Frankincense: A Secret Weapon Against Cancer

Guest Article by Valerie Burke, The Shungite Queen

Over the past couple of decades, Western science has been investigating what traditional healers have known about for more than 6,000 years – the extraordinary healing powers of frankincense.

What is Frankincense?

It’s a resin secreted by ancient trees of the genus Boswellia, which grow in a belt ranging from the West coast of Africa, east through its horn into southern Arabia, up through India and into Pakistan. If you have ever seen the ingredient “Boswellia” in any of your herbal supplements, it’s actually an extract from this tree resin (the resin is what is referred to as “frankincense”).

There is now a mountain of science in support of Boswellia’s wide-ranging health benefits. For the purpose of this article, we will be focusing mostly on what we know about its therapeutic applications for cancer.

How Frankincense Fights Cancer

Boswellia resin has been found beneficial in both the prevention and treatment of numerous cancers. Roy et al (2019) provides an excellent overview of the science to date related to those outlined in the table below – but this is undoubtedly the tip of the iceberg.

Breast Brain
Ovary Head and neck
Cervix Lung
Prostate Pancreas
Colorectal Melanoma
Bladder Leukemia
Liver Multiple myeloma

What is it about this ancient tree exudate that makes it such a powerhouse against cancer?

Over the past 20 years, science has turned the spotlight toward the boswellic acids, compounds completely exclusive to Frankincense.

Boswellia contains up to 12 different types of boswellic acids, or BAs for short. There are four main types: β-BA, A-β-BA, KBA, and AKBA. These four possess unique properties, each possessing different qualities for treating certain types of cancer. For one thing, they are highly anti-inflammatory. (Liu et al., 2002)

For example, KBA and AKBA are the most effective at suppressing cytokine production and inhibiting the enzymes responsible for inflammation. AKBA is a particularly powerful inflammatory mediator implicated in tumor proliferation.

In addition to the boswellic acids, frankincense contains several other cancer-fighting agents, including incensole acetate which helps discourage tumor formation.
Some exciting new results just emerged from a small study in 2023 at Hollings Cancer Center in South Carolina. Researchers found Boswellia to have substantial anti-proliferative effects against breast cancer in their early-stage clinical trial.

In a comprehensive review about the research to date about Boswellia for cancer, Trivedi wrote (2023):

“BAs and their semi-synthetic derivatives are effective against a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines. They have a minimal potential for resistance due to the multiple ways they operate in the cancer cell lines. The ability of BAs to control cellular epigenetic mechanisms highlights their anti-cancer properties, as they promote apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibit the malignant primary metabolic pathways and DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis.”

The Anti-Inflammatory Power of Boswellic Acids Is Unmatched

The same compounds in frankincense that make it such a great weapon against cancer also make it phenomenal against other inflammatory diseases.

Interestingly, the chemical structure of boswellic acids closely resembles that of steroids – but they work differently. The BAs act on different immune pathways in your body and suppress inflammation by multiple mechanisms, including decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine production. (Ammon 2010)

Boswellia is becoming an increasingly well-regarded treatment for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and a number of other autoimmune conditions by helping control the body’s production of antibodies in response to perceived threats. Part of this has to do with how Boswellia inhibits leukotriene production. Increased leukotrienes are tied to many autoimmune diseases. (Yu et al, 2020)

Boswellia, like most tree resins, is also a powerful antimicrobial so has been used traditionally for treating numerous types of infections, as well as for supporting oral health.

This brings us to the question – how do we harness the power of frankincense for our own health and healing?

How to Use Frankincense

The earliest use of frankincense was burning it as incense, which is still done. There is evidence of health benefits even from this, especially for the respiratory and nervous system, but I’m not sure how many boswellic acids make it up there.

You will also find frankincense incorporated into mouthwashes and skincare formulas. In regions where Boswellia trees grow, the locals use it routinely as a chewing gum – for oral health!

If you want the healing properties of the boswellic acids, your best bet is to either take a Boswellia supplement or use a topical frankincense oil that has been specially infused with the whole frankincense resin. A whole-resin frankincense oil delivers the boswellic acids transdermally and is an excellent option, especially if you are already overloaded with supplements or your stomach is a bit sensitive.

But first, there is an important distinction you must understand – the difference between essential oils and whole-resin-infused oils. Understanding this difference is critical because it is TRULY night and day!

NEWS FLASH: Boswellic Acids Are NOT in Frankincense Essential Oil

Contrary to what you may have read, the true healing power of frankincense is not in the essential oil. This myth was propagated years ago by many in the essential oil industry – sadly, to the detriment and destruction of our precious Boswellia trees, which consequently are now endangered.

Essential oils represent the most volatile compounds of a plant and therefore contain only a small fraction of the plant’s naturally occurring compounds – the aromatic ones. The boswellic acid molecules are simply too large to be captured during distillation, so they remain behind in the resin after the essential oils have been extracted. This valuable leftover resin is often wastefully discarded by essential oil producers.

Don’t get me wrong – I love essential oils – but not at the cost of extinction of this precious natural resource.

The Transdermal Option – Backed by Science

Does frankincense oil work? Yes! As long as it’s made the right way.

There is a substantial body of research demonstrating that compounds applied to the skin can be absorbed and eventually circulate throughout the body. While much of this research has focused on synthetic drugs, the same principles apply to natural compounds such as boswellic acids.

When these compounds are delivered in an oil-based formulation, the carrier oil can enhance their penetration through the skin, allowing them to exert their effects both locally and systemically.

Researchers tested this out with mice, comparing oral with transdermal treatments.

They treated one group with an oral BA supplement and a second group with a BA-containing ointment. After 12 weeks of treatment, they measured the BA levels in the synovial fluid of the knee joints of two groups of arthritic mice. The synovial fluid results were comparable. Not only that, both groups showed positive anti-inflammatory responses to treatment. (Wang et al 2014)

Infused oil is a way to experience the full range of Boswellia’s benefits while at the same time enjoying its wonderfully intoxicatingly scent!

Frankincense at Risk of Tapping Out

Now you can see how supplementing with Boswellia – either orally or with a topical oil – can be a valuable tool in your natural health arsenal.

Make sure you are obtaining your frankincense products from a source committed to sustainability because reckless harvesting practices are threatening many Boswellia species with dire ecological and socioeconomic consequences.

>>Learn more about Valerie Burke, the Shungite Queen, and the wisdom she shares as you explore her website!