Frankincense for Fatigue

Frankincense, a resin obtained from trees of the genus *Boswellia*, has a long history of traditional medicinal use. Recent interest has focused on its potential to alleviate fatigue, a debilitating symptom affecting numerous health conditions. Several clinical trials and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the efficacy of frankincense in addressing fatigue, providing a basis for evaluating its potential therapeutic role.

Protocols Studied in Research

[1] Aromatherapy blend (thyme, orange, clove bud, frankincense) for fatigue in post-COVID-19 female patients. (Cited by: 17) (pmid: 35341944)

• Protocol: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 40 women with post-COVID fatigue. Participants inhaled the aromatherapy blend or placebo twice daily for 14 days. Fatigue was measured using the MFSI.
• Outcome: The aromatherapy blend significantly reduced fatigue scores compared to placebo, with improvements seen in several fatigue subscales (vigor, global, behavioral, general, and mental fatigue). The effect size was large.

[2] Frankincense essential oil for cancer-related fatigue in chemotherapy patients. (Cited by: 1) (pmid: 35245227)

• Protocol: A randomized, blinded clinical trial of 70 chemotherapy patients applied frankincense or control oil to their feet twice daily for 6 days (2 days pre-chemotherapy, during, and 2 days post).
• Outcome: No statistically significant difference in fatigue levels was found between the frankincense and control groups. Baseline fatigue predicted post-treatment fatigue. The study found no evidence to support frankincense for fatigue reduction in this population.

Research Interpretation: Summary and Conclusion

Two randomized controlled trials investigated the efficacy of frankincense in reducing fatigue, employing different administration methods and patient populations. One study, using an inhaled aromatherapy blend in post-COVID fatigue patients, demonstrated a significant reduction in fatigue scores across multiple subscales, with a large effect size. This positive outcome contrasts with a second trial, which applied frankincense topically to chemotherapy patients' feet and found no significant difference in fatigue levels compared to a control group. The discrepancy may be attributed to differences in administration route (inhalation vs. topical application), patient populations (post-COVID vs. chemotherapy patients), and the nature of fatigue experienced. While one study provides strong evidence supporting the potential benefit of inhaled frankincense for post-COVID fatigue, the other suggests a lack of efficacy for topical frankincense in chemotherapy-induced fatigue. Further research is needed to clarify the potential role of frankincense in fatigue management, considering various administration methods and patient characteristics. The inconsistent findings highlight the complexity of fatigue and underscore the need for more targeted investigations.

Publications

[1] Hawkins J; Hires C; Keenan L; Dunne E (2022). Aromatherapy blend of thyme, orange, clove bud, and frankincense boosts energy levels in post-COVID-19 female patients: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial Complementary therapies in medicine 67 :102823.

[2] Reis D; Throne T; Keller J; Koffel C; Chen T; Young-McCaughan S (2023). Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Effect of Frankincense Essential Oil in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy Cancer nursing 46 (3) :207-216.