Boswellia Herb - Exposed

Boswellia is said to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and there is no known cure for it. Certain pain medications do help relieve symptoms, such as aspirin and acetaminophen. Also, non-steroidal medications, such as naproxen and ibuprofen can help reduce the inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. But these medications are chemically produced, and can have some serious side effects (particuarlarly naproxen). This is where Boswellia comes in. Boswellia is an herb that hails from antiquity, and yet fits perfectly into today’s modern world.

Boswellia may not have as varied a use as aloe vera, or tea tree oil, but it can work wonders for treating the pain associated with osteoarthritis. But arthritis is not the only problem that boswellia has been used to treat. For thousands of years, people have used it asIt has also been used to “warm the joints”, and provide relief for stiffness, as well as inflammation. These therapies are used not just for arthritis, but for a variety of different joint and inflammation ailments.

The History:

And what a storied history boswellia has. In ancient times, it was known as frankincense. It is one of the three gifts that the wise men presented to the baby Christ when he was born. It’s a shrub, and it traditionally grows in hot, dry climates, notably in Iran , but it is found elsewhere in the world.

The Real Deal:

Well, according to the U.S. government health website, the National institutes of health library, found at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov , There has been research and studies conducted on boswellia, and the some of the claims are indeed true. Here is what we know:

A study was conducted at Indira Gandhi Medical College , Nagpur , India , that showed that Boswellia does indeed relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The researchers conducted a double blind study involving 30 patients with arthritis in the knee. 15 of them received a placebo, and 15 of them received a treatment of Boswellia gum for 8 weeks. Then, the 15 who originally received placebo received the Boswellia treatment, and the others received the placebo. All patients who received the drug reported decreased knee pain, increased flexibility, and increased walking distance. Also, there was decreased swelling in the knee joint. The people in the placebo group faired much worse. There was no radiological difference, however.

However, another study on colitis (inflammation of the intestines) showed that Boswellia was ineffective. Furthermore, in high dosage, it might even be toxic. This study isn’t perfect however, because the colitis was acid induced, and was in mice, not humans.

So, the evidence shows Boswellia does indeed relieve swelling and pain symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. However, it’s overall ability to reduce other types of swelling is questionable.

Possible discrepencies in the science:

Boswellia looks as though it can be a great way to treat pain and inflammation if you have arthritis. In fact, the National institutes of health endorse the science behind it, so there is absolutely something to it.

However, the few studies available are not big enough to state with certainty that this is one of the great anti-inflammatory medications available for arthritis. As more studies are conducted, the evidence will become more clear just to what extent boswellia can relieve the pain associated with general inflammation. The good news is, there are relatively few (if any) side effects from Boswellia. This may well be a good alternative to naproxen and chemical pain killers for people sensitive to the side effects they can produce.