7 Healing Oils In The Bible

I still remember the day I first discovered essential oils a few years ago. I had been suffering from chronic issues since my teen years. I use essential oils to ease tension headaches, reduce stress in my life and to help me drift off to sleep.

But did you know that essential oils were used during Biblical times too?

Essential oils are a gift from God. He, as the Bible states, gave us plants for healing. Essential oils are simply the oils of the plant which have been carefully extracted in a highly concentrated form. These oils carry the plant’s constituents, which contain the healing properties. These gifts have been the foundation of medicinal treatment for thousands of years.

Here are seven of the most useful essential oils in the Bible:

1. Cedarwood

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” Psalm 92:12.

In the Bible, cedarwood is noted as part of the ritual cleansing of lepers. It may surprise you to learn that cedarwood oil is used today to treat ailments like ADHD and to treat hair loss.

2. Cinnamon

“All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad” Psalm 45:8.

The healing properties of cinnamon are not limited to its use in sacred anointing oils and as a spice or perfume. Cinnamon is an aid in treating intestinal problems such as stomach ulcers, and it is also antiparasitic (against parasites).

3. Frankincense

"And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” Matthew 2:11.

In the Bible, frankincense is mentioned as an incense used in holy rituals. Many people believed its value was greater than gold. During that period, it was used as a natural healer and as an aid in treating diseases that plagued the people. Nowadays, frankincense is also used for boosting immunity, shrinking tumors, and reducing inflammation.

4. Hyssop

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” Psalm 51:7.

The Bible mentions Hyssop as a means of purification, but Hyssop is also useful for stimulating creativity and helping to open up the circulatory system.

5. Balsam Fir

“The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet” Isaiah 60:13.

In the Bible, musical instruments were made from fir wood. The oil is used today as an anticoagulant and to treat illness such as throat and sinus infections, as well as urinary tract infections and arthritis.

6. Myrrh

“Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics” Esther 2:12.

The Bible mentions myrrh as part of a daily routine. It is used today as an antibacterial agent. It can also be used to cure eczema, chapped skin, and fungal infections, such as candida and ringworm.

7. Myrtle

“Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written” Nehemiah 8:15.

Regardless of its use as a perfume, the trees were a part of the prophet Zechariah's vision and were a sign of God's blessings to come. Currently, steam distillation is used to extract myrtle from its leaves. Myrtle is known for soothing the respiratory system and balancing the thyroid, among other health benefits.

Now that you know a little bit more about essential oils, why not try using them yourself? diffusing some Myrrh essential oil the next time you need to relax, or adding a few drops of Cedarwood essential oil to your shampoo for an invigorating scalp massage. Experiment and see what works for you!