Questions at the event

While we hold many follow-up classes for our members, we also occasionally participate in events to find out what questions people who are completely unfamiliar with medical aromatherapy have and what kind of counseling they need.

The other day, when we set up a stall at a market in Tokyo, we received the following question:
"Is frankincense essential oil effective against cancer?"

The Japan Medical Aromatherapy Association (JMAA) does not say that it has such an effect.
We have received similar inquiries in the past, so we decided to look into it again.

Frankincense and Cancer

• Ancient Uses
Frankincense was used in religious ceremonies and medicine in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, and was treated as a kind of "panacea."

• Modern Naturopathy
Since the 1980s and 1990s, it has been said in the fields of aromatherapy and naturopathy that it may have anti-cancer properties. This has been particularly popularized by aromatherapists and naturopaths in health books and courses.

• Relationship to Medical Research
Since the 2000s, some researchers have reported in cell and animal experiments that boswellic acid contained in frankincense may have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. This has spread in the media and online, and has been greatly exaggerated to claim that it is effective against cancer.
Research teams in the United States and China have typically conducted basic research, but no clinical studies have proven its effectiveness in treating human cancer.

■ It has a history as a panacea dating back to ancient times.
■ The modern aromatherapy world introduced it as "good for cancer."
■ It became popular because some basic research seemed to support this.

I understand that this is the story behind it.

What's the truth?

Even if essential oils do have such effects,
it is impossible to say with certainty that they are effective without detailed research and information, such as the condition of the tumor, how they are applied, and how often they should be used.

The recipes introduced by JMAA have all of these conditions clearly defined,
and have been confirmed to have a certain level of safety and usefulness.

As a result, the average effectiveness is estimated to be about 65%.

This is merely an average, and may be higher or lower depending on the individual.

It is important to continue learning,
so as not to assume that one piece of information is "all there is."

And it is only by continuing to learn that I can confidently communicate in my own words,
and I take this fact very seriously every day.