Boswellia is an extract from the gum resin or bark of the Boswellia serrata tree, the source of frankincense. It is sold to reduce inflammation and support joint health, and in people it has been studied most for osteoarthritis pain.
Also known as: Boswellia serrata, Indian frankincense, frankincense.
Boswellia has no intake value or upper limit. NCCIH says Boswellia serrata extract up to 1,000 mg a day has been used safely in clinical trials lasting up to 6 months, and 2,400 mg a day for up to 1 month. These are study protocols, not a recommendation.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling.
NCCIH says most studies of boswellia are small and of low quality, and there is not enough high-quality evidence to say whether it is useful for any condition. Several studies suggest oral boswellia may help reduce inflammation and pain from osteoarthritis, but larger, better studies are needed. A few small studies suggest it may reduce asthma symptoms, and there is no evidence it can prevent or treat COVID-19.
Safety, per NCCIH: boswellia is likely safe when taken by mouth. Little is known about its safety in medicinal amounts during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you have asthma or cancer, do not use it in place of prescribed treatment, and if you take any medicine, talk with your clinician first, since some herbs and medicines interact.
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for boswellia extract that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one.
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