Frankincense - 5 amazing areas of application for Boswellia serrata

Veröffentlicht am: October 03, 2024
Dr. med. Wolfgang  Bachmann
Dr. med. Wolfgang Bachmann

General practitioner

Frankincense capsules made from Indian frankincense are already a very welcome and well-known remedy for the natural treatment of diseases and ailments. Not only has frankincense long been used as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, but studies have also found it to have a positive effect on various types of cancer, joint and arthritis painautoimmune diseases and infections

In this guide you will learn more about frankincense and its 5 beneficial uses.

Contents

What is frankincense and what effect does it have?

Frankincense oil, or extract, is obtained from the resin of the frankincense tree. It originally grows in North Africa and the Middle East, where it has been used as a remedy for centuries. More specifically, frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has long been known as a natural painkiller and anti-inflammatory.

Frankincense helps to regulate the immune system. This inhibits certain inflammatory cytokines and mediators. The result: Boswellia serrata protects the DNA, slows tumor growth and helps to protect healthy cells from changes and cell damage.

In addition, taking frankincense has the following positive effects:

  • It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and can therefore combat inflammation in the body
  • Frankincense helps in the treatment of irritable bowel syndromes, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
  • It reduces joint and arthritis pain
  • Boswellia serrata fights cancer
  • It accelerates the healing of infections
  • Frankincense prevents autoimmune diseases

Today, frankincense is increasingly coming into focus as more and more research and studies point to the impressive effects of frankincense.

Five positive effects of frankincense on your health

1) Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata) reduces inflammation in the body

Among the valuable frankincense extracts, researchers have identified terpenes and boswellic acids, which have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and protect healthy cells from attack.

  • Terpenes

Terpenes are strong-smelling chemicals found in certain plants such as eucalyptus, basil, peppermint and citrus fruits. Terpenes play an important role in protecting these plants, as their strong aroma fights insect predators, protects against environmental influences and is considered a building block of important chemical processes. In the human body, terpenes play the same role by warding off the attack of free radicals and thus protecting the cells.

  • AKBA

Other chemical compounds found in frankincense reduce the inflammatory response by controlling T-lymphocytes, in particular the so-called AKBA (3-0-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid). Although these work in a similar way to painkillers, the mechanisms of action of AKBA are very different as they activate different enzymes. Due to its special composition, frankincense passes through the stomach and intestines without any problems and therefore causes significantly fewer side effects than conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. AKBA combats pain by having the ability to inhibit an enzyme called 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase). This stops leukotrins, which drive inflammation, in their tracks. AKBA has been shown to be very effective in a wide range of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, bronchial asthma, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and cancer.

  • Incensol acetate

Another active component of frankincense (Boswellia serrata) is incensol acetate, which has a similar power to reduce inflammation, especially in the brain. Studies show that incensol acetate protects neurons, inhibits the formation of tumors and has mood-enhancing benefits, making it a natural antidepressant.

2) Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata) reduces joint and arthritis pain

A study published in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database shows that boswellia extract can reduce pain or swelling in arthritis, osteoarthritis or other forms of inflamed joints. The participants in the study were able to reduce their joint pain by up to 45%. This means that frankincense achieves almost the same percentage as prescription medication.

Another study in the Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology showed that Boswellia serrata had significant analgesic effects in the treatment of osteoarthritis compared to placebo. The researchers concluded that the anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic activities of frankincense are a promising treatment for knee pain, swelling and decreasing mobility.

The results are of great interest to many patients suffering from rheumatism and other diseases. Conventional medicines have side effects after prolonged use. Frankincense, on the other hand, is 100% natural, achieves the same effect and has no side effects.

3) Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) fights cancer

For thousands of years, frankincense oil from the Boswellia tree has been used medicinallyreligiously and culturally with no known side effects.

Research is now showing a particularly exciting effect in cancer prevention.

It is used in the prevention of the following types of cancer:

  • Brain cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Stomach cancer

Frankincense is effective against cancer cells and protects healthy cells at the same time. As a result, Boswellia serrata is now increasingly being used in traditional cancer treatment.

The cancer-destroying properties of frankincense are due to the reduction of the side effects of traditional cancer treatment. This is because the side effects of cancer therapy, which occur during treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, are life-threatening and painful. Joint pain, swelling in the brain, digestive problems and headaches can be reduced. Frankincense also supports the immune system by preventing infectionsreducing inflammation and promoting hormonal balance.

4) Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata) accelerates the healing of infections

Frankincense is able to combat severe respiratory infections and thus provide significant relief from coughs, colds, flu or sore throats.

Research shows that frankincense:

  • Allergies and asthma prevented
  • eliminates the mucus in the lungs
  • acts against inflammation

In traditional Chinese medicine, frankincense has also been used as a natural remedy for improving circulation, speeding up healing time and relieving pain from bacterial or viral infections such as colds or flu. Further studies also show a natural antiviral effect in the treatment of severe viruses.

5) Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) prevents autoimmune diseases

One of the oldest uses of frankincense is in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases.

For example:

  • Asthma
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic intestinal diseases

Frankincense tablets impair the development of autoimmune diseases by controlling the immunoglobulins produced by the immune system to fight potential threats. Frankincense inhibits the production of leukotrienes, which are found in chronic inflammatory diseases. The immune system is always producing different types of antibodies to fight different diseases. However, something can go wrong in this process and the body produces antibodies that attack its own healthy tissues and organs. When this happens, an autoimmune disease develops.

Further studies have shown that frankincense helps in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Irritable bowel syndrome is an inflammation of the digestive tract, particularly the intestinal mucosa, which is important for normal nutrient absorption and elimination. Irritable bowel syndrome can also affect other parts of the digestive system, such as the mouth, oesophagus and stomach. Research shows that leukotrienes in particular play a major role in the development of inflammation. 

Conclusion: 

Frankincense has been well known for a long time and is used to treat various ailments and diseases. Several studies have shown that frankincense in the form of capsules or extracts can have very positive effects and has a wide range of applications. 

➤ Discover frankincense capsules now!

Sources (in English):

Ranjbarnedjad, T.,  Saidijam, M., Moradkhani, S. & Najafi, R. (2017, July). Methanolic extract of Boswellia serrata exhibits anti-cancer activities by targeting microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 in human colon cancer cellsProstaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators, 131:1-8, doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2017.05.003.

Beghelli, D., Isani, G., Roncada. P-, Andreani, G., Bistoni, O., Bertocchi, M. et al. (2017). Antioxidant and Ex Vivo Immune System Regulatory Properties of Boswellia serrata ExtractsOxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2017: 7468064, doi: 10.1155/2017/7468064

Siddiqui, M. Z. (2011, May). Boswellia serrata, a potential atiinflammatory agent: an overviewIndian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 73(3):255-61, doi: 10.4103/0250-474X.93507

Ammon, H. P. (2006, October). Boswellic acids in chronic inflammatory diseases, Planta Medica, 72(12):1100-16, doi: 10.1055/s-2006-947227

Ammon, H. P. (2016). Boswellic Acids and Their Role in Chronic Inflammatory DiseasesAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 928:291-327, doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_13

Ljaljević Grbić M., Unković N., Dimkić I., Janaćković P., Gavrilović M., Stanojević O. et al. (2018, June). Frankincense and myrrh essential oils and burn incense fume against micro-inhabitants of sacral ambients. Wisdom of the ancientsJ Ethnopharmacol, 219:1-14, doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.003

Haroyan A., Mukuchyan V., Mkrtchyan N., Minasyan N., Gasparyan S., Sargsyan A. et al. (2018, January). Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyBMC Complement Altern Med, 18(1):7, doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-2062-z 

Koeberle A., Henkel A., Verhoff M., Tausch L., König S., Fischer D. et al. (2018, February). Triterpene Acids from Frankincense and Semi-Synthetic Derivatives That Inhibit 5-Lipoxygenase and Cathepsin GMolecules, 23(2). pii: E506, doi: 10.3390/molecules23020506 

Ammon H. P. (2010, September). Modulation of the immune system by Boswellia serrata extracts and boswellic acidsPhytomedicine, 17(11):862-7, doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.003 

Umar, S., Umar, K., Sarwar, A. H., Khan, A., Ahmad, N., Ahmad, S. et al. (2014, May). Boswellia serrata extract attenuates inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress in collagen induced arthritisPhytomedicine, 21(6):847-56, doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.02.001

Ammon, H. P., Safayhi, H., Mack, T. & Sabieraj, J. (1993, March). Mechanism of antiinflammatory actions of curcumine and boswellic acidsJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 38(2-3):113-9