In one study of 30 patients aged 18-48 with chronic colitis, 20 were given boswellia extract 300 mg 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and the other 10 were given sulfasalazine, 1 g three times a day.14 went into remission versus 4 of the 10 treated with the drug.   Patients were studied at the Department of Medicine, Medical College Jammu, J&K, India suffered from chronic colitis characterized by vague lower abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum with diarrhea and palpable tender descending and sigmoid colon.

The inflammatory process in colitis is associated with increased formation of leukotrienes causing chemotaxis, chemokinesis, synthesis of superoxide radicals and release of lysosomal enzymes by phagocytes. The key enzyme for leukotriene biosynthesis is 5-lipoxygenase. Boswellic acids were found to be inhibitors of this enzyme 5-lipoxygenase.

Boswellic acids seem to contain an anti-inflammatory action - much like the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for inflammatory conditions such as Ibuprofen. Long-term boswellia use does not appear to cause stomach ulceration or irritation.

Like introducing anything new to your diet when suffering with a digestive illness, introduce it slowly and carefully to make sure you tolerate it well.

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