Boswellia AKA Frankincense

Didn't find it being mentioned on this thread, but apparently Boswellia also works against strains of Candida albicans resistant to fluconazole.

It's mentioned in the following article. And here is the cached page of the research by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Healthcare because the site was down.

Methods

Considering the side-effects of antifungal chemical drugs and their high cost, we used the essential oil of Boswellia serrata against the isolates of Candida which are sensitive and resistant to fluconazole. Of 50 samples used in this study, twenty-five were sensitive and twenty-five were resistant to the fluconazole. Different concentrations of Boswellia serrata essential oil were prepared in microplates. One-thousand Candida albicans yeast cells were added to each well and after 24 hours of incubation, the number of Candida cells in each well was counted.

Results

In the group of sensitive isolates, 3, 7, 7, and 8 did not grow up to dilutions of 1/32nd, 1/64 th, 1/128th, and 1/256 th, respectively. In group of resistant isolates, 1, 6, 8, and 10 isolates did not grow up to dilutions of 1/32nd, 1/64th,, 1/128th, and 1/256th., respectively.

Conclusions

The essential oil of Boswellia serrata displayed an inhibiting effect on all Candida albicans isolates in-vitro; hence we recommend the investigation of its antifungal properties in vivo.

It is also great for the skin and helps with skin inflammations such as contact dermatitis.
 
Boswellia (olibanum) is a component of a product called "Quali Herbal Poultice" that I was prescribed the other day by my accupuncturist for an inflamed corn (I THINK) on my foot that is quite painful. It seems to have reduced swelling a bit already, which nothing else thus far has done (though I also had an acupuncture treatment- who's on first?). FWIW.

Frankincense is called Ru Xiang in TCM

Here is a link to the product: _http://www.primeherbs.com/cr/cr_product_detail.asp?sku=GN204&cat=3

Herbs/etc in Latin:
Angelicae sinensis radix
Angelicae dahuricae radix
armeniacae semen
scrophulae radix
gleditsiae fructus
Aconiti kusnezoffii radix
liquidambaris resina
allium fistulosum
pini resina
olibanum
myrrha
cera flava
mentha herbal extract
resin
sesame oil added to total 1gm
 
Another Boswellia update:

Boswella Update: Helping Joints, Killing Germs, & Reducing Inflammation

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/boswella_update_helping_joints_killing_germs_reducing_inflammation/

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - Byron Richards, CCN

The management of pain and inflammation with natural compounds that are free of the adverse side effects of prescription and OTC drugs is one of the great advantages of nutrition. The standardized extracts of Boswella—an herb with a long medicinal history—offers one of the top choices. I have reviewed this previously in my article, Boswella – Helping Joints, Killing Germs & Even Boosting Your Brain. A new human clinical trial with knee Osteoarthritis confirms the benefits of Boswella to joint health. Another new study confirms its ability to disband problematic germ gangs. A number of new studies demonstrate its anti-inflammatory benefits in a variety of health situations.

The knee Osteoarthritis study was a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled 90 day study involving 60 people. It tested two different standardized Boswella extracts and both were found to produce statistically significant improvement in pain and joint mobility. This adds to the human data I outlined in my previous article (link above).

Boswella continues to demonstrate potent germ disrupting properties. It was shown to be effective against all 112 Pathogenic gram positive bacterial strains tested. It inhibited biofilms (germ gangs) being formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and could also disrupt already existing biofilms. This is of particular importance due to the widespread emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus superbugs (MRSA). As I recently reported, Staphylococcus aureus and even MRSA widely contaminate the meats produced in factory farms as the animals are so unhealthy. Disrupting any germ gangs that may be residing in your digestive tract is vital if you struggle with body weight.

Boswella has shown it can reduce the inflammation and free radical damage that occurs in asthma patients, including the reduction of inflammatory nitric oxide (iNOS), thereby helping them improve their health. In patients undergoing radiation therapy for brain tumors boswella significantly reduced the inflammatory swelling and edema in the brain. Inflammatory processes typical promote cancer to spread. Researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center have found that Boswella can deactivate the key receptor on cancer cells (pancreatic and breast cancer cells were tested) that allows the cancer to spread and invade. Another recent study on mice with implanted tumors found that Boswella reduced tumor size and increased survival time. A detailed analysis of the Boswella-treated tumors showed that Boswella had activated gene signals that had caused tumor cell death. The researchers concluded, “The present study sheds light on the potent antitumor property of the boswellic acid and can be extended further to develop therapeutic protocols for treatment of cancer.”

The bottom line is that Boswella continues to impress as a pain reducing anti-inflammatory compound and also helps control germ populations while offering support for inflammation-related health issues. Boswella is a very good nutrient to have on your team.

Boswella – Helping Joints, Killing Germs & Even Boosting Your Brain

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/boswellic_acid_helping_joints_killing_germs_even_boosting_your_brain/

Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - Byron Richards, CCN

Boswella (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 Boswella 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 boswella 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 boswella could offset the impaired learning and memory induced by a hypothyroid state3. Together these studies open a new door for boswella 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 boswella is highly effective at disrupting biofilms of staph and Candida albicans4 – two of the most troubling infections known to mankind.

There are many pathways within your body that 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 to cardiovascular 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 boswella 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% AKBA, ten times more concentrated than ordinary boswella. 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 boswella to regulate the core inflammatory gene signal, NF-KappaB 8.

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 7 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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