Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) is a herb which has the gum resin extract used for therapeutic purposes related to systemic and topical inflammation. In laboratory animals, boswellic acid inhibited an enzyme that is important in the process of inflammation, and it for this reason decreases swelling caused by chemicals or arthritis. Unlike NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), boswellia fights inflammation by blocking pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). Until now, the only anti-inflammatory compounds that have been found to inhibit both HLE and 5-LOX are those derived from boswellia.

Natural Anti-inflammatory Boswellia

The important component is boswellic acid, which was shown in animal-based studies to be a strong 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities. These anti-inflammatory activities have been studied for their effects in osteoarthritis, and it appears that oral boswellia extract can suppress pain and immobility associated with osteoarthritis quite significantly with the effects taking as little as a week to occur. AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid), is a strong, natural inhibitor of pain mediators, including 5-LOX and the protein that activates 5-LOX, as well as of  TNF-alpha, as showed by several blood markers. Also, it destroys the activity of certain matrix metalloproteinases, in particular that of  MMP-3, thus protecting cartilage from breakdown of collagen, an important component in connective tissue. Boswellia extract, while providing effective in the treatment of different chronic inflammatory conditions, produces none of the common side-effects associated with conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs  such as ibuprofen and Voltaren.

Standardised extract of  boswellia is mainly used for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, which make it particularly effective for treating decreased joint mobility and flexibility. In a study that published in the Jan 2003 edition of  “Phytomedicine”, people with osteoarthritis of the knee took boswellia  extract for 8 weeks. Participants experienced reduction pain, reduction frequency in swelling, increased knee bending ability and increased walking distance. In a Sept 2011 study reported in “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage“, curcumin and  boswellia were compared to the prescription drug celecoxib in individuals with osteoarthritis. This combination provided better pain relief and distance walked without pain, and equaled the drug for improving joint flexibility. In one study of 175 participants confined to bed, 67% reported improvements in various parameters; morning stiffness, pain, and ability to carry out daily activities. Two placebo-controlled studies, involving a total of 81 patient with rheumatoid arthritis, reportedly found important reductions in swelling and pain over the course of three months.

In a study, involving  triterpenes in boswellic acid reduce the synthesis of  leukotrienes in intact neutrophils by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, which mediate inflammation. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 patients were given either 1,000 mg boswellia daily or placebo in three divided doses for 8 weeks. Patients in the boswellia group experienced a important reduction in pain and swelling and increase in range of motion compared to placebo. In a study reported  in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy in 2008, participants who consumed the boswellia  extract experienced a important improvement in their arthritis symptoms compared to those who took a placebo.

One of the most powerful extract of  boswellia available as a supplement is a patent pending standardized extract called 5-LOXIN™.  5-Loxin is made in such a way as to standardized the extract for 30% AKBA, 10 times more concentrated than typical boswellia. In an animal-based study comparing the efficacy of 5-Loxin to that of the prescription anti-inflammatory medication ibuprofen, 5-Loxin produced a 27% diminution in inflammation, compared to 35% for ibuprofen. In another study comparing5-Loxin to the anti-inflammatory medication prednisone found that 5-Loxin produced a 55% diminution in inflammation, similar to the effects of prednisone. In 1998 a 90-day double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 5-Loxin was undertaken with 75 osteoarthritis patients. Within 7 days the 250 mg group had a important decrease in joint pain. At the end of the study, both doses of 5-Loxin conferred statistically  and clinically significant improvements in pain scores and physical function scores.

Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) is a traditional ayurvedic medicine herb used in India for more than 3,000 years and is frequently referred to as “Indian Ginseng“. Ashwagandha has been investigated as an adaptogen, a class of natural plant agents that build non-specific resistance to various stressors. Withanolides are main constituents of this herb and play an significant role in ashwagandha’s overall ability to promote mental and physical health.

Ashwagandha and Anxiety

It is traditionally used for insomnia, age-related problems, impotence and mental fatigue. New researches reveal that Ashwagandha, can restore the neurotransmitters and hence can be beneficial in various mental disorders.

Ashwagandha,has important stress-relieving effects comparable to those of strong drugs used to treat anxiety and depression. A study done at the Department of  Pharmacology, University of  Texas Health Science Center indicated that extracts of  Ashwagandha produce GABA-like activity, which may account for the herb’s anti-anxiety effects. The findings of a study reported in the Dec 2000 edition of  Phytomedicine, found that its antidepressant effects were comparable with the prescription treatment imipramine.

