Introduction
Boswellia is a tree that grows in India, the Middle East, and North Africa. It has been used to reduce inflammation in the body. It can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be applied as a cream.
Dosages
200 milligrams 2 to 3 times daily.
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Osteoarthritis —likely to reduce painC1-C6
Not Enough Data to Assess
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take boswellia for a short time. Ayurvedic medicines like Boswellia often contain heavy metals, which increases the risk of heavy metal poisoning. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Asthma
REFA1 Ferrara T, DeVincentiis G, et al. Functional study on Boswellia phytosome as complementary intervention in asthmatic patients. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2015 Oct;19(19):3757.
REFB Breast Fibroadenoma
REFB1 Pasta V, Dinicola S, et al. A randomized trial of Boswellia in association with betaine and myo-inositol in the management of breast fibroadenomas. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016 May;20(9):1860-1865.
REFC Osteoarthritis
REFC1 Cameron M, Chrubasik S. Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;22(5):CD002947.
REFC2 Marimifar M, Soltani R, et al. Evaluation of the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia alone and combined with Boswellia thurifera compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial. Clin Rheumatol. 2017;36(8):1849-1853.
REFC3 Bannuru RR, Osani MC, et al. Efficacy of curcumin and Boswellia for knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2018;43(3):416-429.
REFC4 Liu X, Machado GC, et al. Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(3):167-175.
REFC5 Haroyan A, Mukuchyan V, et al. Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Jan 9;18(1):7.
REFC6 Del Grossi Moura M, Lopes LC, et al C. Oral herbal medicines marketed in Brazil for the treatment of osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2017 Nov;31(11):1676-1685.
REFD Photoaging of Facial Skin
REFD1 Calzavara-Pinton P, Zane C, et al. Topical Boswellic acids for treatment of photoaged skin. Dermatol Ther. 2010 Jan-Feb;23 Suppl 1:S28-32.
REFE Stress Incontinence
REFE1 Arkalgud Rangaswamy P, Sultana A, et al. Efficacy of Boswellia serrata L. and Cyperus scariosus L. plus pelvic floor muscle training in stress incontinence in women of reproductive age. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014 Nov;20(4):230-236.