In the early 1900s, the incidence of lung cancer was low because relatively few people smoked. Lung cancer now kills more people than any other cancer, primarily because of smoking's popularity. Medical researchers are examining boswellia's pharmacological potential, including its anti-tumor actions. Boswellia is a resin from an incense tree that grows in the Middle East and India. In traditional Asian medicine, it is used for inflammatory conditions, asthma and colitis. If you have cancer, do not forgo conventional treatment.
Lung Cancer
If you smoke, you are between 10 and 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Other factors are second-hand smoke, genetic predisposition, environmental pollutants and radon, a naturally occurring gas. Symptoms can be vague and wide-ranging, such as tiredness, cough, breathlessness, repeated bouts of pneumonia and headache. According to professor of radiology Dr. Claudia I. Henschke, author of "Lung Cancer: Myths, Facts, Choices -- and Hope" published in 2003, three physiological mechanisms cause lung cancer symptoms. These are lung tumors, substances like hormones produced by lung cancer cells and tumors that have spread to other areas of your body.
Boswellia and Health
The pale-yellow resin of the boswellia tree, also called Indian frankincense, contains sugars and volatile essential oils that impart its distinctive aroma. The major bio-active compounds of the resin are boswellic acids, a group of phytochemicals unique to the boswellia tree. Scientists have discovered that boswellia diminishes brain swelling in people who have undergone radiation for brain tumors, reports the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC. The resin is generally safe to take, and only mild side effects such as diarrhea or a rash have been reported, notes physician Deepak Chopra in his 2000 book, "The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook."
Boswellia and Inflammation
Tissue inflammation, which results from an infection, is a primary cause of cancer. MSKCC reports that up to 30 percent of cancers begin with infection and inflammation, and boswellic acids are powerful inhibitors of inflammation. In addition, the resin causes few toxic effects and does not induce gastritis in laboratory animals. Long-term human clinical trials are needed before it can be widely recommended.
Boswellia and Tumors
Rising health-care costs and an increase in cancer cases has produced a concerted effort among scientists to find plant-based cancer prevention and treatment strategies. Another rationale for studying botanical therapies for cancer is that they have fewer toxic side effects than synthetic drugs. Once cancer is diagnosed, alternative therapies such as herbs seek to stop metastasis and supplement conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation. According to Elizabeth A. Mazzio, Ph.D., in a 2009 "Phytotherapy Research" study, boswellia showed tumor-killing activity when tested in the laboratory. Talk with a qualified health professional before adding boswellia to your regimen.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Boswellia
- "The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook"; Deepak Chopra, M.D., et al.; 2000
- "Phytotherapy Research"; In Vitro Screening for the Tumoricidal Properties of International Medicinal Herbs; Elizabeth A. Mazzio, et al.; March 2009
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Lucille Castori Center for Microbes, Inflammation and Cancer Established
- "Lung Cancer: Myths, Facts, Choices -- and Hope"; Claudia I. Henschke, M.D.; 2003
