Boswellia serrata, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense)

Family: Burseraceae

Part Used: Gum, resin from the bark

Medicinal Constituents:

Bitter principle, glycoside, gum, resin, volatile oil (olibene)

Medicinal Actions:

Antiseptic, astringent, carminative, expectorant, stimulant, vulnerary

Medicinal Uses:

1)This plant has been used for centuries, both medicinally and cosmetically.

2)Most of the early documented uses were topical, such as application to wounds for its action as a vulnerary.

3)It is also used as an inhalent, due to the high medicinal action of the volatile oil.

4) It has also been used as an astringent to the digestive and genitourinary system. It is related by family and action to Commiphora, or Myrrh.

5)It is used to treat cough, especially deeper into the lungs, congestion of the lung.

6)It is also used as a digestive stimulant and antiseptic (treat staph aureus, ecoloi, food that have spoiled to decrease person from getting sick of it)to the digestive tract. We also use this botanical as an anti-inflammatory, especially to the intestines and muscles.

7)It has been used in a mouthwash formula for the treatment of gingivitis and pyorrhea. It is classified as a mild stimulant.

8)This classification indicates that the remedy increases the rate of physiological processes. That is one of the reasons it is known as an immune modulator or stimulant. Potent anti-inflammatory thus can be used is myalgia and arthargia. Could be mixed in oil.

Contraindications: None known

Pharmacy:

Tincture (1:5 or 1:10) : 1-4 ml TID or 15-30 drops TID

Inhalation: Volatile Oil in hot water or the bark shavings in hot water.