Boswellic Acids (Boswellia serrata) and Frankincense Essential Oil COVID Treatment
What is Boswellia serrata?
Boswellia serrata is the scientific name for Frankincense, a tree native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is also sometimes called olibanum. The gum resin from the bark of this tree has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as a treatment for a diverse range of illnesses and diseases. 2 Frankincense essential oil is one of the most famous cures for cancer that has been most widely used to cure brain cancer, although it actually works, at least in part, by improving how well the body can absorb and metabolize iodine. Lugol's iodine treatment, in fact, should always be combined with the use of Frankincense essential oil for best results to not only cure COVID, but also prevent COVID infection in the future. A deficiency of iodine always causes poor immune system function and anyone who keeps getting sick with COVID and who wants to prevent recurrent COVID infection and who also does not currently eat kelp at every meal or take a Lugol's iodine supplement daily should look more closely at this nutrient.
Click here to read more about Lugol's iodine in The Iodine Bible.
When you put frankincense essential oil on your skin or if you take boswellic acid supplements, the Lugol's iodine works better and causes fewer symptoms of detoxification from the toxic halides of bromide and fluoride. The combination use of frankincense essential oil and Lugol's iodine significantly improves immune system function to reduce susceptibility to COVID infection. Click here to read more about how to remove fluoride and bromide from the body.
Click here to buy Lugol's iodine 2%.
Uses of Boswellia serrata and Boswellic Acids
Boswellia has the following beneficial effects in the body:- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Immunomodulatory
- Antiviral
- Antimicrobial
- Antifungal
- Antibacterial
- Neuroprotective
- Cardioprotective
- Repairs peripheral nerves
- Protects the intestines from inflammatory damage 1
Click here to buy high-quality Frankincense essential oil.
There are many different uses of the Boswellia plant and its components, and certain preparations are used in specific situations to promote healing. Some illnesses or diseases respond more quickly to treatment with boswellic acids (or even to a specific type of boswellic acid, such as AKBA, which is said to be particularly potent), while others are most responsive to extracts of the whole plant or treatments using frankincense essential oil. Below is a list of some of the various applications of Boswellia:-
- Chikungunya virus
- ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Inflammatory bowel (IB)
- Oxidative stress
- Cough
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the lungs
- Pulmonary lesions
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Osteoarthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Psoriasis
- Vesicular stomatitis virus
- Cancer
- Vector particles
- HIV
- Hepatitis C
- Crohn’s disease
- Influenza viruses
- Candida fungal infections
- Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus mutans
- Inhibits bad bacterial growth in the mouth 1, 2
Click here to buy Boswellic Acids in capsule form.
Treatment of COVID-19 with Boswellia serrata
Boswellia serrata’s antiviral action occurs at several different levels. Like with other particularly effective antiviral plants in this section, frankincense not only treats the viral infection itself, but it also eases the cytokine storm when administered at the correct dosage. In addition, frankincense also offers specific lung healing and protective abilities that benefit COVID-19 patients in particular. Once again, iodine plays a role here in that frankincense improves iodine uptake and metabolism. Iodine is a cure for asthma because of its effects on reproductive hormone levels. When reproductive hormone shift abruptly, the bronchiole tubes constrict which is why children often begin to experience asthma symptoms during puberty and it also explains why most boys who have asthma outgrow the problem when puberty ends while girls who develop asthma tend to have a worsening of asthma symptoms that corresponds with their menstrual cycle. 1Click here to read more about Lugol's iodine as a cure for asthma and other lung diseases.
Frankincense and boswellic acids can help inhibit the production of various problematic pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-a, IFN-gamma, and others. Other components present in Boswellia, such as quercetin, also have anti-inflammatory functions. These cytokines are especially damaging to the tissues in the body when they are produced in excessive quantities, so medicines like frankincense that are able to quell the cytokine storm are extremely important. The vast majority of COVID-19 related deaths were due to the cytokine storm, not necessarily the infection itself, but balance is necessary for some people (such as the elderly) who may experience a viral infection at the same time as a cytokine storm. 1
Click here to read more about how to stop or prevent a COVID cytokine storm.
One notable therapeutic use of Boswellia serrata is its ability to heal and prevent pulmonary lesions. These lesions can be painful and can pave the way to later infection or lung-related problems, besides causing chronic coughing, fatigue, hoarseness, wheezing, and other symptoms. Many COVID-19 patients experience these symptoms for a period of time even after recovering from the viral infection itself. Although it may seem counterintuitive, in fact lesions in the lungs may be caused by issues with the pancreas and pancreatic enzyme levels in the body. Click here to read more about how the pancreas and the lungs work together. 1
Frankincense can help inhibit viral replication and adherence to host cells for up to 4 hours after administration. The plant extracts can inhibit viruses, including the COVID-19 virus, from being able to gain access to cells, thus preventing viral replication. In the treatment of the herpes virus, one study noted that the effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin was more effective than treatment with only isolated components (such as boswellic acids). In other words, the use of frankincense essential oil is often more effective at COVID prevention and treatment that boswellic acid capsules.
