Overview Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Therapy For Allergic Rhinitis And Asthma
Natural medicines or CAM are extensively used by patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma but few are well defined in relation to their potential value for allergic rhinitis and asthma.29,30 Allergic rhinitis is commonly treated with antihistamines, decongestants, topical corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, leukotriene inhibitors, and immunotherapy. Within the NMD, a search for herbal and supplements used for allergic rhinitis identified 43 ingredients marketed to the public for treating allergic rhinitis.29 Commonly advertised product ingredients and their presumed mechanism of action are detailed inTable 99.8. The NMD efficacy rating system has listed the following products aspossibly effective for allergic rhinitis: beta-glucans, butterbur, fermented milk/lactobacillus, maritime pine, milk thistle , nasal irrigation,Phleum pratense , pycnogenol , thymus extract,Tinospora cordifolia , and turmeric . As of July 2018, no ingredients were listed with a rating oflikely effective oreffective.29 The benefits of nasal irrigation particularly with buffered hypertonic saline solution are noteworthy particularly in children.31 Only bifidobacteria, lactobacillus, and nasal irrigation were identified with likely safe and possibly effective status. Echinacea remained likely safe but with insufficient evidence for efficacy with comments that its role in prevention rather than during illness remains under study.29
J. Smithson, … K. Mergenhagen, in, 2017
What Is Boswellia Good For
Based on its anti-inflammatory properties, researchers note the following potential Boswellia health benefits:
- Reduction of pain in people with arthritis. One study found that people with osteoarthritis of the knee who took a Boswellia serrata arthritis supplement experienced decreased pain and increased mobility. Another Boswellia arthritis study found that mobility increased proportionately with a Boswellia serrata supplement dosage. Research into Boswellia and rheumatoid arthritis treatment have shown that the herb may reduce joint swelling.
- Improved management of inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition to potentially being an effective choice of anti-inflammatory supplements for joints, frankincense Boswellia may also ease symptoms of digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Fewer symptoms of asthma. The benefits of Boswellia for inflammation reduction may make it a potential complementary treatment for asthma, a respiratory condition shown to be caused by the actions of leukotrienes in the respiratory tract.
- Lower blood pressure levels. Findings of Boswellia blood pressure studies suggest that the herb may improve circulation and help reduce blood pressure levels in people with hypertension.
What Are The Side Effects Of Boswellia Serrata
Boswellia serrata is a plant that is used in Ayurveda, a type of traditional Indian medicine. It is often used to relieve pain, most often in the form of a cream or a capsule.
Boswellia Serrata comes with a list of benefits, but there are also some side effects to be mindful of. Side effects from taking Boswellia Serrata may include nausea, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. In rare cases, Boswellia Serrata may cause liver damage if taken in heavy doses that are not recommended.
However, this is the case for many supplements or medicines, this is why it is important to follow the dosage amounts, precisely.
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What To Look For
Boswellia can be found in many health food stores. It’s sold as a supplement and blended with curcumin and other herbs.
The quality of Boswellia supplements is an issue. Dietary supplements are not regulated in the U.S. For that reason, what’s in some products may differ from what the label says.
For example, some Boswellia products don’t contain the six acids considered to be the active ingredients. That suggests the products may have been made from something other than Boswellia serrata.
Although some natural products may reduce inflammation, don’t use them in place of any medications prescribed by your healthcare provider. Some conditions can have long-term health effects if they aren’t treated properly.
If you have an inflammatory condition, your symptoms may keep you from doing everyday activities. You may be seeking ways to manage pain and find relief.
Although Boswellia shows promise, more research is needed. If you want to try Boswellia, speak with your healthcare provider first to see if it’s safe for you. You may also want to discuss using Boswellia with other herbs like ginger and turmeric.
The Straight And Skinny On Boswellia:
A. The Indian herb Boswellia has anti-inflammatory activity but can cause heartburn for some. This may account for your throat irritation. You probably wont be able to take it without suffering, though the esomeprazole should have helped a bit in counteracting the discomfort.
