Frankincense & Myrrh Health Benefits and How To Be Used:
Frankincense also known as olibanum, is made from the resin of the Boswellia tree. It typically grows in the dry, mountainous regions of India, Africa and the Middle East.
Frankincense & Myrrh has a woody, spicy smell and can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, steeped into a tea or taken as a supplement.
Used in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years, Frankincense & Myrrh appears to offer certain health benefits, from improved arthritis and digestion to reduced asthma and better oral health. It may even help fight certain types of cancer.
Here are 5 science-backed benefits of frankincense — as well as 7 myths.
1. May Reduce Arthritis
Frankincense & Myrrh Health Benefits and How To Be Used has anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce joint inflammation caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers believe that frankincense can prevent the release of leukotrienes, which are compounds that can cause inflammation (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).
Terpenes and boswellic acids appear to be the strongest anti-inflammatory compounds in frankincense (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).
Test-tube and animal studies note that boswellic acids may be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — with fewer negative side effects (5Trusted Source).
In humans, Frankincense & Myrrh extracts may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (6).
In one recent review, Frankincense & Myrrh was consistently more effective than a placebo at reducing pain and improving mobility (7).
In one study, participants given 1 gram per day of Frankincense & Myrrh extract for eight weeks reported less joint swelling and pain than those given a placebo. They also had a better range of movement and were able to walk further than those in the placebo group (8Trusted Source).
In another study, boswellia helped reduce morning stiffness and the amount of NSAID medication needed in people with rheumatoid arthritis (9Trusted Source).
That said, not all studies agree and more research is needed (6, 10Trusted Source).
2. May Improve Gut Function
Frankincense & Myrrh anti-inflammatory properties may also help your gut function properly.
This resin appears particularly effective at reducing symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two inflammatory gut diseases.
In one small study in people with Crohn’s disease, Frankincense & Myrrh extract was as effective as the pharmaceutical drug mesalazine at reducing symptoms (11Trusted Source).
Another study gave people with chronic diarrhea 1,200 mg of boswellia — the tree resin frankincense is made from — or a placebo each day. After six weeks, more participants in the boswellia group had cured their diarrhea compared to those given the placebo (12Trusted Source).
What’s more, 1,000–1,500 mg of Frankincense & Myrrh daily for six weeks proved as effective as a pharmaceutical in treating chronic ulcerative colitis — and with very few side effects (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
However, most studies were small or poorly designed. Therefore, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.
3. Improves Asthma
Traditional medicine has used Frankincense & Myrrh to treat bronchitis and asthma for centuries.
Research suggests that its compounds may prevent the production of leukotrienes, which cause your bronchial muscles to constrict in asthma (5Trusted Source).
In one small study in people with asthma, 70% of participants reported improvements in symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing, after receiving 300 mg of Frankincense & Myrrh three times daily for six weeks (15Trusted Source).
Similarly, a daily frankincense dose of 1.4 mg per pound of body weight (3 mg per kg) improved lung capacity and helped reduce asthma attacks in people with chronic asthma (16).
Lastly, when researchers gave people 200 mg of a supplement made from Frankincense & Myrrh they found that the supplement was more effective than a placebo at reducing asthma symptoms (17Trusted Source).
4. Maintains Oral Health
Frankincense & Myrrh may help prevent bad breath, toothaches, cavities and mouth sores.
The boswellic acids it provides appear to have strong antibacterial properties, which may help prevent and treat oral infections (18Trusted Source).
In one test-tube study, Frankincense & Myrrh extract was effective against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a bacteria which causes aggressive gum disease (19Trusted Source).
In another study, high school students with gingivitis chewed a gum containing either 100 mg of frankincense extract or 200 mg of Frankincense & Myrrh powder for two weeks. Both gums were more effective than a placebo at reducing gingivitis (20Trusted Source).
5. May Fight Certain Cancers
Frankincense & Myrrh may also help fight certain cancers.
The boswellic acids it contains might prevent cancer cells from spreading (21, 22Trusted Source).
A review of test-tube studies notes that boswellic acids may also prevent the formation of DNA in cancerous cells, which could help limit cancer growth (1Trusted Source).
Moreover, some test-tube research shows that Frankincense & Myrrh oil may be able to distinguish cancer cells from normal ones, killing only the cancerous ones (23Trusted Source).
So far, test-tube studies suggest that frankincense may fight breast, prostate, pancreatic, skin and colon cancer cells (22Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source).
One small study indicates that it may also help reduce side effects of cancer.
When people getting treated for brain tumors took 4.2 grams of Frankincense & Myrrh or a placebo each day, 60% of the Frankincense & Myrrh group experienced reduced brain edema — an accumulation of fluid in the brain — compared to 26% of those given the placebo (28Trusted Source).
Common Myths
Although Frankincense & Myrrh is praised for multiple health benefits, not all of them are backed by science.
The 7 following claims have very little evidence behind them:
- Helps prevent diabetes: Some small studies report that frankincense may help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. However, recent high-quality studies found no effect (29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).
- Reduces stress, anxiety and depression: may reduce depressive behavior in mice, but no studies in humans have been done. Studies on stress or anxiety are also lacking (31Trusted Source).
- Prevents heart disease: has anti-inflammatory effects which may help reduce the type of inflammation common in heart disease. However, no direct studies in humans exist (32Trusted Source).
- Promotes smooth skin: oil is touted as an effective natural anti-acne and anti-wrinkle remedy. However, no studies exist to support these claims.
- Improves memory: Studies show that large doses may help boost memory in rats. However, no studies have been done in humans (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source).
- Balances hormones and reduces symptoms of PMS: is said to delay menopause and reduce menstrual cramping, nausea, headaches and mood swings. No research confirms this.
- Enhances fertility: supplements increased fertility in rats, but no human research is available (32Trusted Source).
While very little research exists to support these claims, very little exists to deny them, either.
However, until more studies are done, these claims can be considered myths.
Effective Dosage
As Frankincense & Myrrh can be consumed in a variety of ways, its optimal dosage is not understood. The current dosage recommendations are based on doses used in scientific studies.
Most studies use Frankincense & Myrrh supplements in tablet form. The following dosages were reported as most effective (5Trusted Source):
- Asthma: 300–400 mg, three times per day
- Crohn’s disease: 1,200 mg, three times per day
- Osteoarthritis: 200 mg, three times per day
- Rheumatoid arthritis: 200–400 mg, three times per day
- Ulcerative colitis: 350–400 mg, three times per day
- Gingivitis: 100–200 mg, three times per day
Aside from tablets, studies have also used Frankincense & Myrrh in gum — for gingivitis — and creams — for arthritis. That said, no dosage information for creams is available (20Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).
If you’re considering supplementing with Frankincense & Myrrh, talk to your doctor about a recommended dosage.
IMPORTANT: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not meant to diagnose‚ treat or cure any disease or medical condition. Please consult your doctor before starting any exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using these or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.