Mainstream doctors often criticize the use of complementary remedies for lack of high quality research. “Show me the studies” is a line I hear often (as though I have a photographic memory for thousands of studies).
The published studies, of course, are available at the touch of a finger on a website called PubMed – for anyone who wants to look.
If they care to check they’ll find that, these days, a remedy used as part of the world’s oldest holistic healing system has impressive scientific support. There’s solid evidence to show it’s highly effective for the treatment of arthritic knees.
It reduces pain and inflammation and improves mobility in as little as seven days.
The remedy is an herb called boswellia.
Long Tradition For Healing Inflammation
Boswellia serrata is a gum resin extracted from a tree that grows up to 12 feet tall. It’s found in India, the Middle East and North Africa.
Its use goes back over 2000 years as part of India’s Ayurvedic medical system to treat a whole host of health problems, especially pain and inflammatory disorders — including arthritis.
To put it to the test, 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knees were divided into two groups taking either boswellia serrata extract or placebo for two months.
Those taking boswellia saw significant reduction in pain, greater flexibility, reduced swelling and increased walking ability compared to the placebo group.
The researchers “recommended” boswellia for patients with this condition and believed it could be effective for other forms of arthritis, too.1
Slows Joint Destruction
In another study, 70 patients with arthritic knees were divided into three groups. The first two took either 100 mg or 250 mg of boswellia extract daily for three months. The third group took a placebo.
At the end of the study, the boswellia groups enjoyed significantly reduced pain and better physical function than the placebo group.
And the pain was reduced fast.
Those taking the higher dose of boswellia extract experienced these improvements in just seven days.
The researchers also noted a significant reduction in MM3. This enzyme is involved in the destruction of cartilage and bone.2
A follow-up study by the same research group on 57 patients compared two different boswellia extracts with a placebo.
As in their first study, only the boswellia groups saw significant pain and mobility benefits, reduced stiffness, better quality of life and improved joint health. And, again, one of the extracts showing efficacy at the first seven-day evaluation. MM3 was again greatly reduced.3
Improved Every Measure of Health Tested
The most recent study was carried out by a team of ten scientists from Italy.
Here, 52 knee arthritis patients received either standard care alone or together with boswellia extract.
After just four weeks the boswellia group saw greater improvements in pain, stiffness, physical function, walking distance, and social/emotional well-being. In fact, according to the research team, they experienced improved outcomes “for all target measurements evaluated.”4
As well as the reduction in MM3, the active boswellic acids found in the herb inhibit a pro-inflammatory enzyme called 5-Lipoxygenase and a protein complex called NF-kB. This protein is considered to be very important in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Because inflammation is a component of almost all chronic diseases, it comes as no surprise that boswellia has been shown in human studies to be of value in treating Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma and diabetes.
A topical boswellia cream also proved effective in treating psoriasis and eczema.
As readers may be aware, boswellia is in Green Valley’s Triple Joint Relief formula, along with two other ingredients that work synergistically. I can’t promise the results described above, but I think you’ll be very happy. It’s one of our most popular products – for the simple reason that most people find it effective.