If you have ever read the Bible, you know a bit more about boswellia than you think. The resin from this plant is frankincense. It was considered so valuable it was part of the gifts of the Magi , which also included myrrh and gold.
The boswellia that you will find in health food stores is known as Indian frankincense or Boswellia serrata. Ayurvedic medical practitioners have used various parts of the boswellia plant to treat a variety of conditions including asthma, dysentery, osteoarthritis, ulcers and skin problems.
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Boswellia Serrata Reduces Osteoarthritis Symptoms In 7 Days
Kimmatkar et. al have the studied the effect of standardized extract of boswellia serrata on knee osteoarthritis in 2003.
The preparation contained 65% organic acids and 40% Boswellic acid .
The study lasted for 8 weeks and dose was 333mg thrice a day.
A decrease in knee pain, increased knee flexibility, increased walking distance and ability to climb stairs was reported but the symptoms returned on cessation of the treatment.
A clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of 5-Loxin in knee osteoarthritis.
This was published in 2008. 5-Loxin is a specialized extract of Boswellia serrata which contains 30% AKBA and inhibits the activity of 5-lipooxygenase enzyme to curb inflammation.
75 patients participated in the study and received 100 or 250 mg of 5-Loxin for 3 months. 250mg dosage was more effective than 100mg, Improvement in pain score and joint function was seen as early as 7 days with 250mg dose.
Additionally a reduction in enzyme MMP-3 in the fluid lubricating the joints was observed.
This enzyme is responsible for cartilage degradation.
Overall 5-Loxin reduces inflammation, relieves pain, improves joint function and reduces bone degradation in osteoarthritis with effects visible within 7 days.
Aflapin is another formulation of Boswellia serrata.
It is a novel synergestic compound obtained from resin of Boswellia serrata .
The bioavailability of AKBA- a strong boswellic acid is better in Aflapin than 5-Loxin.
How To Take Boswellia:
Boswellia is available as a resin, pill, and cream. Its recommended to ask your doctor before using any herbal product. The dose differs from one person to another depending on the severity of the condition and the form of the disease.
Different Boswellia extracts and supplements are available online. The Arthritis Foundation recommends taking approximately 300400 milligrams of Boswellia three times per day. They recommend looking for capsules that contain 60% boswellic acid, as it is the active ingredient.
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This Supplement Has Been Used In Connection With The Following Health Conditions:
Used for 3 StarsOsteoarthritis 1,000 mg daily boswellia resin herbal extract or two capsules, three times per day of Aticulin-F A combination of boswellia, ashwagandha, turmeric, and zinc effectively treated pain and stiffness in one study, without the stomach irritation that is a common side effect of NSAIDs.
Boswellia has anti-inflammatory properties that have been compared to those of the NSAIDs used by many for inflammatory conditions. Clinical trials have found that boswellia is more effective than a placebo for relieving pain and swelling and preventing loss of function in people with osteoarthritis. Boswellia has also been found to be as effective as the anti-inflammatory drug valdecoxib . In addition, while the improvements occurred more slowly in the boswellia group than in the valdecoxib group, they persisted for a longer period of time after treatment was discontinued. One clinical trial found that a combination of boswellia, ashwagandha, turmeric, and zinc effectively treated pain and stiffness associated with OA but did not improve joint health, according to X-rays of the affected joint. Unlike NSAIDs, long-term use of boswellia does not lead to irritation or ulceration of the stomach.
1 Star
What Are The Negative Side Effects Of Boswellia
Boswellia is a natural anti-inflammatory agent found in a plant. The side effects of Boswellia can include stomach upset, heartburn, and dizziness. It can also lead to more serious problems such as impaired kidney function or breathing difficulties.
However, most side effects can be avoided by sticking to the daily recommended dosage and speaking with your doctor or a licensed nutritionist before taking the supplement.
