mother is fatigued. It blends well with peppermint for many of these uses. It can also be used to support the perineum throughout the birthing process. Emotionally, frankincense calms the nervous system by helping us to “be here now”. This quality makes it outstanding for pre-labor anxiousness, transition phase of labor, and mother-infant bonding. The oil is thought to facilitate postpartum physiological changes for infants (breathing air, digesting, etc) and help mothers to adjust and cope with postpartum blues.
Urinary system: Its diuretic qualities make it useful for urinary tract health as well.
PRECAUTIONS:
Avoid with asthma and with those with a negative association with the scent.
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. It tones and strengthens the uterus and is energizing on both mental and physical levels, which is particularly useful during the most intense time of labor. Frankincense blends well with Peppermint for any of these uses, but there are many oils that blend nicely with Frankincense; in turn Frankincense tends to enhances the properties of other oils. Frankincense is cytophylactic, which means that it promotes and accelerates cellular regeneration. In maternity, it can be used for all types of issues related to the skin, including for perineum support during childbirth and wound healing in postpartum. On an emotional level, Frankincense calms the nervous system and helps us to be more mindful in the present moment. This quality makes it an outstanding option for pre-labor anxiousness, transition phase of labor, and mother-infant bonding. Frankincense is also thought to facilitate physiological changes for infants (breathing air, digesting, etc.) and help mothers to adjust and cope with postpartum sadness.
Uses: Airborne pathogens, anxiousness, baby blues, chapped nipples, colds/infections (anti-microbial), constipation, depression (non-clinical), diarrhea, fatigue (mental and physical), inflammation, insomnia, labor pain (with or without nausea), low immunity, mother-infant bonding, pain, panic, perineum support, poor infantile adaptation, preparation for labor (cleanses the birth room, tones the uterus), respiratory troubles, skin conditions (acne, dryness, episiotomy, perineum tears, scars, stretch marks), sinus (congestion, infections), stress, transition phase of labor, and urinary tract infections.
Pregnancy and childbirth: Indications for use in maternity include: skin conditions (stretch marks, dryness, perineum tears and post episiotomy, and poor infantile adaptation and acne). This oil is helpful in pregnancy and labor for lower back and nerve discomfort and for labor pain. It tones and strengthens the uterus, particularly during labor when a mother is fatigued. It blends well with peppermint for many of these uses. It can also be used to support the perineum throughout the birthing process. Emotionally, frankincense calms the nervous system by helping us to “be here now”. This quality makes it outstanding for pre-labor anxiousness, transition phase of labor, and mother-infant bonding. The oil is thought to facilitate postpartum physiological changes for infants (breathing air, digesting, etc) and help mothers to adjust and cope with postpartum blues.
Urinary system: Its diuretic qualities make it useful for urinary tract health as well.
PRECAUTIONS:
Avoid with asthma and with those with a negative association with the scent.
Receive a FREE 15mL Bottle of Pure Frankincense
In December, customers can receive a FREE 15mL bottle of pure, therapeutic-quality Frankincense when they place wholesale DoTERRA orders of 200 PV (~$200) or more. Orders can be for essential oils or oil-infused products (there are tons to choose from!). This is a great opportunity since pure Frankincense retails for over $90/€81!
Those who open a wholesale account through this website will receive hands-on support plus hundreds of hours of online general-use education, including my certification e-course, Essential Oils for the Birth Kit ($125/€112 value). You will also become eligible to join my team of wellness and birth advocates so that you can receive training and make commissions for educating others about essential oils.
Please contact me for help opening your account or use the link below to place your order (make sure to check that your PV is 200 or more and that your order is placed in December in order to receive this promotion).
Those who open a wholesale account through this website will receive hands-on support plus hundreds of hours of online general-use education, including my certification e-course, Essential Oils for the Birth Kit ($125/€112 value). You will also become eligible to join my team of wellness and birth advocates so that you can receive training and make commissions for educating others about essential oils.
Please contact me for help opening your account or use the link below to place your order (make sure to check that your PV is 200 or more and that your order is placed in December in order to receive this promotion).
Customers who place wholesale orders through this website qualify to receive one-to-one support and free access to our online education, including hundreds of hours of education for general use, specialized training for use during childbearing and with babies, and optional business coaching for essential oil educators or venders.
