Boswellia: elevates the mind, protects the joints

You’ve probably heard of boswellia many times before – you probably just know it by the name incense burner. Yes, it’s the tree whose resin has been burned in religious ceremonies for millennia to uplift the minds of those present. But this plant has many health benefits as well.

Incense’s ability to uplift the mind, promote meditation and contact with things that transcend us is agreed upon by all aromatherapy experts. It is not for nothing that it has been used for religious ceremonies for centuries, not only in Christianity but also in Hinduism. On the other hand, this fact is almost impossible to prove scientifically.

The health effects of boswellia, on the other hand, have been studied very thoroughly and the results of these scientific studies are more than promising. In fact, frankincense contains a mixture of boswellic acids, which have a very pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and can even directly influence the activity of some genes responsible for the development of many serious diseases (so-called epigenetic action).

Joints without pain and inflammation

One of the best researched areas of use of boswellia is the treatment of joint problems. Its anti-inflammatory action is particularly important here. It affects the genes responsible for the production of an enzyme called COX-2, which plays a key role in inflammatory processes. As a result, boswellia provides relief from both arthritis (i.e. autoimmune inflammatory joint disease) and arthrosis. In the later stages of arthritis, in response to damage to cartilage and other joint structures, inflammation also occurs, causing swelling, impaired mobility and, of course, pain.

In a 2003 study, for example, most of the advanced arthritis patients studied experienced significant pain relief, improved mobility and increased distance walked after eight weeks of boswellia. And some research has even shown a significant reduction in discomfort after just seven days of treatment.

Importantly, boswellia only affects the genes behind the production of the inflammatory enzyme COX-2, but unlike anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, it does not interfere with the production of COX-1. This is essential for the protection of the mucous membranes of the digestive system, which is why the long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to serious damage to the digestive tract. Boswellia, on the other hand, can relieve inflammation and pain just as effectively, but without the side effects.

In addition, boswellic acid, thanks to its epigenetic action, directly influences the actual mechanism of arthrosis, i.e. the loss of articular cartilage. It regulates the process of cartilage cell differentiation.

Cancer doesn’t stand a chance

However, there are also genes in our body that are designed to prevent cancer. For example, they restrict rapid, uncontrolled cell division and prevent damaged cells from multiplying further. If these genes are switched off, i.e. inactive, the likelihood of cancer increases. Boswellic acid, however, can restore the activity of these genes through chemical reactions, thus supporting both the prevention and treatment of cancer. It has been shown to have an effect on, for example, bowel, breast, stomach and pancreatic cancers.

Another important area of action of boswellia is the protection of the heart and blood vessels, in which its anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the clumping of platelets and other harmful processes, is particularly important. At the same time, boswellic acid also reduces cholesterol levels – by up to 48% according to some studies!

The anti-inflammatory effects of frankincense are also beneficial in inflammatory bowel diseases (including Crohn’s disease) and asthma.

Protects the brain, slows aging

Boswellic acid can effectively prevent damage to brain cells, for example during and in the days after a stroke, and even promotes the formation of new cells. In addition, it slows memory loss due to ageing, improves learning ability and can even alleviate depression.

However, Boswellia also protects against ageing-related processes that affect our appearance. In one study, when women applied a cream containing boswellic acid to half of their face for 30 days, they experienced a noticeable softening, reduction in fine lines, improved skin elasticity and a reduction in sebum production. Moreover, this effect persisted for two months after the end of the application.

The antibacterial and antiviral action of boswellia is also worth mentioning. In this area, by the way, the wisdom of our ancestors is fully manifested. By burning incense in churches, they not only uplifted the minds of everyone involved, but also mitigated the risk of spreading infectious diseases, which is always very high when large numbers of people gather.

How to take boswellia

Simply inhaling the smoke from incense will not provide sufficient health benefits – internal use is required, ideally in the form of dietary supplements.

For preventive purposes, 150 mg of boswellia extract 1-2 times a day is sufficient; for therapeutic use, the dose can be tripled.

Boswellia can also be taken together with certain medicines, in many cases even increasing their effectiveness – this is true for example for medicines used to treat cancer, fungus or to lower cholesterol. On the other hand, it can reduce the effectiveness of some drugs (for example, antibiotics or non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs). It is also not suitable in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The combination of boswellia with other natural remedies and dietary supplements is very effective. This applies, for example, to curcumin, which increases its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, joint nutrition containing glucosamine and chondroitin, or garlic (for high cholesterol).