Arthritis Archives

FYI: Boswellia serrata Effective in Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Boswellia serrata Effective in Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory herb Boswellia serrata can relieve the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers gave Boswellia serrata Extract (BSE) to 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The study authors used a crossover design, which means that 15 patients received the Boswellia serrata for eight weeks while the other 15 received a placebo. At the end of the eight weeks, the subjects switched treatments so that the 15 who had been on the placebo began taking the Boswellia serrata and the 15 who had taken the herb began taking the placebo.

All patients receiving the Boswellia serrata treatment reported decrease in knee pain, increased ability to bend the knee and increased walking distance. The frequency of swelling in the knee joint also was decreased. The improvement was statistically significant.

The researchers recommended Boswellia serrata for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee and suggested that it might be equally effective in treating other types of arthritis.

Reference:

Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, Khiyani R. Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7.

FYI: Boswellia serrata Effective in Treatment of Osteoarthritis (Archive.)