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Dietary supplement

Boswellia Powder Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Banyan Botanicals

Powder Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Boswellia Powder is a dietary supplement by Banyan Botanicals with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for osteoarthritis joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 952 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Indian Frankincense. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata), a plant resin traditionally used in Ayurvedic and herbal medicine. It also contains rice concentrate as an inactive ingredient (a filler to give the powder bulk).

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: promotes comfortable joint movement and circulation.
  • We looked for evidence on: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Knee pain, Asthma, Crohn disease, Ulcerative colitis — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Boswellia Serrata is rated "Possibly Effective" for Osteoarthritis (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Boswellia Serrata is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Asthma, Crohn disease, Ulcerative colitis, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and more.

The data shows Boswellia is possibly effective for osteoarthritis. For other conditions—hay fever, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, and cluster headaches—the evidence isn't established enough to rate it either way.

If you're considering this for something other than osteoarthritis, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about what the current research actually supports.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Boswellia Serrata

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Boswellia is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth short-term, though quality and dose vary widely between products—that's worth keeping in mind. The most common side effects are abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, heartburn, itching, and nausea.

Dizziness and vertigo have been reported in some trial participants. In one study, nearly 11% of people taking a specific Boswellia extract reported headache.

A rare but serious concern: very large amounts of the gum resin can form a bezoar (a solid mass in your stomach)—so stick to normal doses. During pregnancy, there isn't enough safety data, so it's best avoided.

While breastfeeding, safety is unknown, so avoid it then too. If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before taking this.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Boswellia Serrata

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Boswellia Serrata.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 953 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking Boswellia, check any medications your liver clears—that includes drugs processed by CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 enzymes. Also mention immunosuppressant medications (drugs that reduce immune activity).

Use the medication checker on this page to be sure.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Boswellia may help with osteoarthritis, but it interacts with a lot of medications because of how your liver processes it. If you take any prescription drugs—especially for your heart, mood, blood pressure, pain, or immune system—you need to check them against this supplement first.

Your pharmacist can help you figure out if it's safe for your specific situation.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Boswellia Powder, straight from the product label.

Brand Banyan Botanicals
Barcode (UPC) 618192076125
Net contents 0.5 Pound(s); 227 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2024
DSLD ID 305598
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating), Organic
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0.25 Teaspoon(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
0.5 Teaspoon(s)
Servings per container
188
UPC/BARCODE
618192076125
IngredientAmount% DV
Indian Frankincense0.5 Teaspoon(s)--

Other ingredients: Rice Concentrate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

(Boswellia serrata) Organic Ayurvedic herbs

Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), also known as Indian frankincense, has a long history of use in religious ceremonies. As a medicinal herb, the gum resin is used to detoxify joint tissue and support comfortable movement. It is said to be heating due to its support of healthy circulation and cooling because of its soothing action on the tissues. Boswellia is also traditionally used to open the mind and to clear the subtle channels of the body.

Formulation

Organic Ayurvedic herbs

Supporting your ayurvedic lifestyle

USDA Organic

Non GMO

Promotes comfortable movement of the joints Removes natural toxins and excess heat from the joint tissue Supports healthy blood circulation while soothing and cooling the joints Promotes the flow of energy within the body channels and tissues

Certified organic by: QAI

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

USDA Organic

Sustainably sourced Fair traded

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon with warm water, once or twice daily, or as directed by your health practitioner.

Precautions

Not to be used during pregnancy. If you are nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition, please consult with your health care practitioner prior to the use of this product.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Banyan Botanicals was founded in 1996 with the mission to help people achieve and maintain optimal health and well-being. As an ayurvedic lifestyle company, we specialize in products made from ayurvedic herbs that are organically grown, sustainably sourced, fairly traded, and made in the USA. Banyan is committed to providing exceptional customer service, inspiring educational content, and the highest quality Ayurvedic herbs that are safe, pure and effective.

Illuminate your path to well-being Get your free ayurvedic profile at banyanbotanicals.com/illuminate

See for yourself

Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.25 Teaspoon(s) Dosage formPowder Servings per container188 Amounts shown are per serving.

Indian Frankincense

Interacts with
952 drugs
0.5 Teaspoon(s) per serving

Boswellia serrata is a tree resin used in traditional medicine, mainly for joint pain and inflammation. Some studies suggest it may help with osteoart...

