The study, published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, articulated that the herbal extract of an Indian Frankincense Salai, commonly found in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, is effective against osteoarthritis.

Led by Siba Raychaudhuri, a faculty member of the University of California, Davis, in the United States, the study found that the patients taking the herbal remedy comprised of an enriched extract of “Indian Frankincense,” or the herb Boswellia serrata, showed significant improvement in as little as seven days. The extract that the researchers used was enriched with 30 percent AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), which is thought to be the most active ingredient in the plant.

Raychaudhuri said, “The high incidence of adverse affects associated with currently available medications has created great interest in the search for an effective and safe alternative treatment. AKBA has anti-inflammatory properties, and we have shown that B. serrata enriched with AKBA can be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.”

Osteoarthritis, one of the most common types of arthritis, commonly affects the hips, feet, spine, and the large weight bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. When Osteoarthritis becomes worse, the sufferes experiences pain upon weight bearing, including walking and standing.

Osteoarthritis affects nearly 21 million people in the United States, accounting for 25% of visits to primary care physicians, and half of all NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) prescriptions. It is estimated that 80% of the population will have radiographic evidence of Osteoarthritis by age 65, although only 60% of those will be symptomatic.