Frankincense has anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce joint inflammation caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers believe that frankincense can prevent the release of leukotrienes, which are compounds that can cause inflammation (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

Terpenes and boswellic acids appear to be the strongest anti-inflammatory compounds in frankincense (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).

Test-tube and animal studies note that boswellic acids may be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — with fewer negative side effects (5Trusted Source).

In humans, frankincense extracts may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (6).

In one recent review, frankincense was consistently more effective than a placebo at reducing pain and improving mobility (7).

In one study, participants given 1 gram per day of frankincense extract for eight weeks reported less joint swelling and pain than those given a placebo. They also had a better range of movement and were able to walk further than those in the placebo group (8Trusted Source).

In another study, boswellia helped reduce morning stiffness and the amount of NSAID medication needed in people with rheumatoid arthritis (9Trusted Source).

That said, not all studies agree and more research is needed (6, 10Trusted Source).

SUMMARYFrankincense’s anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. However more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these effects.

Frankincense’s anti-inflammatory properties may also help your gut function properly.

This resin appears particularly effective at reducing symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two inflammatory gut diseases.

In one small study in people with Crohn's disease, frankincense extract was as effective as the pharmaceutical drug mesalazine at reducing symptoms (11Trusted Source).

Another study gave people with chronic diarrhea 1,200 mg of boswellia — the tree resin frankincense is made from — or a placebo each day. After six weeks, more participants in the boswellia group had cured their diarrhea compared to those given the placebo (12Trusted Source).

What’s more, 900–1,050 mg of frankincense daily for six weeks proved as effective as a pharmaceutical in treating chronic ulcerative colitis — and with very few side effects (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

However, most studies were small or poorly designed. Therefore, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.

SUMMARYFrankincense may help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis by reducing inflammation in your gut. However, more research is needed.

Traditional medicine has used frankincense to treat bronchitis and asthma for centuries.

Research suggests that its compounds may prevent the production of leukotrienes, which cause your bronchial muscles to constrict in asthma (5Trusted Source).

In one small study in people with asthma, 70% of participants reported improvements in symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing, after receiving 300 mg of frankincense three times daily for six weeks (15Trusted Source).

Similarly, a daily frankincense dose of 1.4 mg per pound of body weight (3 mg per kg) improved lung capacity and helped reduce asthma attacks in people with chronic asthma (16).

Lastly, when researchers gave people 200 mg of a supplement made from frankincense and the South Asian fruit bael (Aegle marmelos), they found that the supplement was more effective than a placebo at reducing asthma symptoms (17Trusted Source).

SUMMARYFrankincense may help reduce the likelihood of asthma attacks in susceptible people. It may also relieve asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing.