Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) significantly impacts the quality of life for many women, and current treatment options aren't always effective or well-tolerated. Frankincense, a resin obtained from Boswellia trees, has shown promise as a potential complementary therapy for HMB in several clinical trials and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These studies have investigated its efficacy in reducing the severity and duration of menstrual bleeding, offering a potential alternative or adjunct to conventional treatments.
Protocols Studied in Research
[1] Frankincense and ginger as complementary treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). (Cited by: 4) (pmid: 30670277)
- Protocol: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 102 women with HMB. Participants received ibuprofen plus either frankincense (300mg), ginger (300mg), or placebo, three times daily for seven days over two menstrual cycles.
- Outcome: Both frankincense and ginger significantly reduced menstrual bleeding duration and improved quality of life compared to placebo. While all groups showed reduced bleeding amount, no significant difference existed between treatment groups for this outcome. Further research is recommended.
Research Interpretation: Summary and Conclusion
A single randomized, placebo-controlled trial (PMID 30670277) investigated the efficacy of frankincense for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), comparing it to ginger and placebo in 102 women. The study used a regimen of ibuprofen plus either frankincense (300mg), ginger (300mg), or placebo, administered thrice daily for seven days across two menstrual cycles. Both frankincense and ginger demonstrated significant reductions in menstrual bleeding duration and improvements in quality of life compared to the placebo group. Interestingly, while all treatment groups experienced a decrease in bleeding amount, no statistically significant differences were observed between the treatment groups for this specific outcome. This suggests potential benefit of frankincense for HMB in terms of duration and quality of life, but further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal dosage and treatment duration. The limited number of studies available necessitates further investigation with larger sample sizes to establish definitive conclusions about frankincense's effectiveness in managing HMB.
Publications
[1] Eshaghian R; Mazaheri M; Ghanadian M; Rouholamin S; Feizi A; Babaeian M (2019). The effect of frankincense (Boswellia serrata, oleoresin) and ginger (Zingiber officinale, rhizoma) on heavy menstrual bleeding: A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial Complementary therapies in medicine 42 :42-47.
