Olibanum, Frankincense, Ru Xiang 乳香 Also called Thus, LibanosRu Xiang (TCM)Shallaki (Ayurveda)Kundur (Unani)Spos dkarསྤོས་དཀར  (Tibetan) Left: Olibanum; Right: ThusOrtus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491 Boswellia SerrataMedical Botany, Stephenson and Churchill, 1836 Frankincense tree (Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640) Herbarium, Matthioli (Polish), 1596 Frankincense (Adam, 2022) Botanical name: Boswellia spp.Frankincense is often divided into types based on the source: African Frankincense: B. papyrifera, B. frereana (sometimes B. sacra) Arabian Frankincense: B. sacra (syn. B. carterii) Indian Frankincense: B. serrata (syn. B. thurifera) The above represent the 4 main species of Boswellia that supply the market.Another popular species is B. dalziliee which produces a green resin. Parts used: Gum“Male frankincense, which is white in colour, round in shape and has a sticky interior, is considered best. On breaking the internal portion appears to be golden in colour”. (Avicenna)Classically in the West, 2 main varieties were recognised: ‘Male’, called Olibanum (classically, mostly B. papyrifera) ‘Female’, called Thus. Based on Quality: Lubãn Dhakar: B. sacra (from Southern Arabia) Mohr: B. carterii (Somalia, Southern Arabia; most common Frankincense) Lobãn Majdi: B. frereana (Somalia; best quality and most expensive) Boido: Boswellia papyrifera (East Africa) Salai Guggul: B. serrata Unani sources describe several varieties of Frankincense on the market: Kundur…

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