Boswellia

(also known as Indian frankincense, olibanum, boswellin and salai guggal)

The active ingredient in this traditional ayurvedic medicine is the hardened reson of the Boswellia tree, found in Asia and the Middle East. In a study published last year in the International Journal of Medicine Science - funded by a boswellia supplement manufacturer - people with knee OA who took boswellia for 90 days reported lower pain scores than placebo takers.

A 2003 study published in the journal of Phytomedicine found that, among people with knee OA, those taking 333mg of boswellia three times per day for eight weeks experienced less pain and better mobility than people taking placebo