Boswellia, or Indian frankincense, has a long history of use in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. Treating arthritis ranks among one of the herb's traditional uses and research suggests it might offer benefit for joint pain. Boswellia appears a generally safe supplement but you should always check with your doctor about the appropriateness of using herbal medicines for your condition.
Mechanism
Boswellic acid, a primary component of boswellia, appears to account for its therapeutic actions. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reports research has shown boswellia extracts inhibit the production of 5-lipoxygenases, a protein involved in the synthesis of chemicals that contribute to inflammation and arthritic pain.
Research
An Indian study published in the July 2008 issue of "Arthritis Research and Therapy" tested the effects of boswellia against a placebo in 75 patients. Subjects either received 100 mg or 250 mg of boswellia or a placebo daily for 90 days. Researchers found both doses of the herb provided "statistically significant improvements in pain scores and physical functions" and individuals taking the higher dose experienced improvement as little as seven days into the study. Not only did boswellia reduce inflammation, it appeared to reduce cartilage degradation. The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center also notes a double-blind, placebo-controlled study where patients with arthritis of the knee experienced significant improvement in pain, mobility and walking distance while taking boswellia. It reports mixed results on the herb's effect for rheumatoid arthritis but notes one of the studies which failed to find benefit had 50 percent of the participants drop out before the study completed, which reduces the validity of the results.
Dosage
To exert a therapeutic effect, herbs often need to contain a certain amount of their active agents. Look for boswellia supplements which contain 37.5 percent boswellic acids. The aforementioned study used 100 mg or 250 mg of a specially formulated boswellia extract 5-Loxin, which is more concentrated than other boswellia products. Rheumatologist Dr. James McKoy, who sits on the medical advisory board for the publication "Arthritis Today," recommends arthritis patients take 400 mg three times a day. Drugs.com notes arthritis studies that used 3,600 mg daily. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate dosage and his recommendations on a quality supplement.
Considerations for Use
Beth Israel notes clinical trials have not reported any significant adverse effects from boswellia use. Boswellia does not have any documented medication interactions but clear use with your doctor if you take any prescription drugs. Same goes if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have liver or kidney disease as these organs have a particular sensitivity to what you put in your body.
References
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Boswellia; February 2011
- Drugs.com: Complete Frankincense Information;
- Arthritis Today;A Doctor's Herbal Prescriptions; Brenda Goodman;
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Boswellia; March 2011
- Arthritis Research and Therapy; A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of 5-Loxin for Osteoarthritis of the Knee;K. Sengupta, et al.; July 2008
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