FRANKINCENSE - BOSWELLIA SACRA - Topical

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This monograph is intended to serve as a guide to industry for the preparation of Product Licence Applications (PLAs) and labels for natural health product market authorization. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient.

Notes

• Text in parentheses is additional optional information which can be included on the PLA and product label at the applicant's discretion.
• The solidus (/) indicates that the terms and/or statements are synonymous. Either term or statement may be selected by the applicant.

Date

August 5, 2019

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source material(s)

Table 1. Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source material(s)

Proper name(s)	Common name(s)	Source material(s)
		Proper name(s)	Part(s)
Boswellia sacra	Bible frankincense Frankincense Incense Olibanum Olibanum-tree Ru xiang shu	Boswellia sacra	Stem bark resin

References: Proper name: USDA 2019; Common names: McGuffin et al. 2000; Source material: PPRC 2010.

Route of Administration

Topical

Dosage Form(s)

Acceptable dosage forms for any age category listed in this monograph for the specified route of administration are listed in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote healing of carbuncles (PPRC 2010; Bensky et al. 2004).
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote tissue regeneration (PPRC 2010; Bensky et al. 2004).
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote healing of injuries (PPRC 2010; Bensky et al. 2004).
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to relieve pain (PPRC 2010; Bensky et al. 2004).
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote healing of sores (PPRC 2010; Bensky et al. 2004).
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to reduce swelling (PPRC 2010; Bensky et al. 2004).
• Traditionally used in Ayurveda to treat ringworm (Williamson 2002; Kapoor 2001).

Note
Claims for traditional use must include the term "Herbal Medicine", "Traditional Chinese Medicine", or "Ayurveda".

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Adults 18 years and older

Quantity(ies)

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powder, Non-Standardized Ethanolic Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract)

3 - 5 grams of stem bark resin, per day (PPRC 2010).

Method of preparation: Decoction

3 - 10 grams of stem bark resin, per day (Bensky et al. 2004; Chen and Chen 2004).

Direction(s) for use

Apply to affected area(s) as needed.

Duration(s) of Use

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

Risk Information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

No statement required.

Contraindication(s)

Do not use this product if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Known adverse reaction(s)

No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

No statement required.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.
• Please note that this organism, one of its parts, or the organism or part from which this ingredient is derived, is considered at risk and is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Details are available from the following reference(s): http://www.ec.gc.ca/cites/ default.asp?lang=En&n=C5F64D6F-1#_004.

References Cited

• Bensky D, Clavey, Stöger E, Gamble A. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. 3rd edition. Seattle (WA): Eastland Press, Incorporated; 2004.
• Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Crampton L, editor. City of Industry (CA): Art of Medicine Press Inc.; 2004.
• Kapoor LD. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. New York (NY): CRC Press; 2001.
• McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO. The American Herbal Products Association's Herbs of Commerce, 2^nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.
• PPRC 2010: Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. Volume 1, English edition 2010. Beijing (CN): The State Pharmacopoeia Commission of the People's Republic of China.
• USDA 2019: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Boswellia sacra. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2019 June 5]. Available from: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx
• Williamson EM, editor. Major Herbs of Ayurveda. London (UK): Elsevier Science Limited; 2002.

References Reviewed

• Bensky D, Gamble A. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica- Revised Edition. Seattle (WA): Eastland Press Inc.; 1986.
• Bown D. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York (NY): Dorling Kindersley Limited; 1995.
• Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale (NJ): Medical Economics Company Inc.; 1998.
• Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics- 2nd Edition. Toronto (ON): John Wiley and Sons Inc.; 1996.
• 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.
• Tierra M, Tierra L. 1998. Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine: Volume 2 Materia Medica and Herbal Resource. Twin Lakes (WI): Lotus Press.