Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, Gifts of the Wise Men

                                Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

                                       Gifts of the Wise Men

Eileen Renders

   Gold is valuable and has always been owned by the rich, those with status such as Royalty. Frankincense is an incense derived from the resin of a tree. Some of the bark is peeled away which allows the tree to bleed. After it hardens, it is extracted from the tree. For most back in the time of our Lord, people did not have a lot of opportunities for bathing, nor did they own many garments for daily changing. Frankincense had a very favorable smell and was often placed within a pocket of the garment. This is also true regarding Myrrh as it comes from the resin of a tree located under a thin portion of the bark. It is extracted the same way as the incense Frankincense. Myrrh was often used in preparing a corpse for burial and tucked into crevices such as the armpits as it helped to defuse the smell of a decaying corpse.

   Some also used Myrrh with oil and utilized it in some instances for a healing remedy. Although the medications doctors prescribe today are often discovered from herbs, leaves, and other fruits and trees in nature, there have not been many studies regarding the benefit of these herbs without breaking down their molecular structure and changing their very nature.

   This practice is often done so that Manufacturing Companies and Pharmaceutical Companies can register their product and create a market for them to sell through physicians and Pharmacies. However, many Naturalists believe that there is more danger in the synthesizing of these herbal substances than there would be in taking them in their natural form. But again, by comparison, herbs are plentiful and therefore, not profitable.

   Jesus told us that He made trees of all kinds with fruit, and leaves and that they could be used for our food and our medicine. The United States is a country that has taken little or no advantage of these gifts from God, yet is used most popularly in other countries such as China, and Africa.

   Like many types of medicine, Synthesized and manufactured, or pure herbal extracts, one always needs to ensure the purest form is obtained and has not been tampered with. Dosage depends upon age and of course, the condition that is being treated.

   For just a few examples of herbs and what they are best known for treating, I will provide a few samples here;

Turmeric        This ancient herb has been shown to benefit from cutting the amount of fat that might accumulate in one’s arteries and lowering the bad cholesterol that might form in the arteries, helping prevent a blocked artery. Turmeric is also beneficial for lowering the amount of inflammation in the body, thereby alleviating pain associated with disorders such as arthritis. This herb has been used in Indian cooking for many decades.

Red Yeast Rice    Many Studies have shown that red yeast rice taken regularly in capsule form can lower cholesterol, and in fact, has been manufactured by breaking down the molecular structure and synthesized to label and prescribe the Statin drugs that lower cholesterol, however the synthesized drug has caused many reactions in people who take them, Side effects such as weakness in the arms or elevated Liver enzymes.

Note: Any and all herbs should be approved by one’s doctor as they may be contraindicated in certain individuals due to disorder or current medications. All herbs should be taken in “Standardized” formulas, and taken in doses approved by a Specialist. When taken following direct instructions, few have had any side-effects.

Beet Root    The Beet Root extract is usually safe when taken as directed and in low doses can be beneficial for anyone who might have occasional, or mildly elevated blood pressure.

Resveratrol   Resveratrol is a supplement that has been manufactured from certain types of red wine and in some studies has been shown to provide antioxidant benefits. Studies began in Italy after Clinical Studies showed a benefit of red wine when taken in moderation, thereby creating the product Resveratrol.

Ginseng    Ginseng has been used for decades in certain food recipes and has also been found to help reduce inflammation, especially in individuals who suffer from Arthritis. However, some individuals may have digestive difficulty when taking Ginseng. Ginseng has been said to often help the common cold and support the immune system.

White Willow Bark   White Willow bark comes from a tree and has been used for centuries to reduce fever or pain. It should be taken in small doses, and not used every day as some people may have a reaction to it. White willow bark is actually used in the manufacturing of aspirin.

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