Sunday Times 2
Frankincense ‘fights cancer’
It is known to most people as one of the three gifts borne by the Wise Men when they visited the newborn Jesus.
But now frankincense – an aromatic resin – is being hailed as a medical marvel. For scientists have discovered that it could be used to treat ovarian cancer.
In tests, Leicester University researchers found that a chemical in frankincense killed cells from hard-to-treat tumours.
Healing: The aromatic substances is being hailed as a medical marvel that could help treat tumours (© CC-BY-SA 3.0 'Weihrauch' by Spacebirdy/Myndir)
Ovarian cancer is symptomless in the earliest stages and usually not diagnosed until it is too late, making it the deadliest gynaecological cancer.
There are more than 7,000 cases a year in Britain and 4,300 of these women will die from the disease – around 12 a day.
Frankincense, the resin of the Boswellia sacra – a small tree found in Oman, Yemen and Somalia – is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and has long been used in folk medicine, along with resin from other types of Boswellia.
It is being studied as a treatment for several cancers.
The Leicester University researchers said: ‘Frankincense is taken by many people with no known side-effects.
‘This finding has enormous potential to be taken to clinical trial in the future and developed into an additional treatment for ovarian cancer.’
© Daily Mail, London