I remember growing up, hearing the Christmas story and the gifts the wise men brought and wondering what the significance of Frankincense and Myrrh were. Gold seemed obvious but I was curious about the purpose of the other two gifts.
After I started studying herbal remedies and discovered how Frankincense and Myrrh were traditionally used, I realized that these gifts were actually even more practical than the gold.
Gold Frankincense and Myrrh
Myrrh was (and still is) used in anointing oils and since it is naturally anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-microbial and anti-viral. It was used on wounds to ward off infection and was often used on the umbilical cord to keep it clean while it was healing. Myrrh was also said to help sooth and calm and could have been used on babies to calm them.
Frankincense was used in perfumes and was also helpful for improving hormone balance (like after pregnancy), and soothing skin wounds and stretch marks. Some sources say that it was used in traditional cultures to calm mom and baby after birth. In traditional cultures, it was used on babies (in small amounts) to calm, sooth and relax. It was also said to help alleviate digestive problems.
There were certainly deeper spiritual meanings that could be taken from the gifts but they certainly could have served a practical purpose as well. In modern times, Frankincense and Myrrh are often used in natural remedies, especially skin creams and applications.
A gift from afar…
I was using diluted Frankincense on my thyroid externally and wanted an easier way to apply it so I immediately thought of a lotion bar. Since Christmas is approaching, I thought it would be fun to combine the three gifts of the Magi into one lotion bar. The result smells woodsy and amazing and leaves a faint gold shimmer on the skin.
It is perfect for winter and so much fun to make.
Supplies…
These lotion bars are simple to make with all natural ingredients (click on the link to see the brand I used for each ingredients):
- Shea Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Beeswax
- Gold Mica Powder (for color and shimmer)
- Frankincense Essential oil
- Myrrh Essential Oil
- Optional: Lavender and Peppermint Essential oils
I also used these black containers for the lotion bars, but they can be made in muffins tins or silicon molds as well.
Lotion Bar Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup Shea butter
- 1/3 cup beeswax
- 1 tablespoon gold mica powder
- 15 drops each of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils
- Optional: 10 drops each of peppermint and lavender essential oils
What to Do:
- Melt shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler.
- Remove from heat and add mica powder and essential oils.
- Carefully pour into empty deodorant containers and let set until hardened.
- To use: Rub carefully on dry skin to nourish, moisturize and leave a natural shimmer.
Ever tried using gold, frankincense & myrrh in a recipe before? Share below!
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