How to Use Boswellia

Boswellia is an Ayurvedic herb derived from the gummy resin of the Boswellia tree. Boswellia is also known as frankincense, a commodity valued and traded for centuries in the Middle East. Boswellia carries a very aromatic scent of pine and citrus. It is used in herbal medicine for a variety of purposes and highly prized for its anti-inflammatory effects. It is often combined with other supportive joint nutrients. Boswellia is available in liquid or capsule form, and topically as a cream or spray. Some supplements are standardized for boswellic acid content. Most health food stores carry boswellia, as well as many on-line retailers.

Instructions

How to Use Boswellia

• 1

  Take 300 -- 400 mg of Boswellia three times a day as a treatment for chronic asthma. Boswellia has demonstrated strong potential as a chronic asthma therapy. Seventy percent of participants in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed improvements in their asthmatic symptoms when taking 300 mg three times daily according to a study by Grupta et al. published in the "European Journal of Medical Research." The benefits of boswellia in preventing asthma attacks is thought to be associated with the ability of the boswellic acid---a derivative of boswellia---to inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis. The overproduction of leukotrienes leads to an immune response and causes an asthma attack.

• 2

  Use boswellia for arthritis relief. Boswellia is taken both internally and rubbed externally on painful joints as a treatment for arthritis. When taken internally, Boswellia is normally standardized for boswellic acid content. The normal dosage is 400 mg three times per day. Boswellic acids reduce the inflammation associated with arthritic conditions by deactivating the hormonal triggers of inflammation. Clinical trials in the journal "Phytomedicine" have established that boswellia is an effective treatment for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. When applying boswellia externally to sore joints, follow the directions on the product label.

• 3

  Use boswellia to reduce the symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases are both inflammatory bowel diseases resulting from inflammation in the gastrointestinal system. According to research published in the "German Journal of Gastroenterology", boswellia proved as effective as the drug mesalazine, used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Larger doses of 1200 mg three times per day, standardized to 37.5 percent boswellic acids is the typical dosage for Chron's disease. For ulcerative colitis, 350 -- 400 mg of the standardized form is taken three times per day.

• 4

  Apply boswellia externally to relieve dry chapped skin. According to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Herbal Healing", boswellia promotes the development of new skin cells and the rejuvenation of the skin. She also states that it encourages the production of oil in dry skin. These factors help give skin a more youthful appearance and are likely the reason why many skin care products contain boswellia. Follow the product label instructions when using boswellia for skin problems.