Herbs Past and Present by Charles Garcia
The Gifts of the Magi
Tradition has it, they came in the night. They were layered against the cold of a desert winter, so their finery did not show. Some say they were Asian potentates, others say they were scholars or astrologers. We know them as the Magi.
To the new born baby of a humble carpenter and his wife they brought gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold. In a dream they were warned not to give away the location of this special child to the mad king Herod. And so, they slipped into history and legend.
Is this story true? Perhaps. I like to think it is. For the writers of the New Testament made an interesting observation in this story. These rare gifts of herbs were not just symbolic but immensely logical for people of that era.
Frankincense is a resin from the Boswellia tree. It is now found in parts of Yemen, Oman, Somalia, and southern India. In antiquity it may have been harvested in other areas. But over-harvesting made it rare in the early centuries after Christianity. Used in religious ceremonies to anoint new born children it was also a powerful anti-inflammatory.
The clearest resins are translucent, sometimes yellow with a slight greenish tinge. These are edible and were eaten for stomach problems. Modern studies have shown that frankincense has been effective for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, as well as osteoarthritis. A 2009 study at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center indicate frankincense oil suppresses cancer cells in cases of bladder cancer. Earlier studies at John Hopkins and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have proven frankincense smoke to have psychoactive properties that help in relieving depression and anxiety.
The smoke itself is a potent insect repellant and is still used against mosquitoes in Africa and India.
So is it possible the mother Mary may have chewed frankincense into tiny soft bits to share with her child and ease colic in the baby Jesus? Did Joseph burn it during their stay in Egypt to ward of the vicious Nile mosquitoes while waiting for Herod to die? Did he also eat some to lessen the pains common to every hard working carpenter?
The use of frankincense in Europe disappeared after the fall of Rome and was only reintroduced during the Crusades. Economically minded crusaders brought home large amounts of the resin for use in the perfume industry.
The second herb brought to the holy family was myrrh. It too is a resin from a desert plant, the Commiphora tree native to Yemen, parts of Jordan and Ethiopia, and once common in Somalia.
The Ancient Egyptians imported large amounts of myrrh as far back as 3000 B.C.E. They used it to embalm the dead, as an antiseptic, and burned it for religious sacrifice.
In ancient history myrrh was used as a constituent of perfumes and incense, was highly valued and was often worth more than its weight in gold. Today Myrrh is used for its antimicrobial properties. It is commonly found in toothpaste.
In Ancient Rome myrrh was priced at five times as much as frankincense, though the latter was far more popular. Myrrh was burned in ancient Roman funerals to mask the smell emanating from charring corpses. It was said that the Roman Emperor Nero burned a year’s worth of myrrh (as well as cinnamon) at the funeral of his wife, Poppaea. This drove up the price of myrrh for the average Roman.
So indeed this was a truly royal gift for a child born in a manger.
But it was more likely used as a powder to stop diaper rash on the baby Jesus’ bottom and in salves to ease the occasional cuts Joseph must have suffered. In powdered form myrrh can be used on skin infections, fungal infections, and open wounds. It does not mix well in salve, but with lots of stirring it suspends fairly evenly. If you have serious mold problems in your home, burning a plate of myrrh can kill mold spores for a month or more.
I use powdered myrrh in a vinegar base for mouth sores and infections of the gums due to surgery, compromised immune systems, and just bad oral hygiene.
Myrrh, like frankincense, can also be used as fumigant or smoky fungicide. Ancient clay wine bottles have been found with dark oily stains of myrrh residue inside of them. Was this used to keep wine from spoiling to quickly? I doubt it was used for flavoring, as myrrh is incredibly bitter.
Gold was the last gift. The most commonsense men I have ever known have been carpenters. Joseph must have used this to help his family flee into Egypt. Then as now, a carefully passed bribe at some border crossing facilitated a quick get away from the federales.
Not being a religious man myself I avoid becoming involved in theological discussions. But if the Magi really did come, and the words of a child born in Bethlehem and later crucified two millennia ago do bring universal peace someday, then those gifts of old were not wasted.
Merry Christmas.
As in all things, moderation and knowledge is suggested in the use of herbal remedies. Please contact an herbalist or knowledgeable physician concerning herbal treatments.
