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3Medicinal

Boswellia

Also sold as Indian frankincense, boswellic acid

Osteoarthritis and inflammatory joint pain, taken in defined courses.

3TrustedSupp Tier System™ · Tier 3Take as a defined course
Check before you startThis one has documented interactions with medication classes where the consequences are serious. If you take any prescription medicine, run it past a pharmacist before starting.

How long to take it

Eight to twelve weeks to judge effect, then reassess.

Who it's actually for

People with osteoarthritis or inflammatory joint pain.

Safe upper limit

Unverified
No formal limit; 300–500 mg extract two to three times daily in trials
Generally well tolerated; heartburn and nausea are the usual complaints.
No source attached yet. Treat this as a starting point, not a citation, until reviewed.

Interactions to know about

  • Blood thinners / antiplateletsWarfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel, aspirin
  • Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)Ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac
  • ImmunosuppressantsCiclosporin, tacrolimus, azathioprine, biologics, steroids

Other supplements:

Run your full list through the interaction check.

Practical notes

  • Standardised extracts state their boswellic acid percentage — unstandardised ones are a lottery.
  • May add to the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs.