Frankincense, the herb Boswellia carteri, is often found in festive aromatherapy blends, due to its warm, sensual aroma. Originating in Africa, India and the Middle East, researchers have now discovered that this relatively inexpensive herb has potential as a therapeutic aid for bladder cancer, the fourth most common type of cancer for men in the United States.

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma City VA Medical Center discovered that frankincense oil has the unique ability to discriminate between normal and cancerous bladder cells in culture and kill the cancer cells. The oil also suppresses cancer cell growth.

Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2009