Boswellia - Anti-arthritis and Joint Support

Scott Mayland

Senior Member
Just wondering if anyone has ever used this.........


Boswellia, also known as Shallaki or 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 offering broad health and immunomodulating benefits. The gum resin is used as an ointment for sores and has anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic and antiarthritic activities. The nonphenolic fraction of the gum resin had marked sedative and analgesic action. The gum is a well known household fumigant and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent when applied externally. Internally, besides being antiarthritic, it 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 und peritumoral brains edemas. Boswellic acids inhibit the leukotriene biosynthesis in neutrophilic granulocytes by a non-redox, noncompetitive inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. The effect is triggered by boswellic acids binding to the enzyme. Moreover certain boswellic acids have been described to inhibit elastase in leukocytes, to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and to inhibit topoisomerases of leukoma- and glioma cell lines. A series of chronic inflammatory diseases are thought to be perpetuated by leukotrienes.
 

Scott Mayland

Senior Member
Doctors from India who practice traditional Ayurvedic medicine have long used extracts made from a resin that oozes from the tapped bark of the native boswellia tree (also called the Indian frankincense tree). Historically these extracts been taken for a variety of conditions.

HOW IT HELPS BACK PAIN
Your doctor might well recommend an NSAID (aspirin or ibuprofen) or one of the new COX-2 inhibitors to control your back pain. On the other hand, boswellia, whose natural anti-inflammatory effect seems to mimic the same very pricey COX-2s, is a safe and natural alternative.

Just don't expect boswellia to cure your back problem, or even start rebuilding the cartilage. No pain medicine can do that. But you might experience some pleasant relief without any upset stomach.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Boswellia comes in various ways: as a single supplement and in a number of different combination products that include other natural anti-inflammatory substances, such as the herbs ginger and turmeric.

Forms
Boswellia is available in a number of forms, namely:

Tablets and capsules to be taken internally.
Cream that can be rubbed directly into the joint; some patients report that this produces a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect.



Standardization
This herb has been used for many centuries; it is considered very safe and has few, if any, side effects. Look for products standardized to contain 60% boswellic acids.



OTHER SUGGESTIONS
Most people discover on their own how frequently they need to take boswellia. Like any other painkiller, how fast boswellia wears off for you depends on how fast you metabolize it.

You may be comfortable with only one capsule a day. Or, you may feel its effects wearing off in a few hours, and then it's okay to take another. The normal dose is one tablet or capsule three times a day, but really, you may need a little more, or even a little less.
 

Herbmountain

Inactive
I have great results with boswellia. I goof around in my herb room and last year made a wonderful combination of boswellia and Corydalis. I infused each herb in their own jar. Then when ready I blended them along with camphor, St. John's Wort infused and many hot essential oils. It is almost 2 years now and the formula is still as potent as when I first formulated it. I use it topically.

Boswellia is also used for toothpaste. It has anti-viral and bacterial propertys. Internally it is a natural anti-inflammatory. Boswellia comes in resin form as well as essential oil "Frankinsense" and capsule form. Many formulas also blend Boswellia with glucosamine.
 

Scott Mayland

Senior Member
ok I got my boswellia and It seems to work just as good as the celebrex if not better. i am on my 3rd day of it. It does seem to take the pain away and keep it away. i am going to keep taking it and will see how it goes. I am going to talk to the Dr. on the 11th about it.
 
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