A "Holistic" tincture, in this instance, means that the tincture contains the same ratio of water-soluble gum to resin and essential oil that appear in the whole fresh oleo gum resin.

Frankincense Papyrifera contains approximately 25% water-soluble gum and 75% resin and essential oils. A regular "store-bought" tincture of Frankincense is most often made using 40% alcohol, such as in many types of Vodka. This means it will contain 40% resin, essential oils, and 60% water-soluble gum. Quite different proportions than this Frankincense in its natural form. Since a blend of 25% and 75% pure alcohol is used in this tincture, it echos the natural proportions of water-soluble gum and alcohol soluble resin/essential oil found in Frankincense Papyrifera.
One of the distinguishing Chemical markers found in Frankincense Papyrifera is the combined presence of the compounds Incenseole and Incensole Acetate. Laboratory studies have shown that these compounds exhibit anti-anxiety and anti-depressive qualities.

The Boswellia family of resins has been used internally and externally for hundreds of years in the traditional Arabian, Chinese, Greek, and Unani systems of medicine to help alleviate the pain of Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and other inflammations. It is used to help with Asthma, bronchial complaints and tightness of the chest. It has been found useful in Gastrointestinal inflammations such as Irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease and in some traditions used as an aphrodisiac and to increase fertility in both males and females. Recent research confirms the effectiveness of Boswellic acids for treating a wide variety of cancers.

Boswellic acids are found only in the resin portion of 5 different types of Frankincense, Boswellia Serrata from India, B. Papyrifera from Ethiopia, B. Sacra from Arabia, B. Dalzielii and B. Carterii from East Africa. The Boswellic acids are accessed only by using the whole oleoresin or products made via solvent extraction with fixed or volatile solvents such as in this alcohol tincture.

Boswellic acids are NOT extracted in the steam or hydro distillation process and are not found in the essential oil of Frankincense.

This sweetly fragrant, rich Amber tincture contains all the natural healing compounds found in this Frankincense. It is made with fresh Frankincense Papyrifera and Spirytus Vodka which has 76% alcohol. It is processed and left to macerate for a lunar cycle and a half before decanting and filtering.

This tincture is made "Astrodynamically," which is my term for the extraction method I use based on Medical astrology and tenets of traditional plant Alchemy.

Working with Nature, in harmony with the cycles and dynamic relationships between plants, planets and stars, allows us to more easily draw forth not only the chemical constituents but the intelligence, essence or spirit of the plants, which, in my experience, leads to products that exhibit better colour and fragrance, increased shelf life and efficacy.

For more information on the healing compounds in the different types of Frankincense and instructions on making a Frankincense papyrifera tincture, please see my posts at http://apothecarysgarden.com/2015/11/12/how-to-make-a-tincture-of-frankincense-or-myrrh-4-variations-and-a-tea/

If you would like to learn a little more about Astrodynamics, Plant Alchemy and Medical Astrology, you will find more information and links on my blog here-http://apothecarysgarden.com/astrodynamics-101/

Dan

Materials:  Boswellia papyrifera, Frankincense papyrifera, Alcohol, distilled water