When you hear the word “frankincense,” no doubt you think of the biblical three wise men who presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newly born baby Jesus. But what you may be less familiar with is the medicinal properties of frankincense. Now, new research suggests it may help in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Frankincense is an aromatic plant resin that comes from a tree called Boswellia sacra, found in Africa and Arabia.

According to researchers from the University of Leicester in the UK, led by Kamla Al-Salmani, frankincense has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, making it useful for the treatment of conditions such as asthma, various skin conditions, and gastroenteritis.

Previous research has also suggested that frankincense may be useful for the treatment of some cancers, including breast, colon, and prostate cancer. This is due to a compound it contains, called acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid…