Frankincense, derived from the resin of Boswellia species, has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurvedic and Middle Eastern practices. Its traditional applications are varied, but primarily center around its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In the context of migraine, frankincense has been used in traditional systems as a remedy to relieve headache and general pain, although these uses are more anecdotal than systematically documented.

Modern scientific research on frankincense’s role specifically in migraine management is very limited. The active compounds in frankincense, such as boswellic acids, have been shown to inhibit inflammatory pathways (e.g., 5-lipoxygenase), which theoretically could play a role in reducing migraine inflammation. However, clinical trials directly investigating frankincense for migraine relief are lacking. Most scientific studies focus on its anti-inflammatory effects in conditions like osteoarthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, not migraine.

In summary, while frankincense has a traditional reputation for alleviating various forms of pain including headaches, there is minimal scientific evidence to support its specific use for migraine. Its use for this purpose is grounded in tradition rather than robust clinical validation.