Indian Frankincense
Other Names: Indian Frankincense, Arbre à Encens, Arbre à Oliban Indien, Boswella, Boswellia, Boswellia serrata, Boswellie, Boswellin, Boswellin serrata Resin, Encens Indien, Franquincienso, Gajabhakshya, Indian Olibanum, Oliban Indien, Resina Boswelliae, Ru Xiang, Salai Guggal, Salai Guggul, Sallaki Guggul, Shallaki.
See also : Frankincense
Indian frankincense is a tree that is native to India and Arabia. It is commonly used in the traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda.Olibanum is another word for frankincense. It refers to a resin or “sap” that seeps from openings in the bark of several Boswellia species, including Boswellia serrata, Boswellia carterii, and Boswellia frereana. Of these, Boswellia serrata is most commonly used for medicine.
Special Precautions of Boswellia
- As with any drug or supplement, there is always a chance of an allergic reaction. Boswellia should be avoided by anyone who has a known allergy to boswellia or other plants in the Burseraceae family. Side effects with boswellia are considered rare, but some possible side effects include: Abdominal pain, Breathing problems, Chest pain, Diarrhea, Heartburn, Nausea, Skin irritation (hives, rashes, itchiness). When applied to the skin, it can cause allergic rash.
- Boswellia is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant and you have taken boswellia.
- Boswellia may decrease the effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin. This herb may interact with: Antibiotics, Fat-soluble drugs, Immunomodulators , Sedatives
- Boswellia may have interactions with other herbs or supplements, including:
- Anticancer supplements (such as mistletoe, Viscum album)
- Supplements used to lower cholesterol (such as garlic, Allium sativum, or red yeast)
- Antifungals (such as tea tree oil, Melaleuca alternifolia)
- Supplements used to treat joints (such as glucosamine and chondroitin)
The benefits of Boswellia are
One of the most widely used herbs in Indian medicine, it has been used for centuries by traditional Indian healers to reduce pain and inflammation. Hundreds of studies have been done proving it's effectiveness and in addition to being a powerful and safe, natural anti-inflammatory, Boswellia has also been shown to support healthy blood circulation.Boswellia was found to work by blocking the production of 5-LOX in the body : an enzyme that creates a cascade of inflammatory processes in your body that are connected with a variety of diseases commonly associated with aging. Controlled trial studies have found that a potent boswellia extract called 3-acetyl-11-keto-betaboswellic acid (AKBA) provides relief from :
- Rheumatism
- Osteoarthritis. Some studies show that taking certain extracts of Indian frankincense (5-Loxin, Aflapin) can reduce pain and improve mobility in people with osteoarthritis in joints. Research shows that it might decrease joint pain by 32% to 65%.
- Ulcerative colitis. Taking Indian frankincense seems to improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis in some people. For some people, Indian frankincense seems to work as well as the prescription drug sulfasalazine. Some research shows that it can induce disease remission in 70% to 82% of people.
- Fevers
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Crohn's disease
- asthma
- joint swelling & pain caused by arthritis.
- to "cleanse" the arteries,
- reverse arteriosclerosis
- raise HDL cholesterol levels as much as 30% while lowering total cholesterol by 45%.
- Cancer : ability to cause cancer cells to commit suicide, thus preventing malignant cell growth, replication, and metastases.
- Leukemia : Four major triterpene acids including beta-boswellic acid inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in human leukemia HL-60 cells in a dose dependent manner.
