Boswellia Helps Brain Function in Those with Multiple Sclerosis

by | Apr 14, 2016 | 2014, Autoimmune Disease, Boswellia, Brain Health, Multiple Sclerosis

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS.  Visual-spatial memory significantly improved by 17.6% after 2 months of supplementation with 600 mg/day of Boswellia.

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system which causes a progressive breakdown in the structure of nerves (“demyelination”) in most patients (1, 2). This nerve breakdown brings about a deterioration in cognition in as many as 70% of those with multiple sclerosis (3). This cognitive deterioration can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life, being perhaps the most important determinant of employment status and associated societal costs. It also adversely affects driving safety, household task completion, social activity, physical independence, rehabilitation progress, coping, treatment adherence, and mental health (4).

Now a new study (5) suggests that Boswellia, an herb commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine, may be a benefit to those with multiple sclerosis. The study involved 80 patients (16 men, 64 women) aged 28 to 44 who were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for an average of 7 years but had no occurrence of a new attack in the previous month. They were given either 600 milligrams (300 mg twice daily) or placebo for 2 months. Before and after the study, each subject completed the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) that consists of 3 different tests: the symbol digit modality test, the California verbal learning test, and the brief visual-spatial memory test revised (BVMT-R) (6).

After 2 months of supplementation, Boswellia produced a significant improvement over placebo in the brief visual-spatial memory test revised,, which assesses visual memory. Specifically, those in the Boswellia group had a 21.5% increase (25.1 to 30.5) compared to a 3.9% increase in the placebo group (25.2 to 26.2, p < 0.001). Significance was not reached for either the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (p = 0.2) or the California verbal learning test (p = 0.17).

When suggesting how Boswellia was able to elicit these healthful effects on cognition, the researchers cited studies showcasing its’ antioxidant properties (7, 8). For the researchers, “Boswellia might significantly improve visual-spatial memory” and that “We recommend further investigations on various dosage and longer treatment duration of Boswellia supplementation.

Source: Sedighi, Behnaz, et al. “Effect of Boswellia papyrifera on cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.” Iranian journal of neurology 13.3 (2014): 149.

© 2014 Iranian Journal of Neurology

Posted December 18, 2015.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.

References:

  1. Hauser SL, Oksenberg JR. The neurobiology of multiple sclerosis: genes, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Neuron 2006; 52(1): 61-76
  2. Trapp BD, Nave KA. Multiple sclerosis: an immune or neurodegenerative disorder? Annu Rev Neurosci 2008; 31: 247-69.
  3. Langdon DW. Cognition in multiple sclerosis. Curr Opin Neurol 2011; 24(3): 244-9.
  4. Langdon DW, Amato MP, Boringa J, Brochet B, Foley F, Fredrikson S, et al. Recommendations for a Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS). Mult Scler 2012; 18(6): 891-8
  5. Sedighi B. Effect of Boswellia papyrifera on cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis. Iran J Neurol. 2014 Jul 4;13(3):149-53
  6. Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, Mazziotta J. Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier; 2012
  7. Moussaieff A, Shein NA, Tsenter J, Grigoriadis S, Simeonidou C, Alexandrovich AG, et al. Incensole acetate: a novel neuroprotective agent isolated from Boswellia carterii. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2008; 28(7): 1341-52
  8. Omura Y, Horiuchi N, Jones MK, Lu DP, Shimotsuura Y, Duvvi H, et al. Temporary anti-cancer & anti-pain effects of mechanical stimulation of any one of 3 front teeth (1st incisor, 2nd incisor, & canine) of right & left side of upper & lower jaws and their possible mechanism, & relatively long term disappearance of pain & cancer parameters by one optimal dose of DHEA, Astragalus, Boswellia Serrata, often with press needle stimulation of True ST. 36. Acupunct Electrother Res 2009; 34(3-4): 175-203