Boswellia – Helping Joints, Killing Germs & Even Boosting Your Brain
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Byron J. Richards,
Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Byron J. Richards,
Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Boswellia (also known as frankincense, olibanum, or boswellia) has been used medicinally and in ceremonies since the beginning of written history. Its modern-day claim to fame is as a potent anti-inflammatory nutrient that can prevent the destruction of your joints while improving joint mobility. However, it is a multi talented nutrient. A 2008 comprehensive review1 of the literature published in the British Medical Journal found that Boswellia research was encouraging and demonstrated clinical effectiveness for a number of highly inflammatory health problems: asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, osteoarthritis, and colitis. Newer research shows it may help rejuvenate your brain while blocking infectious gangs.
The newest study shows that boswellia can enhance the structural formation of new nerve networks2. When you consider that every neurodegenerative disease involves the destruction of these networks, including memory loss and loss of cognitive ability, the implications of this study are profound. Several months ago an animal study showed that boswellia could offset the impaired learning and memory induced by a hypothyroid state3. Together these studies open a new door for boswellia as a brain support nutrient.
Bacterial staph infections and fungal Candida infections occur when these common organisms for pathogenic gangs known as biofilms. This causes them to transfer from “farmer status” into organized “warrior status.” Disruption of biofilms is the key to combating these infections; otherwise from a medical perspective one is left with an array of toxic sledgehammers that are rapidly losing their effectiveness in society due to overuse and consequent adaption by the germ gangs. Disrupting biofilms is akin to a negotiated peace agreement wherein warriors go back to being farmers. A 2008 study shows that boswellia is highly effective at disrupting biofilms of staph and Candida albicans4 – two of the most troubling infections known to mankind.
Many pathways within your body relate to potential inflammation. A key aspect is the health of your cell membranes and their ability to tolerate stress. This applies to any cell membrane, whether in your joints, bones, immune cells, or cardiovascular system. When you have higher levels of DHA (typically from fish oil) in your cell membranes then inflammation is suppressed by regulating what are called anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. If your cell membranes lack stability or are under high stress, then they may release an omega-6 fatty acid known as arachidonic acid, which triggers the production of a variety of inflammatory signals. One of these signals is the production of an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase which in turn stimulates the production of highly inflammatory immune system molecules called leukotrienes. Leukotrienes have long been for their role in asthma, allergy, and joint destruction. However, a body of new science shows that too many of them also contribute tocardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis5. This has placed on new emphasis on finding safe and effective 5-lipoxegenase inhibitors.
One of the most potent extracts of boswellia available as a dietary supplement is a patent pending standardized extract called 5-Loxin. Science has shown that one of the boswellic acids (Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid or AKBA6) is the key to potent 5-lipooxygenase regulation. 5-Loxin is made in such a way as to standardized the extract for 30 percent AKBA, ten times more concentrated than ordinary boswellia. 5-Loxin has been studied at the gene level7 to prove its anti-inflammatory properties via the modulation of TNFa (which underlies the triggering of 5-lipoxygenase). This is consistent with other studies, which also demonstrate the ability of boswellia to regulate the core inflammatory gene signal, NF-kappaB8.
In 1998 a 90-day double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 5-Loxin was undertaken with 75 osteoarthritis patients (25 received 100 mg of 5-Loxin per day, 25 received 250 mg of 5-Loxin per day, and 25 controls). Within seven days the 250 mg group had a significant reduction in joint pain. At the end of the study, both doses of 5-Loxin conferred clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain scores and physical function scores (such as range of joint motion).
Additional testing of the joint synovial fluid (natural joint lubricant) showed that the key enzyme that inappropriately degrades cartilage, matrix metalloproteinase-3, was significantly reduced. This is a very well done human study proving the clinical effectiveness of 5-Loxin for joint health.
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