frogworks newsletter - november-december 2006

Frankincense - Boswellia carteri

Frankincense has been used since antiquity as a commodity, for healthcare and for spiritual purposes. It is native to the Red Sea region. Frankincense is a small tree/shrub with abundant pinnate leaves and has white or pale pink flowers. The essential oil of Frankincense is distilled from oleo gum resin. This resin is collected by making incisions into the bark of the tree causing a milky-white liquid to seep out. This liquid then solidifies into tear shaped amber and orange brown lumps. The essential oil and the hardened resin are both used today for purposes such as skin care, respiratory care and for stress related conditions.

One of my favorite qualities of Frankincense is its calming ability. When inhaled, it gives one the ability to slow down and to take deep breaths, therefore instilling a calming effect. I use Frankincense a great deal for relieving nervous tension, anxiety and for stress related conditions. Because of Frankincense's spiritual history, I use the oil and the incense for helping people or animals pass on to the next realm of their life. The Egyptians believed that the souls of the dead ascended into heaven in the smoke of the incense. In the "Book of the Dead", the use of incense, such as Frankincense, was used to safeguard the passage of the departed into the after-life. Frankincense is a wonderful plant with great healing properties.

This is general information regarding Frankincense. We encourage you to learn more about the essential oil/incense through research and see how it can benefit your life. Thanks!

You can purchase essential oils through FrogWorks. (Essential Oils are not on our website - call or email)

Who is Pete?

Pete was my 28-year-old Morgan horse and he was the inspiration for the product "Pete's Equine Remedy". If it had not been for a problem Pete once had with his skin, I never would have created this formula and if it weren't so successful, I never would have created FrogWorks.

Not only was Pete a huge part of my business, always giving me ideas for things to create, he was a great lesson horse, a big personality around our farm and a true friend. He greatly enriched our lives. I want to take this time to honor and thank Pete for all he gave to my life and to others. He was a very special horse. We always called him, "The World's Best Pony".

Pete passed away on October 25th. We are not sure what was wrong with Pete, but we know he had some colic and we know he could not use his hind end. Pete was a fighter and he tried for 24 hours to get up, but he was never successful. On the morning of October 25th, he just stopped trying and my husband John and I knew it was time to let him go. It is the hardest decision to make. We used Frankincense oil to prepare him for his passing. We gently massaged it onto his muzzle, face, ears and neck. We also braided fresh Rosemary in his mane. When we were finished, Pete was so peaceful; to me it seemed like he was ready. After the vets were finished and Pete was gone, we burned Frankincense and Copal incense to help send his soul on its journey to heaven.

(Rosemary was considered by the Greeks and Romans to be a sacred plant. They believed this plant gave comfort to the living and peace to the dead. I believe this to be true.)