Your joints enable you to move, and when joint pain occurs, it can range from unpleasant to debilitating. There are various medications to treat joint pain, both over the counter and prescription, but a natural herb called boswellia may also help some people. Before using this herb for joint pain, talk with your doctor to see if it is safe and appropriate for your condition.
Joint Pain
The place where two or more bones meet each other is called a joint. Certain medical conditions can cause pain in your joints that can range from mild to severe, and acute or chronic. Various causes of joint pain include several types of arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Lyme disease, tendinitis and bone cancer, according to MayoClinic.com. If joint pain becomes too severe, this can limit movement of the joint and impact your daily activities. If you are experiencing joint pain, see your health care professional to find the underlying cause so that it can be treated properly.
Boswellia
Boswellia is also known as Indian frankincense, and is traditionally used as an Ayurvedic herb, states Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It was used historically to help treat arthritis, ulcerative colitis, asthma and snakebites, and it may still be of use today. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties and is also being studied for its anticancer effects.
Boswellia and Joints
Boswellia has been used to help treat arthritic conditions because of its anti-inflammatory effects, but the study results are mixed. In a 2007 study published in "Phytotherapy Research," J.E. Chrubasik, et al, found that there was not enough information to determine whether boswellia helped alleviate osteoarthritis pain. Conversely, a study from 2008, in the journal "Arthritis Research and Therapy," found that 5-Loxin, an extract of boswellia, was effective in reducing pain and improving movement in joints of those with osteoarthritis. If you have arthritis or joint pain, talk with your doctor about whether boswellia can help your symptoms.
Considerations
Before using boswellia, tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements you may be taking for your joint pain or the condition causing the pain. Though boswellia is a natural herb from a plant, it may still interact with medications. Do not use this as a substitute for any treatments your doctor prescribes, without first consulting your doctor.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Joint Pain; Causes; Mayo Clinic Staff; August 2010
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Boswellia; March 2011
- PubMed.gov; "Phytotherapy Research"; Evidence of Effectiveness of Herbal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Painful Osteoarthritis and Chronic Low Back Pain; JE Chrubasik et al; 2007
- PubMed.gov; "Arthritis Research and Therapy"; A Double Blind , Randomized, Placebo Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of 5-Loxin for Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee; K Sengupta et al; 2008
