What incense is better for inflammation? Extract | Oil

With several varieties of frankincense (also known as boswellia) available these days, it can be a bit tricky to know which one is best for pain and inflammation.
In general, the incense Blocking It is the best choice for general inflammation, including pain associated with arthritis, menstrual cramps, and ulcerative colitis. To get the best results from incense, it’s important to know what concentration, extraction method, and supporting ingredients to look for.
Keep in mind that although there are seven types of frankincense varieties, they all have some degree of anti-inflammatory activity. Throughout this article, we’ll look at how frankincense relieves pain, and where relevant, I’ll highlight benefits that are unique to a specific type.
Below is a brief description of the four most common types of incense and their general benefits (fountain).
Incense Blocking | Well studied and considered the most anti-inflammatory. |
Incense wallets | Anti-inflammatory (suitable for bruises or scratches). |
Incense Frereana | Anti-inflammatory (particularly beneficial for skin care). |
Incense sacred | Anti-inflammatory. It stands out for its stronger aroma compared to other types. |
Note: This post contains affiliate links and I earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you use them to make a purchase.
BENEFITS OF INCENSE FOR JOINT OR MUSCLE PAIN: HOW IT WORKS
According to the arthritis foundationincense contains various boswellic acids that block the enzyme 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase). 5-LOX participates in the synthesis of leukotrienes, which are molecules that can attack joints and tissues, causing pain and inflammation. By blocking this cascade of events, frankincense can relieve various types of pain, including joint pain. (fountain).
Additionally, research suggests that frankincense may reduce cartilage damage in people with arthritis, a benefit that may help ease pain.
Aside from its boswellic acid content, frankincense contains compounds known as terpenes, many of which may have analgesic (pain-blocking) and anti-inflammatory properties (1, 2, 3). Some of these include:
- Alpha-pinene (highest in sacred guy).
- Alpha-thujene (highest in Frereana guy).
- Linalool.
HOW TO USE FRANKINCENSE EXTRACT AND OIL FOR INFLAMMATION
He arthritis foundation recommends the following doses of frankincense extract for pain relief (fountain):
- 100 mg for osteoarthritis.
- 1200 – 3600 mg for rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to the extract, you can also use frankincense essential oil topically for pain relief. In this case, experts such as Weaver Institute suggest a 5-20% dilution (source).
Yes, it is a very wide range! It would be nice to have a more precise number, but pain varies wildly from person to person.
So if you want to try using frankincense oil topically for pain, start with a 5% dilution and gradually increase if needed.
To make a 5% dilution, use a light carrier oil such as grapeseed, almond, or fractionated coconut oil. Here is a chart explaining how to dilute frankincense oil for pain:
10ml (1/3 ounce) | 15ml (1/2 ounce) | 30ml (1 ounce) | |
5% | 15 drops | 22 drops | 45 drops |
6% | 18 drops | 27 drops | 54 drops |
7% | 21 drops | 31 drops | 63 drops |
8% | 24 drops | 36 drops | 72 drops |
9% | 27 drops | 40 drops | 81 drops |
10% | 30 drops | 44 drops | 90 drops |
Lastly, if you are curious about using frankincense specifically for period pain, check out this article for tips and recipes.
CHOOSING THE BEST INCENSE FOR PAIN RELIEF
Of the different types of boswellic acids found in frankincense, AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid) appears to have the most anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-blocking) abilities.
1. How to Choose a Frankincense Supplement (Extract) for Pain
Check the ingredient list for:
- AKBA: standardized to 30% (source).
- Support Ingredients: some brands include black pepper (often listed as piperine, black pepper extract, or the trade name, BioPerine) or lecithin (usually sunflower) in their formulas, as these can help with the absorption of the frankincense.
Based on the above, here are 2 incense supplements that you can consider:
Thorne Boswellia Phytosome (available here on amazon):
- Contains 350mg Sunflower Frankincense Extract (helps with absorption as mentioned above).
Tribe Boswellia Complex (available here on amazon):
- It contains the equivalent of 562 mg of frankincense extract, as well as ginger (also a powerful anti-inflammatory herb) and black pepper extract.
2. How to choose a frankincense essential oil to relieve inflammation
The best frankincense oil you can buy is a CO2 extracted oil. This simply means that carbon dioxide was used for the extraction process.
CO2 extraction produces essential oils of the best quality. In fact, CO2-extracted oils have some components that are simply not found in oils that are distilled by steam distillation.
But here’s the thing: CO2 extracted essential oils are not the norm. In fact, after doing some research among some of my favorite brands, I realized that they all offer only extracted CO2. wallets. So all the links I share below are for steam distilled serrata (since that type is prioritized for pain relief). But if you come across a CO2 serrata, I suggest you give that a try as well.
Here is a frankincense serrata essential oil that you can use from one of my favorite brands. This is not pre-diluted and should not be applied to the skin as is. Instead, use the dilution chart above to make your own mix.
For a hybrid experience, This incense blend contains all seven varieties. This is not pre-diluted and should not be applied to the skin as is. Instead, use the dilution chart above to make your own mix.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF INCENSE FOR INFLAMMATION
Are frankincense and myrrh good for arthritis?
According to a 2015 study, oral administration of frankincense (boswellia wallets) and myrrh suppressed the progression of arthritis in rats. The combination of these two ingredients seems to regulate the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway that is involved in our inflammatory and stress response (fountain).
CONCLUSION
Whether taken orally or applied topically, frankincense has a significant amount of anecdotal and scientific evidence to support its use as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Keep in mind that frankincense can interact with other medications, including ibuprofen, antidepressants, and more. Also, it can stimulate the immune response, which could be a problem if you have an autoimmune condition.
Therefore, it is best to always check with your doctor before using frankincense as a remedy for pain or inflammation.

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