Tell me about...
Boswellia
What is boswellia? Why do we need
it?
Boswellia is a medium-sized branching tree found in the dry
areas of India. Unlike many herbal products, the boswellia
tree does not have to be killed to utilize its medicinal properties.
The healing effects of boswellia come from its resin, which
can be tapped and then purified for use in herbal preparations.
Boswellia resin has been used for thousands of years as a
part of ayurvedic medicine. The resin is usually grouped with
other resins, which are collectively referred to as guggals.
Boswellia resin consists of essential oils, gum and terpenoids.
The terpenoid portion contains boswellic acids, which have
been shown to act much like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS), but without the unwanted side-effects. Small
double-blind studies suggest that boswellia extracts may be
beneficial in treating ulcers, colitis, arthritis, bursitis,
and other inflammatory conditions.
How much boswellia should I take?
Standardized boswellia extracts (37.5-65% boswellic acids)
are recommended by most practitioners. For rheumatoid arthritis,
many practitioners recommend 150mg of boswellic acids taken
taken three times daily. Treatment with boswellia generally
lasts eight to twelve weeks.
What forms of boswellia are available?
Boswellia can be found as an extract or powder.
What can happen if I take too much
boswellia? Are there any interactions I should be aware of?
What precautions should I take?
Boswellia is considered safe when used as directed. Occasional
side-effects may occur, including diarrhea, skin rash and
nausea. At the time of this writing, there are no known drug
interactions with boswellia.
Other Resources :
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References
- Etzel R. Special extract of boswellia
serrata (H15) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Phytomed 1996;3:91—4.
- Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, et al.
Effects of boswellia serrata gum resin in patients
with ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Res 1997;2:37—43.
- Knaus U, Wagner H. Effects of boswellic
acid of boswellia serrata and other triterpenic acids
on the complement system. Phytomedicine 1996;3:77-81.
- Rall B, Ammon HPT, Safayhi H. Boswellic
acids and protease activities. Phytomedicine 1996;3:75-76.
- Safayhi H, Sailer ER, Amnon HPT. 5-lipoxygenase
inhibition by acetyl-11-keto-b-boswellic acid. Phytomed
1996;3:71—2.
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