Osteoarthritis pain relieved with ancient Indian botanical

Night and Day

As most arthritis and osteoarthritis patients know, inflammation is the culprit that keeps them awake nights and makes their days a painful struggle.

For some, a little frankincense might hold inflammatory compounds at bay.

Gummy resin cure

Frankincense is also known as Boswellia, a gummy resin extracted from the Boswellia serrata tree. Indian healers have used Boswellia for centuries to treat a range of health issues that stem from inflammation. Modern research has revealed that boswellic acid inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory molecules called leukotrienes.

The most recent Boswellia trial comes from a team of Indian researchers. More than 70 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to three groups. One group took 100 mg per day of 5-Loxin, a Boswellia extract formula. Another group took 250 mg per day, and the third group took a placebo. Each subject was evaluated at baseline, and again at day 7, day 30, day 60, and day 90, which concluded the trial period.

Results:

• In the 250 mg group, pain and physical function were already improved at the day 7 evaluation
• Significant improvements in pain and physical function were reported from both intervention groups over 90 days, compared to placebo
• Assessment of synovial fluid (a lubricating fluid in joints) showed that a specific enzyme that degrades cartilage was significantly reduced in both of the intervention groups

These results are similar to the outcome of another Indian study I told you about a couple of years ago. In 66 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, a Boswellia serrata extract was just as effective as Bextra (a COX-2 inhibitor) in relieving pain, stiffness, and difficulty in performing daily tasks. The difference: Pain relief began sooner among the Bextra subjects, but pain returned quickly after the six-month intervention was concluded. Meanwhile, pain relief in the Boswellia group continued for about one month after the conclusion of intervention.

Easing up on inflammation

As I’ve noted in other e-Alerts, Boswellia has also been used to treat anti-inflammatory conditions that don’t involve joint pain.

In one study, Boswellia was given to patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum). More than 80 percent of the Boswellia subjects experienced remission of symptoms in a disease that’s considered incurable.

And in a 1998 study, 70 percent of bronchial asthma patients who took Boswellia showed improvement compared to less than 30 percent of the control group. The researchers concluded that the “data show a definite role of gum resin of Boswellia serrata in the treatment of bronchial asthma.”

Boswellia extract and formulations that contain Boswellia (such as 5-Loxin) can be found in vitamin stores and through various Internet sources. Talk to your doctor before trying a Boswellia product.

Source:
“A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of 5-Loxin for Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee” Arthritis Research and Therapy, Vol. 10, No. 4, 7/30/08, arthritis-research.com