Traditional Uses: Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years for asthma, rheumatism, dysentery, skin ailments, and wound treatment, and chewed as a breath freshener or taken in warm milk to calm an upset stomach.
Potential Benefits: May help reduce pain and improve mobility in knee osteoarthritis (with effects seen as early as 5 days), and exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties due to boswellic acids, which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase.
Warnings: Avoid during pregnancy (may have abortive effects in animal studies) and breastfeeding; may increase bleeding risk when combined with warfarin; gastrointestinal side effects (diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain) are possible.