Dosage Information for Boswellia serrata
Boswellia serrata (and its extracts) comes in a few different forms. There are essential oils, creams, capsulized forms of boswellic acids, and actual frankincense gum resin available for chewing. The medicinal compounds in this plant medicine aren’t particularly bioavailable when taken orally as a capsule, however researchers have found that combining this medicine with licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) or Piper longum (long pepper) can help increase its bioavailability and potency in the body. If the extract or capsule you purchase isn’t already mixed with these herbs, consider getting a tea, capsule, or extract of these herbs to take at the same time as you take the frankincense. 1
Click here to buy Liquorice / Licorice Root tincture.
In the extract form, a dose of 100mg - 200mg per day of Boswellia may be taken as a preventative measure against illness or during the beginning stages of a COVID-19 infection when symptoms are still relatively mild. Larger doses of Boswellia extract or boswellic acids may be used to treat the symptoms of a cytokine storm. In the smaller dose, the Boswellia will support the body’s production of immune proteins and cells. In contrast, at a higher dose the extract helps reduce production of inflammatory immune proteins. 1
Click here to buy Piper longum tincture.
For the treatment of asthma, treatment of 300 mg of Boswellia serrata extract given 3 times daily was administered over the course of 6 weeks. The extract supports the respiratory system and reduces the need for corticosteroid use or inhalation therapy, both treatments currently used in hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19. 1
Click here to buy Boswellia serrata / frankincense extract.
Chewing the gum resin may also be an effective way to administer Boswellia if you can find edible gum resin. Researchers have found that the components of the frankincense, such as boswellic acids, may be more readily absorbed into the body through the buccal mucosa, thus it may be best to administer frankincense orally as an essential oil or as an extract. Be aware, however, that frankincense essential oil is better for the teeth than an extract that contains vegetable glycerin. 1Click here to learn more about how to remineralize the teeth.
Other dosage recommendations include:
- 300mg - 500mg per day by mouth, between 2-3 times per day (general adult dosage) 3
- 300mg - 400mg daily of a products that contains at least 60% boswellic acids (for the treatment of arthritis) 3
- 500mg (or more) 3 times per day for the treatment of IBD 3
- 100mg - 1000mg of Boswellia extract taken daily for osteoarthritis, of 300mg - 600mg daily if taking other supplementary treatment herbs 2
- 350mg taken three times daily over the course of 6 weeks for the treatment of ulcerative colitis 2
Side Effects of Boswellic Acids
Boswellia serrata has an outstanding safety profile and may be taken even in higher quantities over the long term with little to no negative effects in the body (unlike some other herbs or medicines, which must be pulsed).1 However, some people may experience some side effects with higher doses of frankincense. Some of the possible side effects of this medicine include:- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Skin rash/allergic reactions
- Heartburn
- Bloating
- Acid reflux 2, 3
Contraindications
Women who are pregnant may be able to use frankincense essential oil safely in very small doses when it is applied to the skin and diluted with another carrier oil. However, using high doses of frankincense essential oil, or any internal use of Boswellia or boswellic acids should be avoided during pregnancy. This plant has stimulant effects on the uterus and therefore may induce miscarriage in some pregnant women. It can stimulate menstrual flow, therefore it should generally be avoided. 3Caution should also be taken when using Boswellia with NSAID medications like ibuprofen and aspirin because boswellic acids may interact with these medications. People currently on blood thinning medications (like warfarin) should also avoid use of Boswellia because this plant medicine can produce additional blood thinning effects. 2, 3
People who already experience Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) should avoid using particularly high doses of frankincense (if any at all) since this plant medicine can aggravate the symptoms of GERD. If you suffer from this issue, click here to read this article about essential oils that can be used with DMSO to cure GERD. Do not take Boswellia if you may be going into surgery within the next two weeks (again, this plant medicine thins the blood, so it should not be taken around the same time as a surgical procedure). 2
COVID-19 and Respiratory Infection Self treatment and Prevention BUNDLE - Volumes 1, 2, and 3
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Resources:
• [1] Gomaa, Adel A.; Mohamed, Hamdy S.; Abd-ellatief, Rasha, Bakheet; Gomaa, Mohamed A. (2021). Retrieved October 21, 2021 from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10787-021-00841-8
• [2] Wong, Cathy (2021). What is Boswellia? Can This Herb Ease Inflammation and Pain? Retrieved October 28. 2021 from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-health-benefits-of-boswellia-89549
• [3] Moncivaiz, Aaron (2018). Boswellia (Indian Frankincense). Retrieved October 28, 2021 from: https://www.healthline.com/health/boswellia
