Boswellia: Incense, Anti-Inflammatory, and Brain Food

Boswellia: Incense, Anti-Inflammatory, and Brain Food

Frankincense, one of several ingredients in our premium Omega 3 Health supplement, is derived from the tree Boswellia Seratta. It has been used by ancient healers and sages for thousands of years, lauded for its effects on the body and mind. Traditionally, it was used as an oral or topical medicine, burned in incense, and valued greater than gold.

A tree resin more valuable than gold?

Maybe they knew something we’ve forgotten?

Brain Stimulating and Nerve Growing

Frankincense is most widely used as incense in religious ceremonies. It is easy to see why. Its aromatic smoke carries soft, uplifting tones, simultaneously comforting and almost mystical. But what is really in its vapors?

Frankincense is extremely rich in aromatic terpenes, a class of molecule that has recently become under more rigorous scientific examination for their protective, healing and stimulating effects on a wide variety of biological processes. [1]

Notably, boswellia extract is now proven to stimulate the growth of neurons, enhance cognition, treat depression, and even alleviate learning and memory problems [2,3,4]. Inhaled through the nose, the most direct route to the brain, these active compounds light up our brains. In the context of a religious ceremony, it’s easy to see how this incense uplifts the spirit, promote, insight, and inspire greater awareness.

In the context of our complex and challenging lives, how might this ancient medicine help us learn better? Cope with stress more effectively? Adapt to our ever-shifting environments with more skill?

Antimicrobial

Boswellia is also well-known in traditional medicine for its ability to speed up healing and reduce infection. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, for example, it is used to increase circulation and speed up healing time bacterial and viral infections like colds and flu, effects which have now been verified in the laboratories of modern science [5]

A Different Kind of Anti-Inflammatory

The most intensely researched area of boswellia extract properties are in its unique anti-inflammatory effects. Whereas most anti-inflammatory compounds act on COX2 enzymes, boswellia inhibits LOX enzymes, providing a new route to manage the destructive effects of inflammation. This inhibits the synthesis of leukotrienes, which play a role in a host of inflammatory diseases from arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease.

Boswellia is so effective as an anti-inflammatory, it is comparable with prescription NSAID drugs in its effectiveness [6]. Only this tree resin has none of the side-effects, and no toxicity.

Because of this alternate pathway, it also creates an opportunity for synergistic effects with other anti-inflammatory compounds like curcumin, the active chemical found in turmeric, both of which are key ingredients in BodyHealth Inflam-Arrest, a power packed anti-inflammation product.

But now, you can get both of these together in our uniquely powerful Omega 3 Health. By combining nature’s most potent anti-inflammatories with the highest quality Omega 3s, Omega 3 Health is a powerful ally to naturally manage inflammation and promote your health and vitality.

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Sources:

1. Scientific Review of Boswella Studies  BMJ.  Ernst E.
2. Boswella Helps New Nerve Network Growth  Neurol Sci  Karima O, Riazi G, Yousefi R, Movahedi AA.
3. Boswella Offsets Learning and Memory Problems Caused by Hypothyroid  Arch Pharm Res.  Hosseini M, et. al.
4. Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain. Arieh Moussaieff, et al. August 2008The FASEB Journalvol. 22 no. 8 3024-3034
5. Protective essential oil attenuates influenza virus infection: An in vitro study in MDCK cells. Shuhua Wu, et al. BMC Complement Altern Med^. 2010; 10: 69.
6. Boswellia Serrata, A Potential Antiinflammatory Agent: An Overview. M. Z. Siddiqui. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2011 May-Jun; 73(3): 255–261.