Monograph: Frankincense - Oral

Date: 2019-08-05

NHPID name

Boswellia sacra ( Germplasm Resources Information Network Taxonomy )

Proper name(s)

Boswellia sacra ( USDA 2008 )

Common name(s)

• Bible frankincense ( McGuffin et al. 2000 )
• Frankincense ( McGuffin et al. 2000 )
• Incense ( McGuffin et al. 2000 )
• Olibanum ( McGuffin et al. 2000 )
• Olibanum-tree ( Unavailable )
• Ru xiang shu ( Unavailable )

Source material

Stem bark resin ( Leung and Foster 1996 )

Route Of administration

Oral ( Lu 1999 )

Dosage form(s)

Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration. This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or purpose(s)

Statement(s) to the effect of:

• Traditionally used in Ayurveda as an astringent.  (Williamson 2002, Li 1973)
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote circulation of qi and dispel wind-dampness.
• Traditionally used in Ayurveda as a diuretic.  (Williamson 2002, Leung and Foster 1996, Li 1973)
• Traditionally used in Ayurveda to relieve nervous problems.  (Williamson 2002, Leung and Foster 1996)
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote circulation of qi.  (Long 1998, Bensky and Gamble 1993)
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to relieve urinary disorders.  (Williamson 2002, Bown 1995)
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to dispel wind-dampness.  (Long 1998, Bensky and Gamble 1993)

Dose(s)

Adults:

Duration of use

Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician for prolonged use.

Risk information

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and Warning(s): Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician prior to use if you have digestive disorders. Contraindication(s): Do not use this product if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Known Adverse Reaction(s): No statement is required

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural health products ingredients database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the NHPD Quality of natural health products guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the Natural health products ingredient database (NHPID).

References cited

• Bensky D, Gamble A. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Revised Edition. Seattle (WA): Eastland Press, Incorporated; 1993.
• Bown D. 1995. The Herb Society of North America Encyclopedia of Modern Herbs & Their Uses. New York (NY): Dorling Kindersley Publishing Incorporated.
• Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, editors. PDR for Herbal Medicines, 1st edition. Montvale (NJ): Medical Economics Company; 1998.
• Kapoor LD. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants: Herbal Reference Library. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2001
• Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 2nd edition. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2003.
• Li SC. Chinese Medicinal Herbs. San Francisco (CA): Georgetown Press; 1973
• Long Z. The Chinese Materia Medica. Xue Yuan (China): Academy Press; 1998
• Lu H. A Comprehensive Textbook of Chinese Herbology. Vancouver (BC): Academy of Oriental Heritage; 1999
• McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. 2000. Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition. Austin(TX): American Herbal Products Association.
• USDA 2008: ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2008-01-21]. Available at http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl
• Williamson EM, editor. 2002. Major Herbs of Ayurveda. London (UK): Churchill Livingstone.