Evidence supporting the use of: Frankincense
For the health condition: Congestion (lungs)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Frankincense, derived from the resin of trees in the genus Boswellia, has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. It has been employed for various respiratory ailments, including congestion, bronchitis, and asthma. Inhalation of frankincense smoke or vapor was commonly practiced to help clear the airways and ease breathing difficulties. The traditional rationale is that frankincense acts as an expectorant and has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract and facilitate easier breathing.

While there are some modern studies investigating the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of boswellic acids (the active compounds in frankincense), direct clinical evidence supporting the use of frankincense specifically for lung congestion is limited. Most available data are either anecdotal or derived from animal studies, and robust, placebo-controlled human trials are lacking. Therefore, its use for this purpose is primarily justified by historical and traditional practices rather than strong scientific validation. Nonetheless, frankincense remains a component in some herbal remedies aimed at supporting respiratory health due to its longstanding traditional use.

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Other ingredients used for Congestion (lungs)

Abies spectabilis
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Allium tuberosum
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Allyl isothiocyanate
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpinia galangal
ambergris
Amor seco
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
Ardisia
Arisaema
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Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
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atractylodes
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Baccharoides anthelmintica
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bayleaf
bee hive
bee products
Belamcanda
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beta-pinene
Bidens pilosa
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bitter grass
black cumin
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black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackboard tree
Blepharis
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boneset
borage
borneol
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Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
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bасора
cajuput
calamus
Camellia sinensis
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
Carthamus
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chamomile
chen pi
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cineole
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clove
coltsfoot
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cowherb
culvers Root
curcumen
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echinacea purpurea
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elderberry
elecampane
Ephedra
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essential oil blend
eucalyptus
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Evodia
fang-feng
fat liver oil
ferula assafoetida
flavoglycosides
forsythia
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fritillaria
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Gallesia
gamma-terpinene
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ginger
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green tea
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honey
horehound
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Houttuynia
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inula racemosa
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Products containing frankincense

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