Written by Gabriele Dennert and the CAM-Cancer Consortium.
Updated January 10, 2013

Boswellia spp

Is it safe?

Adverse effects

Several of the above mentioned clinical investigations reported the presence or absence of side effects of Boswellia extracts 4,17-18,20. In 134 cancer patients receiving BAs, 11 cases of possible adverse effects were reported: nausea/emesis WHO III (one patient), skin rash WHO II (two patients), gastrointestinal pain (two patients), loss of appetite and heartburn (six patients). In the former three patients with nausea/emesis and skin rash, Boswellia administration had to be terminated.

Contraindications

Pregnancy and lactation; nothing is known about teratogenicity and possible effects of Boswellia extracts on breast-fed infants. There is no information available on mutagenic effects of Boswellia extracts in women and men or long-term carcinogenicity.

Further known contraindications are any previous allergic reactions to Boswellia extracts or components of these extracts.

Interactions

Interactions with drugs, supplements or other herbs and herbal extracts might occur both on a pharmacokinetic and on a pharmacodynamic level, but have so far not been thoroughly studied. No conclusions can currently be drawn on possible pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions in humans.

Citation

Gabriele Dennert, CAM-Cancer Consortium. Boswellia spp [online document]. http://cam-cancer.org/CAM-Summaries/Herbal-products/Boswellia-spp. January 10, 2013.

Document history

Last updated and revised in December by Gabriele Dennert.
Fully updated and revised in October 2011 by Gabriele Dennert.
Fully updated and revised in November 2009 by Gabriele Dennert.
First published in November 2005, authored by Gabriele Dennert.

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