The study by researchers at the University of California, Davis tested the herb Boswellia serrata, known botanically as frankincense, on patients with arthritis in their knees. Those with severe symptoms were given a low-dose capsule, some a higher dose capsule, and the remainder were given a dummy pill with no active ingredients.
After a period of seven days, patients taking the frankincense drug reported improvements in their pain and stiffness levels compared with the placebo group, and these continued until the 90-day mark, when the study ended.
Lead researcher Dr. Siba Raychaudhuri at the University of California, Davis said the extract tested was enriched with 30 percent AKBA, an anti-inflammatory material that works by inhibiting the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. The latter is very important in the regulation of the body's response to inflammation.
According to the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy, the herb has been used for thousands of years in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the condition, and normally affects the weight bearing joints such as hands, wrists, feet and spine. Patients usually report pain, stiffness and limited movement in this condition.
Current treatments relieve pain, but they have many side effects and scientists have been hunting for an alternative. The ingredient used by the authors was 5-LOXIN, a unique, patent pending extract of Boswellia seratta, providing 30 percent AKBA.
5-LOXIN is available in North America in Osteo Bi-Flex products with the Joint Shield blend.
