Pain of any kind - especially chronic pain - can easily throw a wrench in our plans: increasing withdrawal, inner dissatisfaction, and reduced quality of life can be the result. And it is precisely at this point that many frequently reach for painkillers. While these can relieve symptoms, they cannot combat the cause. Furthermore, painkillers, when taken over a longer period, can also cause long-term damage. In this blog post, we would like to introduce you to MSM and frankincense. These two natural active ingredients are known, among other things, for their natural pain relief. We have summarized what is really behind them!
Table of Contents
Pain and its Manifestation
Pain can be unbearable and reduce quality of life - that much is certain. But it is important to categorize pain, as there is acute pain on one hand, and chronic pain on the other. Acute pain describes pain that usually appears suddenly and generally does not last long. This can be due to injuries, severe and sudden inflammation, or after operations. The body wants to communicate at this moment that something is wrong and that urgent action must be taken.
Chronic pain is long-lasting and occurs when injuries, for example, heal slowly, inflammation is present in the body, or degenerative diseases such as rheumatism exist.
We first focus on chronic pain caused by inflammation, as this is the most common cause of chronic pain. The underlying causes are very diverse, and the pain manifests in different intensities and variations. Often, deep-seated inflammations, e.g., joint or muscle inflammations, as well as joint wear or the consequence of autoimmune diseases, can be behind it. Inflammation can also damage surrounding tissue, thereby exacerbating diseases such as rheumatism.
Pain: What's behind it?
In the case of an injury accompanied by inflammation, or general inflammation arising in the body, pro-inflammatory messengers, including prostaglandins and cytokines, are released. These messengers irritate the pain receptors in the nerve endings and lead to tissue sensitivity. Even small movements or light touches can therefore be perceived as painful.
For this reason, anti-inflammation plays a crucial role in pain therapy. Common painkillers, as we know them, such as ibuprofen or Ibuhexal, inhibit pro-inflammatory messengers. Frankincense and MSM work in a similar way - only they are a gentler method. Thus, they can naturally help to relieve pain.
Frankincense: Brief Overview
The term frankincense is derived from "wîhrouch," which means "holy incense." It has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic, as well as Arabic medicine, as a pain-relieving, digestive, and relaxing remedy. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, frankincense was also often used for infections and fever. Frankincense is the air-dried resin and smoke of several tree species of the genus Boswellia. You might also know frankincense from the Christian faith, where the smoke is part of the divine service and symbolizes the blessing of the faithful. This special combination of sensory experience, spirituality, and health support makes frankincense a unique element to this day, valued not only in Christian rituals but also used as a valuable natural remedy with anti-inflammatory and health-promoting properties.
Active Ingredients
But what makes frankincense so special? Let's take a closer look at the active ingredients: On the one hand, the various boswellic acids are responsible for the positive effects on the body. These include acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA), as well as 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA). These are considered particularly effective and have proven to be active ingredients with efficacy against various chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, etc. 1
Furthermore, the resin contains essential oil, which is responsible for the aromatic scent of frankincense. Incensol acetate and incensol are also associated with anti-inflammatory effects.
Studies also indicate that frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and joint-protective properties. A meta-analysis of seven clinical studies with a total of 545 patients showed that frankincense and its extracts reduced pain, lessened joint stiffness, and improved mobility. The results suggest that frankincense thus represents a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. For a noticeable effect, a treatment duration of at least four weeks is recommended. 2
The effect attributed to frankincense is due to its anti-inflammatory properties, which lead to less pain generation due to the inflammatory response.
MSM: Brief Overview
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is an organic sulfur compound found in plants, certain foods like fruits and vegetables, and in our body. This initially sounds quite chemical when you hear that sulfur is in our body, but MSM fulfills extremely important functions in our body. Sulfur is involved in significant processes in our body. Among other things, it is needed for the formation of collagen and keratin - precisely the substances responsible for healthy hair, nails, and joints. Many also turn to MSM for detoxification, as it supports the elimination of toxins. Just like frankincense, MSM is also associated with minimizing inflammation and thus being pain-relieving.
Furthermore, research shows that the cartilage of horses with arthritis contains significantly less - by about two-thirds - sulfur than healthy tissue. From this, it can be concluded that sulfur apparently plays a very important role in the health and stability of cartilage. A lack of sulfur could therefore be a trigger for osteoarthritis and the resulting pain. 3
In another study, 50 men and women aged 40-76 with knee pain due to osteoarthritis received 3g MSM or a placebo twice daily for a period of 12 weeks. The total amount of MSM was thus 6mg/day.
The results were extremely exciting to observe, because compared to the placebo, MSM led to a significant reduction in pain and physical functional impairment. 4
It is therefore plausible that both frankincense and MSM, according to studies, can support the body not only with osteoarthritis-related but generally with inflammation and pain-related complaints.
MSM and Frankincense: The Perfect Duo
MSM and frankincense are the perfect combination to provide your body with the necessary amount of sulfur and anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving active ingredients. Particularly, their combined intake enables an optimal synergy. Through this synergy, the positive effects can be enhanced. MSM supports joint structure and the regeneration of joint cartilage, while frankincense specifically inhibits inflammation and unfolds pain-relieving properties.
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Regular supplementation can thus help your body improve mobility and well-being in everyday life and reduce pain. Many dietary supplements - including ours - contain the recommended daily dosage, so you can easily take the capsules. Furthermore, the amounts are optimally coordinated. If you are unsure about the intake, we advise you to seek medical advice beforehand.
Sources
1: Roy NK, Parama D, Banik K, Bordoloi D, Devi AK, Thakur KK, Padmavathi G, Shakibaei M, Fan L, Sethi G, Kunnumakkara AB. An Update on Pharmacological Potential of Boswellic Acids against Chronic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Aug 22;20(17):4101. doi: 10.3390/ijms20174101. PMID: 31443458; PMCID: PMC6747466.
2: Yu, G., Xiang, W., Zhang, T. et al. Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther 20, 225 (2020).
3: Rizzo R, Grandolfo M, Godeas C, Jones KW, Vittur F. Calcium, sulfur, and zinc distribution in normal and arthritic articular equine cartilage: a synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission (SRIXE) study. J Exp Zool. 1995 Sep 1;273(1):82-6. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402730111. PMID: 7561728.
4: Kim LS, Axelrod LJ, Howard P, Buratovich N, Waters RF. Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2006 Mar;14(3):286-94. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003. Epub 2005 Nov 23. PMID: 16309928.
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