Spirituality in Substance (II)
An Anthroposophic-Holistic View of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

By Ross Rentea, M.D.

---

For many years, patients have been treated successfully with the combination of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, confirming the traditionally claimed spiritual strengths of these materials in daily clinical and research practice. As an example, E.S. (name changed) is today a dedicated administrator. She multi-tasks all day long, scheduling, typing, taking messages and more. But this joy at work wasn’t always there. She used to cough most of the day, after a new chemical cleanser was used in the offices, and typing would give her persistent pains in the wrists and the fingers. The constant demands from the people around her would cause headaches. Nearly miraculously, these symptoms disappeared since taking capsules containing standardized amounts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

High quality, purified frankincense is not easy to obtain. The resin comes from the frankincense tree (Boswellia serrata), with one tree supplying approximately one kilogram per year of the resin. The world consumption of frankincense, both in incense form and as a nutritional ingredient, far exceeds many tons a year. From the milky white resin, a more potent and pharmaceutically active extract is obtained. A decent formula should state a minimum amount of forty percent of the active beta boswellic acids, often listed as AKBBA.

     Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that the boswellic acids stop inflammation in the body by blocking the so called 5-Lipoxygenase enzyme. This in turn can dramatically improve the outcome of illnesses such as asthma, ulcerative colitis, inflammations in the joints, etc. In fact, as our understanding of chronic illnesses expands, it is becoming more and more obvious that inflammation is probably at the root of most of these illnesses. Recently even such illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit, anger, etc. have been postulated to be based on inflammatory processes taking place in the brain. It turns out that even a number of devastating cancers affecting the pancreas, the kidneys, the breasts, the colon and more all can be helped by suppressing the 5-Lipoxegenase enzyme.

     What is especially interesting about frankincense is that it blocks a pathway to inflammation that is not covered by the basic anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen or the drug recently pulled from the market, Vioxx. Frankincense has obviously been used for thousands of years with no ill effects.

     Going back to the classical biblical mention of these substances, it should be noted that not only frankincense, but also specifically gold and myrrh are mentioned as well. The anti-inflammatory effects of gold and myrrh are also well recognized in science. Gold specifically has been used in the form of injections for many decades in certain forms of arthritis. Myrrh is known by most people to be used as an additive in a variety of topical products from mouthwashes to toothpaste because it is known to heal external wounds.

Significant spiritual insights were added by the research done by the occultist Rudolf Steiner. He points out that these three substances are of quintessential support for the body, mind and spirit. According to him the life (etheric) body is connected to the spiritual sun forces, represented by gold. A harmonious soul (astral body) is strengthened by frankincense, and thirdly, the spiritual-ego development is enhanced by myrrh. Myrrh oil was used by the Egyptians for example, for embalming and for those processes that have to do directly with the passage of consciousness into a higher spiritual world.

     Most significantly, Rudolf Steiner points out that the resin of the frankincense tree does not only physically protect the tree bark from injury but also enables the entire living organism to reconnect itself to the world of the stars from which formative impulses are coming. When introduced into the human body, frankincense strengthens the mother’s milk production and when passing from the mother into the infant it then helps to optimize the development of the young brain. In adults, additionally, it optimizes mental functioning.

     It is becoming now more understandable why these three substances could help our patient so profoundly. Gold, frankincense and myrrh have the ability to not only take care of inflammatory processes in the limbs, but more significantly also in the sense organs, and in the mental functions of the brain. To use a phrase that is quite well known in physiology, it prevents “blurring of the brain.” The brain becomes more lucid, more sensitive, in such a way that it in turn will give healthy impulses to the rest of the body rather than contributing to disease.

     One of the prevalent conditions of our culture could be characterized as coldness in our heart, “the soul,” accompanied paradoxically by excessive heat and fire in the functioning of our physical body. Interestingly, gold, frankincense, and myrrh which are all “warm” substances and have been used for millennia in spiritual rituals in order to “warm the soul” have now been found to simultaneously cool the body physiology. Together, they can be seen as some of the most important spiritually and physically healing substances of our time.

---

For more information see: R. Steiner Branch in Chicago, 773-755-0596; Paulina Medical Clinic, 773-583-7793; www.anthroposophy.org; www.rudolfsteinerpress.com; www.truebotanica.com.

---

Next Article

Return to This Month's Index

Go to the Home Page