Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian Frankincense, has been used in Ayurveda to support healthy joint function for thousands of years. Traditionally, it was understood to support healthy blood flow to the joints while breaking up scar tissue surrounding the joints. Boswellia has the dual energetics of being both heating and cooling at the same time.
As we age, it’s important to keep 5-LOX levels in check. Excess levels of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase, or 5-LOX, set in motion degenerative changes linked to numerous health issues in aging individuals. (1-4)
The typical American diet adds to the danger. Foods rich in omega-6 fatty acids like red meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products, along with high-glycemic carbohydrates, trigger overproduction of arachidonic acid.
In response to high levels of arachidonic acid, the body produces excess 5-LOX enzyme.
5-LOX breaks down arachidonic acid to degenerative compounds like leukotriene B4 (5), a molecule that is linked to numerous health concerns. 5-LOX itself facilitates undesirable cell division changes.
The good news is that an extract of the Indian plant Boswellia serrata has been shown to inhibit 5-LOX. Used for centuries to support joint, muscle and gut health, boswellia acts a natural 5-LOX inhibitor, intervening at the cellular level to block its unwanted effects. Confirmatory data reveal that a compound contained in boswellia called AKBA, or 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (6,7), is the key to its beneficial action.
Traditionally, boswellia was combined with other Ayurvedic herbs to enhance its bio-availability. Boswellia is a resin and is, therefore, hard to digest and absorb. Herbs like ginger, turmeric, and ashwagandha were used for thousands of years along with boswellia to boost the absorption of the heavy boswellic acids.
References:
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16930777
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19936103
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19376220
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19226207
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19876784
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12244881
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16621377
Energetics of Boswellia
- Taste (Rasa): Bitter, pungent, astringent, sweet
- Energy (Virya): Heating and cooling
- Post-digestive quality (Vipaka): Pungent
- Quality (Guna): Dry, light, penetrating
- Constitution Effect (Dosa): May aggravate either pitta or vata in excess
- Tissue (Dhatu): Plasma, blood, muscle, fat, Bone, nerve, reproductive
- Channel (Srotas): Circulatory, nervous, reproductive
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Boswellia Joints Plus: Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian Frankincense, has been used in Ayurveda to support healthy joint function for thousands of years. Traditionally, it was understood to support healthy blood flow to the joints while breaking up scar tissue surrounding the joints.