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Boswellia Vs Turmeric: How The Two Compare
Both boswellia and turmeric are botanicals that have been trusted by holistic practitioners for many, many years. Theyre similar in many ways since both help treat various inflammatory conditions and have similar mechanisms of action, including modulation of cytokines, downregulation of NF-kB and the inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes.
Turmerichas constituents that have been found to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic activity, which means it helps combat many of the same illnesses that boswellia does.
Researchers believe that anti-inflammatory herbal agents might be even more protective when theyre used together, which makes curcumin and boswellia a great team. The strong synergy of multiple constituents seems to be more effective than using single purified compounds alone.
Another benefit of turmeric and boswellia used together is that interactions of their co-occurring phytochemicals might help prevent toxicity that can occur when using only one of these herbs. It doesnt seem dangerous to use both together, and you might see improvements in symptoms faster if you do but remember that its still important to read directions and follow dosage instructions carefully even when using natural herbal products.
Does Boswellia Make You Sleepy
Boswellia is a tree that is native to Yemen and Somalia. When the tree has an injury to its bark, it produces a resin to heal itself. This resin is called frankincense. Not only does this resin heal the tree, it is healing to people and pets, too. You will find boswellia in the form of supplements or frankincense essential oil.
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Toxicity And Side Effects In Clinical Evaluations
Even though the Boswellia extracts have been found to be promising for multiple inflammatory conditions, studies have also reported some experimental related toxicology also. Before the development of any formulation, toxicology is a major concern. Many studies have concentrated the experimental and clinical toxicology of the frankincense extracts. B. serrata and Boswellia ovalifoliolata have been considered safe in multiple in vivo and not showing any symptoms of weight loss, skin irritation, and damage of any tissues. The LD50 values were observed to be above 5000 mg/kg body weight for oral toxicity and 2000 mg/kg body weight for dermal toxicity. Studies also indicated low genotoxicity for the extracts .
Some of the studies have also reported some experimental related occasional or rare side effects like nausea, increased joint pain, epigastric pain, allergic contact dermatitis, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In contrast, some of the studies have reported no side effects and no sever adverse events .
J. Hall, R. Bravo-Clouzet, in, 2013
Special Precautions & Warnings
Pregnancy and breast-feedingLIKELY SAFE
“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis , lupus , rheumatoid arthritis , or other immune system conditions: Boswellia might make the immune system more active. This could worsen the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. Avoid using boswellia if you have any of these conditions.
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It Works In Combination With Other Herbs And Medicines To Treat Osteoarthritis
500mg of a combined formulation of turmeric and boswellia serrata administered twice a day is found to be more effective than 100mg celecoxib twice a day in osteoarthritis. Celecoxib is a medicine prescribed in treating arthritis and it inhibits the activity of inflammatory enzyme-COX.
Boswellia serrata in combination with ginger and other herbs shows potential anti-arthritic and bone protective properties.
Herbal formulations of Boswellia serrata are prepared in combination with other anti-arthritic herbs such as turmeric, ginger, ashwagandha, tinospora cordifolia etc.
A 6 month study involving 440 osteoarthritis patients demonstrated that an Ayurvedic formulation containing Boswellia serrata showed therapeutic efficacy equivalent to glucosamine and celecoxib.
Celecoxib are anti-inflammatory medicine and dietary supplement respectively used in arthritis treatment.
Boswellic acids may show synergistic activity with glucosamine in arthritis. Combination of methysulfonylmethane and boswellic acids is as effective as glucosamine in treating arthritis.
Diarecin is a slow acting drug of class anthroquinone used to treat osteoarthritis. Boswellic acids boost the anti-arthritic effect of diarecin.
What does this mean? Boswellia serrata extracts are better than celecoxib in treating osteoarthritis. Boswellia has therapeutic efficacy equivalent to that of glucosamine and works synergistically with it.
