Boswellia Sacra (commonly known as frankincense or olibanum-tree) is a tree in the Burseraceae family. It is the primary tree in the genus Boswellia from which frankincense, a resinous dried sap, is harvested. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen), and northeastern Africa (Somalia).
Uses
- Boswellia use is divided into three categories: religious, cosmetic and medicinal. The Egyptians used boswellia serrata gum, or frankincense, to embalm their dearly departed, while Egyptian women made heavy kohl eyeliner by grinding frankincense into a fine powder.
Benefits
- Boswellia serrata is abundant in benefits such as reducing body inflammation and helping treat conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. It’s also a painkiller, and can help inhibit cartilage loss. Boswellia can be used to alleviate asthma and may have protective effects against diseases like leukemia and breast cancer.
- The boswellic acid in the herb assists with preventing leukotriene formation in the body. Leukotrienes have been identified as a cause of inflammation and may trigger asthma symptoms. Four other acids located in boswellia were found to help impede the development of a leukotriene-producing enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). Out of these four, the acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) is the most powerful.
Cautions
- n/a
Interactions
n/a
Other names
- olibanum-tree
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_sacra
ArticlesMercola, http://articles.mercola.com/herbs-spices/boswellia.aspx