Boswellia Serrata
Species Name: shallaki or bonswellia Serrata
Other Names by Which Boswellia Serrata is known: Indian Frankincense, Salai guggal, Boswellin, and Boswellia.
What is Boswellia Serrat? The gum of the Bonswellia tree.
Home Remedies using Boswellia Serrata:
Benefits of Boswellia Serrata:
Boswellia serrata is a natural and safe herb for optimum joint health. It has traditionally been used as incense because of its fragrant properties.
One active constituent, Boswellic Acid, is a pyrazoline derivative shown to be very effective in supporting healthy joints. Like its cousin Guggul, Boswellia has many cholesterol and triglyceride lowering properties.
One of the principal constituents in the gum resin is boswellic acid which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity.
Boswellia has been used extensively in Ayurveda for joint support and to provide an overall sense of well-being. Also known as "Salai Guggul," it is like its cousin Guggul in exhibiting immune system benefits.
The gum resin is used as an ointment for sores and has anti-inflammatory, anti atherosclerotic and anti arthritic activities. The gum resin provided sedative and analgesic action.
The gum is a well-known household deodorizer and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent when applied externally. Taken internally, it is anti arthritic, and has expectorant effects. It also reduces body weight.
In clinical trials, promising results were observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, bronchial asthma and peritumoral brains edemas.
Uses of Boswellia Serrat:
Asthma:
The use of 300 mg. of boswellia three times daily, has proven to improve the signs and symptoms of asthma, including a reduction in the frequency of the asthma attacks.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
In one study of 30 patients 18 to 48 years old suffering with chronic colitis, Twenty were given boswellia extract in the amount of 300 mg. Three times a week for six weeks, and the other ten were given one g.sulfasalazine, three times a day.
The twenty treated with boswellia, showed fourteen participants go into remission, with four of the ten treated with the drug going into remission.
Osteoarthritis:
Boswellia has been studied in combination with other herbs. An Ayurvedic herbal combination of ashwagandha, boswellia , and curcumin was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross over study in patients with osteoarthritis.
Treatment with this formulation produced a significant drop in severity of pain.
Boswellia Serrata can be taken as a gel cap or applied topically as an ointment.
Side Effects of Boswellia Serrat:
Other than very rare cases of diarrhea, skin rash and nausea, there are no known side effects for boswellia serrata.
There are no known drug interactions, or contraindications.
