Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) for Backache: Evidence Overview

Indian frankincense, derived from the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree, has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, particularly for conditions involving inflammation and pain, such as arthritis and backache. Its active compounds, boswellic acids, are known to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes like 5-lipoxygenase, which play a role in the inflammatory processes associated with musculoskeletal pain.

Several clinical studies and systematic reviews have evaluated the efficacy of Boswellia serrata extracts for various musculoskeletal disorders. Some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that Boswellia may reduce pain and improve physical function in individuals with osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain compared to placebo. For example, a double-blind RCT published in the journal Phytomedicine (2016) found significant improvements in pain and mobility among patients with chronic low back pain who took Boswellia extract for eight weeks.

However, the overall quality and size of studies are moderate, and results are sometimes inconsistent. Most reviews conclude that while Boswellia appears safe and has potential as an adjunctive therapy for back pain, more large-scale, high-quality studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and determine optimal dosing.

In summary, there is moderate scientific evidence supporting the use of Indian frankincense for backache, particularly due to its anti-inflammatory properties, but it should be seen as a complementary rather than primary therapy until more robust clinical data are available.

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