Boswellia for Fibromyalgia Pain

Since my diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue in 1991 and then Fibromyalgia in 2000, I've been researching, looking for a cure or at the very least, some kind of relief.

I stumbled on Boswellia while browsing a Vitamin catalog in 2005. The description touted Boswellia Serrata as an effective anti-inflammatory with no known side effects.

Up to this point, I'd only found acceptable relief from Ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory NSAID. I have no tolerance for any kind of opioid, from codeine to oxycodone to morphine - my reactions to this classification of drugs are extreme. Anything else either had no effect or just fogged my mind until I didn't care about the pain. That's no way to live a life.

I had tried Vioxx and boy, that really worked, but then people died and there was a recall, so I was left with only the Ibuprofen.

In 2005, I was taking 800 mg. of Ibuprofen, three times a day per doctor's instruction and it wasn't really doing the trick. I was the angry woman no one wanted to see coming.  The pain that never went away made me rather cranky.

Because of media paranoia, I became increasing concerned with the possibility of liver damage. I was looking for something that would work without unpleasant, even disabling side effects.

After reading the catalog description, I did some Internet research and found that Boswellia was a little tree in the Frankincense family, native to India, Northern Africa and the Middle East. The resin it produces has long been used in Ayurvedic, or Indian medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma and inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.

I was intrigued by my research and since Boswellia supplements are relatively cheap, I decided to give it a try. I ordered a bottle of gel-caps and continued my research.

I read that one needed to take Boswellia supplements for about 8 weeks before any improvement would be noticed. To someone who is in excruciating pain, 8 weeks is an eternity. Counting the days would be folly, so I just let it go. I added the gel-caps to my daily vitamin regimen and took one day at a time as if I'd never heard of Boswellia.

8 weeks?! Had I read this before I placed the order, I might have kept looking. I'm thankful things turned out the way they did.

One day I woke up and felt strangely wonderful. It took a full hour before I realized; The background pain, the pain that NEVER went away, was gone! Poof!

I checked the file where I keep Internet purchase receipts and counted the weeks. It had been 8 weeks, to the day, since I'd begun taking the Boswellia.

Oh my! Such a thrill. I became positively giddy for several days. Gently testing the limits, I went on hikes, canoe trips and even a few two week driving vacations. There were still a few creaks and aches, but the relief was tremendous. I was functional! Not completely, but it was something.

So, 8 years later, what do I have to say? Well, there is a honeymoon period, and it ends. I still take the Boswellia and I really know it when I run out. (It does nothing for the intermittent brain fogs associated with Fibromyalgia. That's another topic.)

I would advise anyone experiencing pain-free-ness after a long period of chronic pain to NOT take on any new responsibilities until you've been feeling good for at least 6 weeks.

In other words, just because you're feeling good, don't bite off more than you can chew. Just say no and enjoy your well-being, eh?