5 Benefits and Uses of Frankincense

Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is made from the resin of the Boswellia tree. This tree typically grows in the dry, mountainous regions of India, Africa, and the Middle East.

Frankincense has a woody, spicy smell and can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or taken as a supplement.

1. Frankincense may help reduce the symptoms of arthritis
Researchers believe that frankincense can preventTrusted Source the release of leukotrienes, compounds that can cause inflammation.

Terpenes, including boswellic acid, appear to be the strongest anti-inflammatory compounds in frankincense.

Osteoarthritis
In one 2014 study, oral and topical boswellic acid reduced cartilage loss and joint lining inflammation in osteoarthritis in mice. In humans, frankincense extract may help reduceTrusted Source symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In one 2018 review, frankincense was consistently more effective than a placebo at reducing osteoarthritis pain and improving mobility. However, the review noted that the quality of most studies was low, and more research is needed.

In a subsequent studyTrusted Source, participants took 169.33 milligrams (mg) of Boswellia extract twice daily for 120 days. Results indicated that the supplement reduced inflammation, joint pain, and stiffness in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis without serious side effects.

Rheumatoid arthritis
For rheumatoid arthritis, researchers induced arthritis in rats and then treated them with 180 mg/kg of Boswellia extract. They found thatTrusted Source frankincense reduced inflammation but wasn’t as effective as standard medications.

2. Frankincense may help improve gut function
One 2017 studyTrusted Source found that frankincense, in combination with other herbal medicines, reduced abdominal pain, bloating, and even associated depression and anxiety in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Another study also indicated that Boswellia 250 mg tablets taken daily for 6 months improved symptoms in people with IBS.

This resin appears particularly effective at reducing symptoms of ulcerative colitis, one of the main inflammatory gut conditions.

A study found that Boswellia extract taken daily for 4 weeks improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis in remission.

Boswellia extract also hadTrusted Source anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in rats with colitis.

However, most studies were small or not done in people. Therefore, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.

3. Frankincense may help improve the symptoms of asthma
Traditional medicine has used frankincense to treat bronchitis and asthma for centuries.

Its compounds may prevent the production of leukotrienes, which cause the bronchial muscles to constrict in asthma.

Frankincense may alsoTrusted Source affect Th2 cytokines, which can cause inflammation and mucus overproduction in people with asthma.

In another study, asthma symptoms in mice improved with boswellic acid, a component of frankincense resin.

4. Frankincense may help improve oral health
Frankincense may help improve oral hygiene and prevent gum disease. The boswellic acids it provides appear to have strong antibacterial properties, which may help prevent and treat oral infections.

In one test-tube studyTrusted Source, frankincense extract was effective against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, which causes aggressive gum disease.

In another very small study, participants chewed gum containing frankincense for 5 hours, with saliva samples indicating reduced numbers of microbes each hour. The authors suggested that frankincense may decrease sources of infection in the mouth.

However, more research is needed on the effect of frankincense on oral health.

5. Frankincense may have anticancer properties
Test-tube studies suggestTrusted Source that the boswellic acids it contains might preventTrusted Source cancer cells from spreading.

A research reviewTrusted Source notes that boswellic acids may also prevent DNA formation in cancerous cells, which could help limit cancer growth.

So far, test-tube studies suggest that frankincense may fight breast, prostateTrusted Source, pancreatic, skinTrusted Source, and colonTrusted Source cancer cells. It may also help reduce side effects of cancer treatment.

However, more research in humans is needed.