Boswellia acid from India

Incense is a plant resin extracted from the bark of a bushy plant called Boswellia.  Incense contains etheric olibanum oil, turpentine, camphor, polysacharrides and a number of resinous acids.  Of particular interest are the boswellia acids contained in the natural resin of this plant.

Recent research has shown that the yellow-red resin of Indian incense are an extremely useful aid in fighting serious illnesses.  In actual fact this was recognised thousands of years ago; its healing capacities were first mentioned in manuscripts as early as 490 B.C.

In the near East incense was used already in biblical times to relieve rheumatic complaints.  The Indian school of folk medicine "Ayurveda" describes incense as a natural remedy for reducing infections associated with rheumatic complaints, fighting illnesses of the bronchial system and the intestines (morbus chrohn and colitis ulcerosa), clearing rash and flaky skin and even helping with some types of brain tumor.  In China it has also been used for thousands of years as a salve or ointment to treat affections of the skin.  In Western countries incense was already prescribed in the 16th century for stomach ulcers and haemorrhages.

However, it was only recently that the effects of olebanum extract were investigated more thoroughly.  Several scientific studies have described its ability to reduce infection as "sensational".  Because of its positive influence on degenerative and easily infected metabolic processes, incense been recognised as an effective remedy for rheumatic arthritis and other infection-related chronic diseases.  Pains and swellings in the joints were noticeably reduced, with few side effects. 

The effects of incense can be attributed to its main component, i.e. boswellia acid.  This resinous acid produces a specific substance that fights infectious processes by reducing the effects of the enzyme (5-lipoxygenase) that is responsible for the infection.