Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian frankincense, has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory conditions. In recent years, there has been some scientific interest in its use for gastrointestinal disorders, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The resin contains boswellic acids, which exhibit anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme involved in leukotriene synthesis.

There are a few small-scale clinical studies and pilot trials that have investigated Boswellia’s effects on IBS. For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study published in the European Journal of Medical Research (2007) found that Boswellia extract improved some IBS symptoms compared to placebo, but the sample size was limited and the results have not been widely replicated. Most clinical evidence for Boswellia’s gastrointestinal benefits comes from studies on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are distinct from IBS but share some inflammatory features.

Overall, the scientific evidence supporting the use of Boswellia for IBS specifically is preliminary and limited, with a small number of studies showing modest benefit and a lack of large, high-quality clinical trials. Thus, while there is some emerging scientific basis for its use, the evidence is not robust, and more research is needed to establish efficacy and safety for IBS.

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