Ligaments are bands of very tough tissue that support your organs and help connect the ends of bones in joints, such as the knees and shoulders. If you subject your joints to unusual stress or sustain an injury, you may tear a ligament, causing inflammation and pain. Boswellia is a natural remedy that may help reduce the symptoms of a torn ligament. Discuss boswellia with your doctor to decide if it might be helpful for your situation.
Boswellia
The Boswellia serrata tree is native to India, where it grows on arid hillsides. The tree has channels in its bark that contain a gummy resin or sap. When the bark is cut, the sap oozes to the surface where it can be harvested. Also called Indian frankincense, the resin has been part of traditional Indian medicine, or ayurveda, for thousands of years. Practitioners recommend boswellia for arthritis, asthma, rheumatism, diarrhea, bronchial disorders and skin problems.
Properties
The biologically active ingredient in boswellia resin is called boswellic acid, and it can be extracted from the resin in alcohol. The compound has a number of effects on your body that may suppress inflammation and pain associated with a torn ligament. It inhibits production of inflammatory molecules by immune cells, slowing infiltrating of fluid into tissues and reducing swelling. Boswellia also suppresses activity of an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase that is important in another pathway leading to inflammation.
Research
Many laboratory research studies have investigated the actions of boswellia in suppressing inflammation, as summarized by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A number of clinical trials of boswellia have also been carried out, including one published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in 1991 in which subjects with arthritis who consumed boswellia reported significant reduction in pain. Another trial of a boswellia extract, published in "Arthritis Research and Therapy" in 2008, used an enriched form of boswellia called 5-Loxin to treat subjects with knee arthritis. Those who took 5-Loxin experienced lessening of pain and better physical function by the end of one week, compared to a placebo group. No clinical studies have been conducted on subjects with torn ligaments, but these findings suggest that boswellia may also improve this condition. However, more extensive research is still needed.
Recommendations
Boswellia is available as a supplement in capsule form from health food stores or pharmacies. It is considered safe and with no significant side effects, although its safety during pregnancy or breast-feeding has not been established. Ask your doctor about the best treatment for torn ligaments and discuss whether boswellia is likely to be effective for this problem.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Sports Injuries
- Life Extension; Ancient Herb Suppresses Inflammation; V. Brower; March 2007
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Boswellia
- Drugs.com: Frankincense, Indian
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Treatment of Osteoarthritis with a Herbomineral Formulation: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study; R. Kulkarni, et al.; May-June 1991
- "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.; July 2008
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