Boswellia, also known as frankincense, is an Ayurvedic herb commonly used in India, China, and Middle East. It has a long history of use for joint and connective tissue support. Boswellia also provides exceptional support for gastrointestinal, metabolic, brain, and cellular health because of its unique bioactive compounds!
Bioactive Compounds
Boswellia consists of boswellic acids like AKBA and flavonoids that influence the expression and activity of multiple mechanisms in your body. These unique bioactive compounds modulate NF-kappa B, 5-lipo-oxygenase (LOX) enzymes, leukotrienes, leukocyte elastase enzyme activity and others. NF-kappa B, etc. affect inflammatory responses and cellular housekeeping needs in joints, lungs, blood vessels, bones, brain, gut, and more.
Boswellia also provides antioxidant support. It buffers against oxidative stress reactions from MMP proteins and quenches reactive oxygen species (ROS) free radicals which contribute to aging tissues.
Our Bone & Joint Helper supplement contains 5-Loxin®, a boswellia extract standardized to contain a minimum 30% of AKBA. It is 10 times more potent than plain boswellia.
Joint Health
Boswellia extract is well-recognized for its positive role in joint health. A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple randomized-controlled trials published in 2020 confirmed that boswellia extracts provide “effective and safe support for joint health”. Mobility, comfort, and function were healthfully maintained and achieved with boswellia use. Best results occurred with at least 4 weeks of use.
A 2019 double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial evaluated the effectiveness of boswellia for knee joint health. Participants received either placebo or boswellia serrata extract with AKBA for 120 days. Those who received boswellia experienced improvements in mobility and flexibility compared to the control group. X-ray and lab markers validated the functional improvements.
Other studies have shown that adults who use boswellia extracts experience improvement in quality of life and social activities due to improved joint comfort and mobility. Cell studies show improved stress tolerance and less oxidative stress to joint tissue samples with boswellia use.
Boswellia and Bones
Bone building cells (osteoblasts) and bone breakdown cells (osteoclasts) are in an ongoing process of remodeling your bones. With age, hormonal changes, and oxidative stress incurred from release of NF-kappa B, TNF-alpha, and other cytokines, osteoclast activity increases while osteoblast activity declines affecting bone quality.
Boswellia AKBA helps buffer against TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B activity in bones. This aids in a healthier balance between osteoclast and osteoblast activity.
Boswellia Influences Blood Sugar, Blood Vessel Tone, and Leptin
Boswellia helps modulate functions that influence blood sugar levels and insulin activity. It provides antioxidant and other modulating effects in the pancreas and liver with blood sugar and cholesterol metabolism.
Flavonoids, saponins, and other bioactive compounds found in boswellia also aid in movement of cellular fluids and sodium in blood vessels. Its antioxidant activities support blood vessel tone which aids blood flow and fluidity.
Boswellia AKBA supports leptin movement into cells and adiponectin levels. This helps suppress your appetite and can induce fat burning and breakdown.
Brain and Blood Sugar
In your brain, boswellia provides antioxidant support and modulatory actions with blood sugar regulation, immune cells, and clean-up of aging brain cells. It modifies NF-kappa B and LOX signaling pathways that impact nerve cell wear-and-tear.
Respiratory and Immune System
Boswellia supports and enhances activity of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the respiratory system via modulation of NF-kappa B and LOX enzymes. This aids cellular responses to germs and supports an aging immune system. Boswellia also provides antioxidant support for cell activity, growth, and factors related with immune cell signaling and clean-up.
Intestinal Barrier
Furthermore, boswellia’s antioxidant effects help protect and maintain the integrity of your gut barrier. These antioxidant mechanisms protect “tight junctions” within the inner intestinal barrier from oxidative stress induced by diet, medications, emotional stress, and excess physical activity, etc.
Tight junctions are microscopic openings that selectively allow nutrients into circulation. When tight junctions are open longer than they should be, it allows toxins, large food particles, and unwanted immune compounds to enter circulation and irritate tissues. Faulty tight junctions lead to increased intestinal permeability, i.e. leaky gut syndrome and can negatively affect your joint comfort, bone quality, brain health, metabolism, and more over time.
Synergistic Support
Boswellia is often combined with turmeric/curcumin, ginger, hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, and chondroitin (in JointAll) for synergistic joint support and natural repair. Consider also using boswellia for blood sugar, leptin, brain, cardio-respiratory, and immune health and vitality.
When it comes to aging well, boswellia has stood the test of time. It can make a difference in the quality of your health.