Indian Frankincense monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Concentrate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Boswellia Powder?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
952Drugs
952 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Boswellia Powder with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Indian Frankincense6 drug types · 952 drugs

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, Boswellia serrata might increase the levels of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Boswellia serrata gum resin inhibits CYP1A2 enzymes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C19 (Cyp2C19) Substrates

Theoretically, Boswellia serrata might increase the levels of CYP2C19 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Boswellia serrata gum resin inhibits CYP2C19 enzymes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

Theoretically, Boswellia serrata might increase the levels of CYP2C9 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Boswellia serrata gum resin inhibits CYP2C9 enzymes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2D6 (Cyp2D6) Substrates

Theoretically, Boswellia serrata might increase the levels of CYP2D6 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Boswellia serrata gum resin inhibits CYP2D6 enzymes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, Boswellia serrata might increase or decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that Boswellia serrata gum resin inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes. Other in vitro research shows that Boswellia serrata extract inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes at most concentrations, although it may modestly induce enzyme activity at low concentrations.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, Boswellia serrata might alter the effects of immunosuppressive drugs.
Some in vitro research suggests that Boswellia serrata extracts might inhibit mediators of autoimmune disorders such as leukotrienes and reduce production of antibodies and cell-mediated immunity. However, other in vitro research suggests that, when coupled with calcium ions, boswellic acids containing the keto group have immunostimulant properties within specific cell signaling pathways.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Boswellia Powder, from the product label.

Banyan Botanicals

See all Banyan Botanicals products
Name
Banyan Botanicals
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
ZipCode
87113
Phone Number
1-800-953-6424
Web Address
www.banyanbotanicals.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals: Common Questions

Does Boswellia Powder by Banyan Botanicals interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Boswellia Powder has a known interaction with 952 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Boswellia Powder contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What is Indian Frankincense and what's it supposed to do?
Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) is a plant resin. The data shows it's possibly effective for osteoarthritis. For other conditions like hay fever, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease, there isn't enough reliable evidence to say whether it works.
What are the most common side effects?
The most frequent ones are abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, heartburn, itching, and nausea. Dizziness and vertigo have also been reported, though less often. Headache occurred in nearly 11% of participants in one study.
Is it safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Not enough safety data exists for pregnancy, so it's best avoided then. While breastfeeding, safety is unknown, so avoid it during that time too. If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing, talk with your pharmacist or doctor first.
Why does this supplement interact with so many medications?
Boswellia can slow down the liver enzymes that clear many common medications from your body. When those enzymes work slower, drugs can build up to higher levels, which might cause problems. That's why it affects such a large number of medications across different drug categories.
What should I do if I'm on prescription medications?
Use the medication checker on this page to look up your exact drugs before starting Boswellia. If any show an interaction, talk with your pharmacist about whether this supplement is right for you—they may suggest a different timing or alternative.
Does this powder have any fillers or extra ingredients?
Yes, it contains rice concentrate as an inactive ingredient. The active ingredient is just the Boswellia serrata itself.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Boswellia Powder is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Boswellia Powder label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Boswellia Powder's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 16 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Boswellia Serrata 16 references
  1. Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A, et al. Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week clinical study. Eur J Med Res 1998;3:511-4.
  2. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  3. Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2003;10:3-7. PubMed
  4. Liu JJ, Nilsson A, Oredsson S, et al. Boswellic acids trigger apoptosis via a pathway dependent on caspase-8 activation but independent on Fas/Fas ligand interaction in colon cancer HT-29 cells. Carcinogenesis 2002;23:2087-93. PubMed
  5. Wildfeuer A, Neu IS, Safayhi H, et al. Effects of boswellic acids extracted from a herbal medicine on the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arzneimittelforschung 1998;48:668-74.
  6. Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, et al. Effects of gum resin of Boswellia serrata in patients with chronic colitis. Planta Med 2001;67:391-5. PubMed
  7. Sengupta K, Alluri KV, Satish AR, et al. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin. Arthritis Res Ther 2008;10:R85.
  8. Sengupta K, Krishnaraju AV, Vishal AA, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 5-Loxin and Aflapin against osteoarthritis of the knee: a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study. Int J Med Sci 2010;7:366-77.
  9. Ernst E. Frankincense: systematic review. BMJ 2008;337:a2813. PubMed
  10. Kirste S, Treier M, Wehrle SJ, et al. Boswellia serratea extract acts on cerebral edema in patients irradiated for brain tumors: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial. Cancer 2011;117:3788-95.
  11. Frank A, Unger M. Analysis of frankincense from various Boswellia species with inhibitory activity on human drug metabolising cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry after automated on-line extraction. J Chromatogr A 2006;111 PubMed
  12. Altmann A, Poeckel D, Fischer L, et al. Coupling of boswellic acid-incuded Ca2+ mobilisation and MAPK activation to lipid metabolism and peroxide formation in human leucocytes. Br J Pharmacol 2004;141:223-32.
  13. El Fortia, M., Badi, H., Elalem, Kh, Kadiki, O., and Topov, Y. Olibanum bezoar: complication of a traditional popular medicine. East Mediterr.Health J 2006;12(6):927-929.
  14. Meshkat S, Mahmoodi Baram S, Rajaei S, et al. Boswellia serrata extract shows cognitive benefits in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial in individuals who suffered traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj 2022;36(4):553-559. PubMed
  15. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed
  16. Valente IVB, Garcia D, Abbott A, et al. The anti-proliferative effects of a frankincense extract in a window of opportunity phase ia clinical trial for patients with breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2024;204(3):521-530. PubMed

See these in context on the Boswellia Serrata monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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