• CAM-summaries
  • Alternative medical systems
  • Biologically-based practices
    • Boswellia
      • What is Boswellia?
      • How well does Boswellia work?
      • Is Boswellia safe?
      • Boswellia conclusions
    • Cannabinoids
    • Essiac
    • Galavit
    • Laetrile
    • Shark cartilage
    • Ukrain
    • Black cohosh
  • Diet & nutrition
  • Energy medicine
  • Manipulative & body-based practices
  • Mind-body medicine
• CAM systematic reviews
• CAM and the law
• Prevalence of CAM use

Is Boswellia safe?

Several of the above mentioned clinical investigations reported the presence or absence of side effects of Boswellia extracts (ref 5, 18, 19, 21). In 134 cancer patients receiving BAs, 11 cases of possible adverse effects were reported: nausea/emesis WHO III (one patient), skin rash WHO II (two patients), gastrointestinal pain (two patients), loss of appetite and heartburn (six patients). In the former three patients with nausea/emesis and skin rash, Boswellia administration had to be terminated.
Nothing is known about teratogenicity and possible effects of Boswellia extracts on breast-fed infants. Therefore, intake of Boswellia extracts cannot be recommended for pregnant or breast-feeding women. There is no information available on mutagenic effects of Boswellia extracts in women and men or long-term carcinogenicity.

Known contraindications besides pregnancy and breast-feeding are any previous allergic reactions to Boswellia extracts or components of these extracts.

Interactions with drugs, supplements or other herbs and herbal extracts might occur both on a pharmacokinetic and on a pharmacodynamic level, but have so far not been thoroughly studied (ref 2, 23). No conclusions can currently be drawn on possible pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions in humans.

References

2. http://www.naturaldatabase.com (accessed 13.06.2005)

5. Ammon HPT: [Boswellic acids (components of frankincense) as the active principle in treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases] Boswelliasäuren (Inhaltsstoffe des Weihrauchs) als wirksame Prinzipien zur Behandlung chronisch entzündlicher Erkrankungen. Wien Med Wochenschr 2002;152:373-8.

18. Janssen G, Bode U, Breu H, Dohrn B, Engelbrecht V, Gobel U: Boswellic acids in the palliative therapy of children with progressive or relapsed brain tumors. Klin Padiatr 2000;212:189-95.

19. Streffer JR, Bitzer M, Schabet M, Dichgans J, Weller,M: Response of radiochemotherapy-associated cerebral edema to a phytotherapeutic agent, H15. Neurology 2001;56:1219-21.
21. Böker DK, Winking M: Die Rolle von Boswellia-Säuren in der Therapie maligner Gliome. Deutsches Ärzteblatt 1997;94:A-1197.

23. http://www.intelihealth.com (accessed 13.06.2005)