Herbal Pain Killer

Boswellia may be a more powerful pain killer than turmeric

- Lisa Turner

By now, everyone’s heard of turmeric and its remarkable anti-inflammatory benefits. But here’s the newest herb you’ve never heard of that may be even better than turmeric at easing pain, reducing inflammation, and protecting against cancer.

Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, comes from the Boswellia serrata tree, native to India. It’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and other traditional healing systems to treat conditions like arthritis, pain, fever, and heart disease. Other types of boswellia, including Boswellia sacra, Boswellia frereana, and Boswellia carteri, have similar effects.

It’s similar to turmeric in mechanisms of action and conditions treated; used together, curcumin and boswellia may have synergistic effects that make them more powerful than using each alone. In one study, a combination of boswellia and turmeric was significantly more effective in reducing pain than the prescription NSAID celecoxib, commonly used for arthritis.

The anti-inflammatory benefits of boswellia come mainly from boswellic acids and terpenes, strong-smelling antioxidant compounds that are also found in citrus, eucalyptus, mint, and other plants. Studies suggest boswellic acids work by inhibiting the synthesis of a specific pro-inflammatory enzyme, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). One of the most important boswellic acids is acetyl-11-ketobeta-boswellic acid, or AKBA.

Studies show many powerful anti-inflammatory benefits of boswellia. Some of the main applications: