Curiously Awesome

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There are many religious traditions that have long believed that burning frankincense incense (made out of resin from the Boswellia plant) is good for the soul. There is now a new study that says it apparently is good for the brain.

The research (published on-line in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal) concludes that burning frankincense activates specific ion channels in the brain. The result? Incense appears to quell anxiety and depression.

According to the National Institutes of Health, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15 to 44. This affects about 14.8 million American adults. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million Americans.

To study frankincense’s psychoactive impact, the researchers administered incensole acetate to mice and discovered that it significantly impacted areas in the brain that are intricately involved in emotions. Nerve circuits that are targeted by modern-day drugs were also affected.

The discovery of how incensole acetate (purified from frankincense) works on specific targets in the brain should also help us understand diseases of the nervous system. This study also provides an explanation for ancient spiritual practices that have persisted across time.

Burning incense really does make you feel better.