Remember when you were a kid, and you couldn’t figure out what frankincense and myrrh were, when you heard the story of the Wise Men bringing gifts to Bethlehem? Oh – you’re a grown-up now, and you still can’t figure it out?

You’re not alone. So, in the spirit of the Christmas holiday, we have an update on these two mystery gifts. Both of them, it turns out, have been the subject of recent health studies.

Frankincense is an herb whose official name is Boswelllia frereana. According to a study epublished November 26, 2009 in the journal Phytotherapy Research, frankincense shows great promise as a “potential therapeutic agent for treating inflammatory symptoms associated with arthritis.” Probably those three old kings had tried it, and knew it eased the pains of a long camel ride – but here we are, 2000 years later, just now rediscovering its value.

Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) is the resin of certain plants native to the Mediterranean region. Research epublished December 8, 2009 in the Journal of Immunotoxicology indicates that myrrh can promote healing of skin injuries and gastric ulcers by heightening white blood cell activity. Another recent study in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, shows that myrrh can be effective in lowering cholesterol.

No one ever mentioned whether the Wise Men brought any whole grains to the manger, but these new studies remind us that important health-supporting phytochemicals are being discovered all the time in plant-based foods, including many whole grains. There’s so much we don’t know yet about why different foods enhance health – so our best course is to eat a wide variety of plant foods, in their most natural, whole state possible.

Go forth, and enjoy a bounteous meal with friends and family. Happy Holidays from all of us at Oldways and the Whole Grains Council. (Cindy)