The Spirit as Anointing Oil

Recently during an interview for IN THE GARDEN book, I was asked about the health benefits of essential oils. While reading this chapter, I was prompted me to do further research for you. There has been more research in this topic than I originally thought, from using essential oils for anxiety, depression, sleep aids, and antioxidants. There is still conflicting data out there for human studies. The issue is complex depending which extract of oil is purchased, how it’s derived, and there can be adverse effects to consider. “Environmental conditions including climate, time of harvesting, storage conditions, etc. may play a role in the chemical composition of oils” (1) Some oils are known to bind to hormone receptors causing breast development in children before puberty. This observation is disturbing. Essential oils are big business, so be careful about what you’re purchasing.

Let’s look at the qualities of the anointed oil that was poured over Aaron in Exodus 30:23-25, that Lucado speaks about in chapter 9.

True cinnamon -(9) also called ceylon cinnamon; believed to have a broad spectrum of medicinal and pharmaco-logical applications. Several studies have reported the anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon and its essential oils (Sosa et al. 2002; Li et al. 2003; Matu and Staden 2003; . Cinnamon bark has been shown to contain very high concentrations of antioxidants (Dragland et al. 2003)

Cinnamomum cassia, called Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon , most common cinnamon used in the US. The main chemical constituent of bark and leaf oil is cinnamaldehyde, Various pharmacological activities, like antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer (colorectal cancer), antidiabetic, antiobesity, and antileukemia activities, in cinnamon species have been reported (Meena Vangalapati et al. 2012; Varsha 2012). Cinnamaldehyde, the major compound of cinnamon, exhibits anti-inflammatory (Reddy et al. 2004; Lee and Balick 2005).

Myrrh – has noteworthy antimicrobial activity. Myrrh oil has also long been used for the treatment of skin wounds and fungal infections caused by Candida albicans and Tinea pedis . (2) The volatile oil produced from myrrh is called Commiphora molmol, has been used as an effective antimicrobial agent, effective in treating sore throats, canker sores and gingivitis . Myrrh is used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve
pain and swelling due to traumatic injury. (10)

This may have been more than you ever wanted to know about eh anointing oil poured over Moses’s brother. Do we know why God wanted these specific combinations used? Could it be the antimicrobial effects they all appear to have; a purifying act? As Max teaches us, the Holy Spirit is the true purifying agent the gift given to us since the new covenant began. Thank you God, no need for pouring agents over our heads. I like a clean, fresh head of hair.