Boswellia Serrata: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory You Need to Know About

What is Boswellia Serrata?

Boswellia serrata is a widely recognized plant in Ayurvedic medicine, which has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, particularly with regard to joint pain.

The main bioactive compound of boswellia serrata, acetyl-11-keto-beta boswellic acid (AKBA), is responsible for the plant's therapeutic effects. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase, which is known to play a key role in inflammation (1) (2).

The Ant-inflammatory Properties Boswellia Serrata

Thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory effects, boswellia serrata has been studied extensively for its potential to alleviate pain and immobility associated with osteoarthritis.

In fact, a recent comprehensive meta-analysis in 2020 revealed that men and women with osteoarthritis who took boswellia serrata extract saw marked improvements in joint pain, stiffness, and function after just 4 weeks of treatment (3).

What's even more impressive is that these benefits were further amplified with treatment periods lasting 12 weeks, with improvements that were 2-3 times greater than those seen with shorter treatment durations.

Better Than NSAIDS?

Interestingly, numerous clinical trials (4, 5, 6) have also demonstrated that boswellia serrata can provide similar benefits to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in treating the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

For instance, after 6 months of supplementation, subjects experienced significant improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and function, which were comparable to those seen with NSAIDs.

These findings suggest that boswellia serrata may be a safer and more effective alternative to traditional pain medications for individuals suffering from joint pain and inflammation.

References

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8646405/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1602379/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32680575
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30838706
5. https://www.ijp-online.com/showcaptcha.asp?RedirectUrl=article&issn=0253-7613;year=2007;volume=39;issue=1;spage=27;epage=29;aulast=Sontakke
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12622457
7. Image credit: Unsplash