Christmas Herbs, Gold?, Frankincense, Myrrh
28 Dec 2008
Herbs and Christmas come together when I think about the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus according to the biblical accounts of Christ’s birth. Two were herbal, and one isn’t an herb, but does have medicinal properties.
Frankincense is a resin that is very aromatic, taken from a tree with the botanical name Boswellia carterii. Frankincense has been used since ancient times and is associated with spiritual things and meditation, which may be why the wise men thought it an appropriate gift to give to Jesus and his family. I have Frankincense essential oil on hand.
Myrrh, and is a medicinal herb we have discussed already on this blog, you can find a link to the post in the listing to the upper right of this blog, I list all single herbs alphabetically as they are posted so that they are easy for you to find.
Gold, the final precious gift of the wise men, also has medicinal properties. Here is an article I just found on Gold provided by The Whole Food Farmacy, a wonderful source of medicinal grade Gold in their “Joule” and “Heart of Gold”:
The earliest records of the use of gold for medicinal and healing purposes come from Alexandria, Egypt. Over 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians ingested gold for mental, bodily and spiritual purification. The ancients believed that gold in the body worked by stimulating the life force and raising the level of vibration on all levels.
The Alchemists of Alexandria developed an “elixir” made of liquid gold. They believed that gold was a mystical metal that represented the perfection of matter, and that its presence in the body would enliven, rejuvenate, and cure a multitude of diseases as well as restore youth and perfect health.
As many as 4,500 years ago, the Egyptians used gold in dentistry. Remarkable examples of its early use have been found by modern archaeologists. Still in favor today as an ideal material for dental work, approximately 13 tons of gold are used each year for crowns, bridges, inlays and dentures. Gold is ideal for these purposes because it is non-toxic, can be shaped easily, and never wears, corrodes or tarnishes.
Historically, medicinal gold has had a reputation as a “nervine,” a therapy for nervous disorders. A review of the historical literature shows gold in use during the 19th century for conditions including depression, epilepsy, migraine, and glandular problems including amenorrhea and impotence.
The most notable use of gold was in a treatment for alcoholism developed by Leslie E. Keeley, M.D. Gold has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases for more than 75 years, but until now, the way that gold worked has remained a mystery.
Harvard Medical researchers report in the February 27th, 2006 issue of Nature Chemical Biology that gold, platinum, and other classes of medicinal metals work by stripping bacteria and virus particles from the grasp of a key immune system protein. “We were searching for a new drug to treat autoimmune diseases,” says Brian DeDecker, PhD, “but instead we discovered a biochemical mechanism that may help explain how an old drug works.”
Once again, modern science has confirmed what the ancients seem to have known all along – that gold is indeed a very precious metal. At The Wholefood Farmacy, we are proud to offer two exclusive products which offer an easy and delicious way to bring this ancient wisdom into your life today, “Joule” & “Heart of Gold”.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and offer my best wishes for the coming New Year.
If you would like a fact sheet about any of the items marked in red, please send me an email. Thanks!
I remember being so excited when we were on a trip to Hawaii when we came upon a Noni tree with fruit in the wild. Thinking back, I don’t know if my actions were legal, but I picked one of the fruits, with the intention of taking it home and showing it to friends who were drinking
This herb is found in the tropical rain forests of South America. If you look at the picture to the right, you’ll see where “Una de Gato” gets its common name, “Cat’s Claw”.
I have enjoyed this pretty plant in my garden, as well as come across it in the wild during “herb walks”. It is not hard to grow, and spreads if it is happy in it’s location. Though native of the Western United States, it can generally be found throughout the country.