In a study published in Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, ashwagandha was found to be as effective as diazepam for cases of anxiety and depression associated. In a trial, 30 patients suffering from anxiety neurosis were administered a dose of 40 ml per day for a month. The research concluded that most of anxiety symptoms, panic attacks and phobia were significantly relieved. Oral administration of ashwagandha for 5 days suggested anxiety-relieving effects similar to those achieved by the anti-anxiety drug Ativan, and antidepressant effects similar to those of the prescription antidepressant drug Tofranil. In a study reported in the Aug 2009 edition of the  journal PLoS One, investigators found that ashwagandha was an effective and safe option to help alleviate anxiety.

In a study, scientists investigated the effects of a standardized extract of ashwagandha on the unfavorable effects of stress, including elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The participants demonstrated several measurable improvements, including a reduction of cortisol levels up to 26%. The Department of  Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry at India’s Asha Hospital carried a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 64 participants with a history of chronic stress. The study group began supplementing with high-concentration, full-spectrum ashwagandha extract. After 2 months, the study group reported important improvements in all stress measurements and quality of  life.

Astragalus (Huang chi root) has been used in “Traditional Chinese Medicine” for thousands of years. The human studies on astragalus demonstrate that it can prevent white blood cell numbers from falling in patients given radiotherapy and chemotherapy and can elevate antibody levels in healthy people. Especially, astragalus has been shown to have immunologic benefits by stimulating macrophage and NK (natural killer) cell activity and inhibiting T-helper cell type 2 cytokines.

Astragalus Cancer Cure and Researches

Data from clinical trials are suggestive that astragalus alone and in combination with other herbs may help with the toxic effects of cancer chemotherapy.  In a study done with 115 patients on chemotherapy, over 80% showed higher white blood cell counts when taking Astragalus. In the USA, investigators have looked at astragalus as a possible cure for patients whose immune systems have been weakened by chemotherapy or radiation. In these studies, astragalus seem to help patients recover faster and live longer. According to clinical trials from the University of  California, Berkeley, Astragalus was shown to increase chemotherapy efficacy and reduce toxicity when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy to improve survival and tumor response for systemic treatments for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer.

In vitro, animal, and anecdotal data show that astragalus decreases immune suppression, a adverse effect of chemotherapy, and may increase the effects of platinum-based chemotherapy. A study done at the “Queen Elizabeth Hospital” examined the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of astragalus root. The scientists isolated five bioactive fractions from the root of astragalus – one of the fractions was found to effectively suppress the in vivo growth of syngeneic tumor in mice, and could even partially restore the depressed mitogenic response in tumor-bearing mice. Their study showed  that astragalus could exhibit both in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activities, which might be achieved through activating the anti-tumor immune mechanism of the host.

In a study of 176 people undergoing chemotherapy for cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract, ginseng and astragalus were able to prevent the normal immune depression and weight loss that occurs. In a variety of human studies, astragalus has been shown to stimulate various parameters of the immune system, has anti-tumor activity, and inhibits the spreading of cancer. In studies, Astragalus polysaccharides were shown to potentiate the immune-mediated antitumor effect of interleukin-2 and the activity of monocytes, improve the responses of lymphocytes from healthy people and cancer patients. The effectiveness of astragalus cure  was put to the test in a study of cancer patients undertaken at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in the early 1980s. After giving a specially prepared astragalus extract to 19 cancer patients and 15 healthy people, physicians found that the therapy restored immune system functioning in the majority of the patients.

Chinese hospitals give astragalus to strengthen the immune systems of  those with cancer, and to preserve them from the harmful effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Astragalus may enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy medications and speed the healing of patients taking these drugs, according to a research reported in 2002 in the Chinese Journal of  Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine. More than 100 Chinese herbal formulas were evaluated for their capability to ameliorate the toxic effects of anticancer agents. A formula including both Ligusticum and astragalus (Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang) was selected as most effective in stimulating hemopoietic factors and interleukin production. In a article reported in Journal of  Clinical Oncology in 2006, the authors reviewed different clinical studies and concluded that astragalus might enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy medications in some cancer patients.

In a clinical study performed at the “China Medical University in Shenyang”, designed to determine the inhibitory activity of astragalus on gastric cancer cells, human peritoneal mesothelial cell  was co-incubated with gastric cancer cells and/or astragalus. The findings of this study found that astragalus could partly suppress the apoptosis  in the cells. Researchers concluded that astragalus inhibits apoptosis caused by the gastric cancer cells, and can be used in gastric cancer treatment. In China, the Fu-Zheng (astragalus-containing herbal mixture), is commonly used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat cancer patients. In 2 randomized study of patients with stage II cervical carcinoma and breast carcinoma, those receiving standard radiotherapy plus an Fu-Zheng had increased 10-year survival rates compared with patients receiving radiotherapy alone. A similar survival effect was seen in adults with stage II hepatomas or advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving standard chemotherapy and radiation plus an Fu-Zheng compared with patients who did ot receive the herbal supplements.