Boswellia Supplements For Asthma
In bronchial asthma, inflammatory compounds called leukotrienes are increased. Boswellia blocks these leukotrienes, leading to improvements in lung health. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 40 patients with bronchial asthma were given 300 mg of boswellia three times per day for six weeks or a placebo. In the boswellia group, 70% of patients improved and their symptoms disappeared. In the placebo group, only 27% of the participants improved.
Boswellias anti-inflammatory abilities may be beneficial in asthma.
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What Else Is Boswellia Serrata Good For
Boswellia serrata is sometimes referred to as Indian frankincense, which is a type of tree that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. In this tradition, Boswellia is used to treat a range of health problems including asthma, arthritis, and depression and the list can go on.
The reason why Boswellia Serrata is so highly regarded, especially in health groups is because of the many health benefits it has. There are not very many reasons to say no to Boswellia Serrata, but is okay for everyone to take it, should you take Boswellia Serrata if you have an underlying health condition?
Breast Pain And Benign Breast Lumps
A combination of boswellic acid, betaine, and myoinositol relieved breast pain and reduced benign breast lumps in a study of 76 women. This treatment also reduced breast tissue density by 60% .
In another trial of 64 younger women, the same combination reduced the volume of benign breast lumps by 18% on average .
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Which Boswellia Should I Look For
Boswellia is effective in treating several health conditions and comes in all manner of gels, creams, pills and different concentrations. When seeking to counter inflammation we should look out for supplements made of 500mgs of Bosweillia serrata gum resin that contain 70% organic boswellic acids and 10% AKBA.
Many of the cheaper supplements dont contain those high levels of boswellic acid or AKBA but why is that a problem? Couldnt we just take a higher dose?
Upping the dose of lower quality supplements may be dangerous and counter productive because many boswellic acid supplements naturally contain a pro inflammatory compound called beta-boswellic acid.This pro-inflammatory compound may increase inflammation or cancel out the anti-inflammatory benefits boswellic acid should be providing.
If we find supplements with at least those levels shown above, we should feel the benefits of boswellia.
Can Boswellia Serrata Cause Heart Palpitations
The natural herb has many great benefits however, recent studies show that this herb may cause heart palpitations when taken in large doses. As mentioned before, always follow the recommended dosage, and reach out to your doctor before taking the supplement to know if it is safe for you and your body.
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What Are The Benefits Of Boswellia Serrata
While Boswellia Serrata products are not FDA approved everywhere, clinical studies have proven that the herb is beneficial in the treatment of many conditions. For instance, Boswellia has been found to be effective in the treatment of asthma. It has also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This is just a shortlist of the many benefits of Boswellia Serrata.
Boswellia Serrata is a plant extract that has been used for centuries to treat inflammatory conditions like arthritis. It is also sometimes used as a traditional remedy for cholera, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, and leprosy. Recent studies suggest that Boswellia Serrata may be helpful in treating psoriasis and other skin disorders. Its praised in health-conscious communities because the benefits of Boswellia Serrata are nearly endless.
Nutrition And Dietary Supplements
For anyone with a chronic illness, eating a healthy diet high in antioxidant-rich foods, fruits and vegetables, is essential. Eating a poor diet may increase inflammation in the body.
Also, people with RA are at higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. A healthy diet and regular exercise can lower that risk.
Although diet cannot cure RA, studies show that people with RA report less pain, stiffness, and fatigue when they switched from a typical Western diet to a Mediterranean diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil, and low in red meat. Other studies link a vegan diet, with lots of uncooked berries, fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, seeds, and sprouts with reduced RA symptoms. Vegan diets contain no animal products and get protein from vegetable sources.
Some people think food allergies play a part in the inflammation common in RA, and say their symptoms get worse after they eat certain foods. Although researchers are not sure if food allergies are to blame, you may want to try an elimination diet, which removes certain foods from your diet and then adds them back, one by one. You will need to keep track of your symptoms in a food diary. Usually it’s best to try an elimination diet under the supervision of your doctor or a registered dietitian.
These general nutritional tips can help you eat a healthy diet:
These supplements may help relieve inflammation and pain:
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