Boswellia serrata produces unique chemicals that have been shown to have effective anti-inflammatory and maybe anticancer properties. The resinous extracts from trees belonging to the Boswellia genus, a member of the Burseraceae plant family, are known as “frankincense oil”.

In reality, extracts from many species of the Boswellia tree were used to treat a wide range of inflammatory illnesses, such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and heart disease, long before the development of supplements and drugs that reduce inflammation.

Boswellia sacra and Boswellia carteri are two other varieties of related Boswellia trees that occur in regions like Oman in the Middle East and parts of Northern Africa.

Why are these plant extracts so effective at maintaining health and warding off disease? It has a lot to do with how various chemical substances control the immune system, specifically how some of them suppress specific pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators that can cause DNA damage, support the formation of tumors, and kill healthy cells.

We now know more about the potential health benefits and immune system booster properties of frankincense and Boswellia oils thanks to decades of research.

4 Health Benefits of Boswellia Serrata

For joint discomfort, swelling of the fluid-filled pads in the joints (bursitis), brain damage, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and swelling of tendons, Boswellia is taken orally (tendonitis).

Additionally, it is taken orally for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, collagenous colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon, and stomach pain.

Asthma, hay fever, sore throat, syphilis, painful menstruation, acne, bruises, headache, diabetes, and cancer are among the conditions it is used to treat. To increase urine flow, stimulate menstruation flow, and act as a stimulant, Boswellia is also employed.

1. Lowers Inflammation

The most helpful Boswellia tree extracts, according to the study, are terpenes and boswellia acids, which are powerfully anti-inflammatory and protective of healthy cells.

Terpenes are strong-smelling molecules that are found in a variety of plants, including several that we typically connect with being high in antioxidants, such as citrus trees, eucalyptus, basil, and peppermint.

Terpenes have a key function in protecting the plants that contain them since their pungent aroma can fend off insect predators, protect plants from environmental problems, and act as building blocks for essential chemical activities. In the human body, terpenes can achieve the same results by lowering free radical damage and extending life.

Boswellia has additional chemical compounds, including one known as AKBA, that naturally suppress the inflammatory response by regulating T-lymphocytes (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid).

Although it functions similarly to NSAID painkillers, AKBA’s precise mechanisms of action are considerably different because it targets various inflammatory enzymes instead of the same ones.

Boswellia extracts are less toxic and have fewer adverse effects than NSAIDs because they are more effective in maintaining the health of the stomach and gut lining.

Leukotrienes are inflammatory mediators created by the process of oxidation, and AKBA inhibits their production by inhibiting an enzyme called 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase), which prevents leukotrienes from acting as an analgesic (specifically of arachidonic acid).

Incensole acetate, another Boswellia active ingredient, has comparable abilities to reduce inflammatory responses, particularly those that target the brain and hasten cognitive decline.

Incensole acetate is a potential natural antidepressant and anti-anxiety molecule, according to studies, since it protects neurons, aids in the prevention of tumor growth, and improves mood.

2. For Joint And Arthritis Pain

According to a study in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Boswellia serrata extract can help people with arthritis, osteoarthritis (a common, chronic, progressive, skeletal, degenerative disorder that frequently affects the knee joint), and other types of inflamed joints by reducing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving.

Some people reported experiencing a considerable decrease in joint pain of up to 32 percent to 65 percent, which is equivalent to the effects of prescription drugs, demonstrating the promise of Boswellia as a natural arthritis treatment.

Another study indicated that Boswellia serrata helped cure osteoarthritis symptoms such as knee pain, knee-jerking, and pain while walking much better than treatment with a placebo, according to research published in the Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology.

Researchers came to the conclusion that Boswellia is a promising treatment for reducing knee pain, increasing knee flexion, and extending walking distances in people who frequently experience knee joint swelling due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and analgesic properties.

3. Fights Cancer

Since ancient times, people have used frankincense oil, which is created by refining the resin extracted from the Boswellia tree’s trunk, for medicinal purposes as well as in religious and ceremonial rituals. According to recent studies, frankincense essential oil has a significant impact on cancer prevention.

Many people consume frankincense throughout the world without experiencing any negative side effects. Many holistic practitioners use it with conventional cancer therapies since it successfully targets cancer cells while protecting healthy cells.

The prevention of brain, breast, colon, pancreatic, prostate, and stomach cancers has been linked to AKBA, according to research.

Boswellia extracts and frankincense oil may have cancer-fighting potential in part because of their ability to impact our genes to promote healing and reduce harmful side effects from cancer treatments.

Living with the severe and potentially fatal side effects that cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation frequently bring on is one of the most difficult and distressing aspects of fighting cancer.

However, the use of Boswellia extracts, particularly those from the Boswellia Carteri species, shows promise in the fight against these difficulties.

For instance, it has been demonstrated that frankincense and Boswellia extracts can combat joint discomfort, brain swelling, digestive issues, and migraine headaches without harming good cells that make people more susceptible to infections.

Frankincense benefits the immune system in a number of various ways, including preventing infections, reducing inflammation, fostering hormonal balance, enhancing skin health, and reducing anxiety (which is frequently referred to as raising “spiritual awareness”).

4. Speeds up Healing From Infections

Boswellia can lessen the intensity of infections in the sinuses or respiratory tracts, so you can get treatment for a sore throat, a cold, or the flu more quickly.

It truly is among the greatest essential oils for sore throat. According to research, Boswellia also lessens mucus in the lungs, prevents allergies and asthma, and eases breathing by acting as an anti-inflammatory in the nasal passages.

In traditional Chinese medicine, frankincense has been employed as a home treatment for enhancing blood flow, accelerating the healing process, and reducing discomfort associated with a number of bacterial or viral diseases, such as the flu or colds, leprosy, or gonorrhea.

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