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Boswellia Serrata and Nerves: What 67 mg of Indian Frankincense in Nervecept Can Tell You
Indian frankincense is the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree, and Nervecept lists 67 mg of it per capsule, 9.6 percent of 699 mg. Trials used up to 1,000 mg a day of extract, about 15 times more. Those trials were small, low quality and about osteoarthritis. We found no source linking boswellia to nerves.
Written by the Nervecept label deskUpdated
The basics01
What is Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) in Nervecept?
Indian frankincense is a traditional Ayurvedic resin from the Boswellia serrata tree, and it is the second-largest line on the Nervecept label at 67 mg per capsule.
That is 9.6 percent of the 699 mg total. Only glucosamine sulfate is bigger. The label names it "Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)(herb)".
The label does not say whether the 67 mg is a raw powder or a concentrated extract. That matters, because the studies used extracts. We could not settle the question from the bottle.
Frankincense is sold in supplements as a plant for joint comfort. The front of the bottle talks about nerves. As with the other lines, the name on the front and the research behind the ingredient point at different things.
| Name on the label | Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)(herb) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Boswellia serrata resin extract |
| Place on the label | 2 of 8, most to least by weight |
| Amount per capsule | 67 mg per capsule (9.6% of the 699 mg listed) |
| Amount used in research | Up to 1,000 mg a day of extract in trials of up to 6 months |
| Strength of evidence | Small, low-quality trials in osteoarthritis only |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional Ayurvedic resin |
| Main caution | Possible antiplatelet effect; ask about blood thinners. |
Nerve question02
Does boswellia serrata help nerves or nerve pain?
No source we found shows that Boswellia serrata helps nerves or nerve pain. NCCIH says there is not enough high-quality evidence to say whether boswellia helps any health condition (NCCIH, Boswellia).
That sentence is the whole story in one line. Several studies suggest it may ease inflammation and pain in osteoarthritis, but most are small and low quality (NCCIH, Boswellia). Larger, better studies are still needed.
Memorial Sloan Kettering agrees that clinical data are mixed and that osteoarthritis trials conflict (MSK, Boswellia). Neither page covers neuropathy.
Tingling and numbness often come from diabetes, low vitamin B12 or another cause that a doctor should find (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12). A resin for joints does not answer that.
Label line to osteoarthritis trials is a real path. Osteoarthritis trials to nerve support is not. No link was found in the sources on this site.
Amount vs research03
How much frankincense do studies use compared with Nervecept?
Studies used up to 1,000 mg a day of Boswellia serrata extract. Nervecept lists 67 mg a day, about 6.7 percent of that.
NCCIH says extract up to 1,000 mg daily was used safely in several trials lasting up to 6 months, and 2,400 mg was used for up to 1 month (NCCIH, Boswellia). The bars below draw the label amount against the studied amount.
A worked example: 67 divided by 1,000 is 0.067. Put another way, you would need about 15 capsules to reach 1,000 mg, and the label says one capsule a day. Do not take more to close the gap. The label says not to exceed the recommended dose.
The comparison is rough. A trial amount of extract and a label amount of an unspecified form are not the same thing. Still, the size of the gap is plain.
Evidence04
What does the research on frankincense show?
The research on frankincense is small, low in quality and limited to osteoarthritis.
| Source | What it says | About nerves? |
|---|---|---|
| NCCIH (NCCIH, Boswellia) | Several studies suggest less inflammation and pain in osteoarthritis; most are small and low quality; up to 1,000 mg of extract a day was used in trials of up to 6 months | Not discussed |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK, Boswellia) | Generally well tolerated; clinical data mixed; osteoarthritis trials conflict; no dose listed | Not discussed |
So the fair reading is: possible interest for joints, no proof, and nothing on nerves.
Nervecept: from $49 a bottle30 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsSafety05
Is Indian frankincense safe, and who should be careful?
Boswellia is generally well tolerated, but it may slow platelets, so blood thinners are the main flag (MSK, Boswellia).
Memorial Sloan Kettering says boswellia may inhibit platelet aggregation and raise bleeding risk with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. Its clinical weight is not settled (MSK, Boswellia). Patients on warfarin are told to ask their doctor.
Blood thinners
If you take warfarin, aspirin or a similar drug, ask your pharmacist first. Glucosamine and turmeric in the same capsule carry similar notes.
Before surgery
Supplements that affect bleeding are worth mentioning to your surgical team. Tell them every supplement you take (NCCIH, Using Supplements Wisely).
The label asks pregnant or nursing mothers, anyone under 18 and anyone with a medical condition to see a physician first. It also lists shellfish (crayfish), which comes from the glucosamine line, not the frankincense.
Keep taking prescribed medicine. Never stop or change it for a supplement. New, spreading or worsening numbness, weakness or balance trouble, or a foot sore you cannot feel, needs a doctor.
In the capsule06
How does frankincense fit with the other lines?
Frankincense is one of two plant lines that carry real weight, next to turmeric root at 50 mg.
The two plant lines together are 117 mg of the 699, or about 17 percent. Glucosamine sulfate alone is 500 mg. So the plant side of the capsule is the smaller share, though it is the side most often marketed for inflammation.
See the turmeric profile for the other plant line and the glucosamine sulfate profile for the largest. The supplement facts page types out the whole panel.
Three ways to read the frankincense line
- Check the amount: 67 mg per capsule.
- Check the form: the label does not say extract or powder.
- Check the research: knees, small trials, no nerve data.
Before you order07
Should you buy Nervecept for its frankincense?
Probably not on its own. At 67 mg it is far below the amounts in trials, and the trials were about knees.
If you still want to try the capsule, a bottle is 30 days. The sales page lists 2 bottles at $158, 3 at $207 and 6 at $294, with a 60-day money-back guarantee to confirm at checkout (Nervecept sales page).
Ask a doctor first if you take a blood thinner or have a medical condition.
Nervecept: from $49 a bottle30 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsFAQ08
Indian frankincense questions
Is Indian frankincense the same as Boswellia serrata?
Yes. Indian frankincense is the common name for the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree, used in Ayurvedic medicine. The Nervecept label lists it as Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) at 67 mg per capsule, and it does not say whether that is an extract or a powder.
Does boswellia help with nerve pain or neuropathy?
No source we found says so. NCCIH says there is not enough high-quality evidence to say whether boswellia helps any health condition. The small studies that exist are about osteoarthritis. Numbness and tingling need a doctor to look for the cause.
How much boswellia is in Nervecept?
Each Nervecept capsule lists 67 mg of Indian frankincense, which is 9.6 percent of the 699 mg total. Trials used up to 1,000 mg a day of extract for up to 6 months, so the capsule holds about 6.7 percent of that amount.
What are the side effects of Indian frankincense?
Boswellia is generally well tolerated, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering. The main flag is a possible effect on platelets that may raise bleeding risk with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. Stop and call a doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding.
Can I take boswellia with warfarin?
Ask first. Memorial Sloan Kettering says boswellia may inhibit platelet aggregation and tells patients on warfarin to consult their doctor. Glucosamine and turmeric in the same capsule have similar notes, so tell your pharmacist about all three.
Are boswellia supplements well studied?
Not well. NCCIH describes most boswellia studies as small and low quality, and says larger, higher-quality studies are needed. Results in osteoarthritis are mixed, and no study of Nervecept itself has been published.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a licensed U.S. retail desk for Nervecept, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
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