Frankincense extract shows promise as a treatment for arthritis
Publication Date:30/07/2008
Frankincense has for centuries been treasured as a fragrance in perfumes and incense. Now new research shows that concentrated frankincense extract may reduce the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis in the knee. But the study was small and more research is needed before we can know for sure.
Background
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints. It happens when the cartilage at the ends of bones becomes damaged. The bone in your joints then tries to repair the damage. But instead of making things better, the bone grows abnormally and makes things worse. For example, the bone can grow into a knobbly shape and make the joint painful and unstable. Osteoarthritis is most common in the joints of the knees, hips, hands and spine.
Many people take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen to cope with the joint pain of osteoarthritis. But NSAIDs can cause side effects, including indigestion, stomach upset and, more rarely, bleeding in the stomach. Many people are interested in trying alternative treatments.
The new study explores whether taking a herbal treatment made with concentrated frankincense extract could help the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee and whether it has side effects. The technical name for the extract studied is 5-Loxin.
What does the new study say?
The new study found that people who took 5-Loxin for 90 days had less pain and stiffness, and were able to use their knees better than those who took a dummy treatment (a placebo). People taking 5-Loxin had no more side effects during the study than people taking the placebo.
Tell me more about the study's findings
The study included 70 men and women between the ages of 40 and 80 who had osteoarthritis in their knee. They were divided into three groups that took one of the following each day: 100 milligrams (mg) of 5-Loxin, 250 mg of 5-Loxin, or the placebo. The people didn't know whether they were receiving one of the doses of 5-Loxin or the placebo.
Researchers used questionnaires to score each person's pain, stiffness and use of their knees at the beginning and end of the study.
After 90 days, people taking the herbal extract had about half as much pain and stiffness in their knees as they had at the beginning of the study. Their knee movement was almost twice as good. And overall, the symptoms of people taking the higher dose improved a bit more than those taking the lower dose. People taking the dummy treatment also improved, but only by a small amount.
It may seem strange that people taking the placebo also had improvements in their symptoms. Researchers think this might be because people were allowed to take ibuprofen if their symptoms got bad. People in the placebo group took more ibuprofen than those in the other groups, and this could have improved their symptom scores. Also, people in the placebo group might have believed they were getting a treatment and felt better as a result (this is called the placebo effect).
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers in India and the United States. It was published in a US medical journal called Arthritis Research & Therapy, and was funded by Laila Impex, the Indian company that makes 5-Loxin. It's quite common for companies to fund studies on their own products.
How reliable are the findings?
The study was carefully carried out, but it only included 70 people, so we need bigger trials before we can say for sure whether 5-Loxin can help people with arthritis and whether it is safe in the long term. The trial lasted for only 90 days so we don't know how this treatment might affect people if taken for a long time. And it didn't directly compare this treatment with other treatments for osteoarthritis. So we don't know if it's more or less safe or effective than other options.
What does this mean for me?
If you have osteoarthritis, you may be excited to hear about an alternative treatment that could improve your symptoms with few, if any, side effects. But bear in mind that the research on this treatment is at an early stage. We still can't be sure how well this treatment works and how it might affect you long term. The study also looked only at osteoarthritis in the knee, so we don't know whether the treatment might work if you have osteoarthritis in other joints.
What should I do now?
Bear in mind that this treatment needs more research before we know for sure that it works. If you're interested in trying a herbal remedy, it's important to talk to your GP about it first. Herbal remedies are not suitable for everyone and they may interact with other medications you are taking. You should also ensure you buy herbal remedies from a reputable source. Herbal products are not regulated in the same way as conventional medicines and some products may not be checked for quality.
The Government recently introduced new legislation on herbal medicines. By April 2011, all products on the market in the UK will need to meet quality standards and have information provided about them, including how safe they are. But until then you may like to read the advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for people thinking of taking herbal remedies. You can find the MHRA's advice at: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=253
From:
Sengupta K, Alluri KV, Sathis AR, et al. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Research & Therapy. 2008; 10: R85.
To learn more, see our information on osteoarthritis.
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