Boswellia Serrata is a medicine used in the traditional Indian medicinal practices of Ayurveda. It is extracted from trees in a kind of resin form.
The parent species, Boswellia has another name which most people have heard of at some point in their lives – Frankincense.
Traditionally it has been burnt and used for aromatherapy or taken as a medicine. These days it can be found in health and supplement stores in bottles of pills.
Modern research is highlighting some very interesting properties of this compound. It has potent anti-inflammatory benefits which may particularly suit people with osteoarthritis, both for the pain and joint degradation.
It also inhibits cancer from spreading, and some initial studies have shown it may completely prevent some types of tumour from forming altogether.
There is even promise of it being a treatment for asthma.
What’s more, Boswellia appears to work fast, in manageable dosages and has a great safety profile so far.
Boswellia Serrata for Joint Health
All of the studies involving osteoarthritis sufferers show a significant decrease in symptoms of the condition.
For example, the study with a Boswellia serrata extract called 5-Loxin resulted in pain reduction and improvement in knee function.
The scientists said that the supplement inhibits pro-inflammatory modulators as well as reducing enzymatic damage of cartilage.
Boswellia Serrata for Cancer Prevention
There is a lot more to discover about this herb, but one case study involving a woman with a brain tumour (which had metastasized from her breast) demonstrates just how potent it might be.
After ten weeks of supplementation at 800mg x 3 per day, her brain tumour was eliminated.
In vitro studies tell us it might be as potent for prostate and pancreatic cancer. There is less research for other types of cancer like cervical, breast and Leukemia, but its promising indeed.
Boswellia Serrata for Asthma Treatment
One human study involving 80 participants showed 70% improvement of asthmatic symptoms in the test group.
Boswellia Serrata for Skin Quality
There is not enough evidence at this stage to offer any conclusive statements about Boswellia for skin but initial research shows it may improve skin elasticity and overall quality.
The supplement was in the form of a topical cream, and it is currently unknown if the same would apply to orally ingested supplements.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Did You Know: The Boswellia plant family is also known as Frankincense. It may be one of the most potent anti-cancer supplements in existence.” quote=”Did You Know: The Boswellia plant family is also known as Frankincense. It may be one of the most potent anti-cancer supplements in existence.”]How To Use Boswellia Serrata
It appears from the current research conducted that this herb is powerful for countering inflammation, cancer and asthma, however it may be preventative as well.
Prevention is where supplements come in. You may not be suffering from any of the described health problems now but something this potent might be able to nip them in the bud before they can even take hold.
Supplements are usually in the form capsules and while the dosages differ from product to product, there are guidelines below indicating how much you can take if you are using boswellia serrata resin.
There are a few patented brands 5-Loxin and Aflapin to name two. These are usually higher in concentration of the bioactive element and so should not be taken in equal measure to a standard
Boswellia Serrata Dosage
If you have a patented product like the two mentioned in the previous section then follow the guidelines on the packaging. It’s usually between 100mg and 250mg per day once with breakfast.
The resin extracts you might find should also indicate guidelines but you can take about 1000mg with your 3 meals a day for a total daily dose of 3000mg.
Boswellia Serrata Side Effects
There is the possibility of mild allergy to Boswellia but only when applied as a cream. There is no evidence to suggest there is any side effects of oral supplementation at the recommended dosages.
Boswellia Serrata Conclusion
It’s kind of annoying that there isn’t heaps and heaps of research on this, and it makes us think just what are cancer research charities doing? Here’s this tree gum resin type herb that’s literally been around for thousands of years, it can possibly reverse cancer, treat osteoarthritis and save asthma sufferers from a lot of grief.
And while we’re talking about Frankincense, let’s mention it’s biblical pal Myrrh (aka commiphora myrrha) which it just happens to work with synergistically.
Could a cancer ‘cure’ really be found in the bark of a tree? We’ll only know for sure with more studies. In the meantime, it seems like a good idea to take some.