Capsule Shallaki

Latin name: Boswellia serrata (Roxb.)
Family: Burseraceae
Common name: Shallaki
English name: Boswellia

Parts used: Gum raisin

Pharmacological action: anti-inflammatory, anti atherosclerotic and anti arthritic activities. It is also used as anti-inflammatory, diarrhea, dysentery, diuretic, diaphoretic, antipyretic, stomachic, emmanogogue, diaphoretic, astringent.

Actions and uses in ayurveda: purishviranjney, sandhivat, gandmala, Parshay shul, kas, shwas, pradar.

Indications: it is used in arthritis.

Photochemical: One of the principal constituents in the gum resin is boswellic acid, which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity.

Properties and action:

Rasa: kashaya, tikta, madhura
Guna: laghu, ruksha
Virya: usna
Vipaka: katu
Karma: kaphapitta hara, shoth har, vednasthapan, purishviranjiney, medhya, vrisya.

Preparations: decoction, gum raisin

Therapeutic classification index:

• Central nervous system: it is used in memory loss. The fraction potentiated secobarbitone in shallaki-induced hypnosis.
• Cardiovascular system: it is cardio protective.
• Respiratory system: it is used in chronic cough and dyspnea
• Reproductive system: it is used in leucorrhea and spermatorrhea.
• Musculoskeletal system: The gum resin is used as an ointment for sores and has anti-inflammatory, anti atherosclerotic and anti arthritic activities. The non phenolic fraction of the gum resin had marked sedative and analgesic action.

Use of Shallaki in arthritis
In clinical and preclinical studies, Boswellia serrata has been shown to contribute potent anti-inflammatory activity. Boswellic acids exert anti-inflammatory response by preventing leukotriene synthesis. During pharmacological evaluation the extract of Boswellia serrata in experimental animals, displayed marked anti-inflammatory activity in various models like carrageenan-induced oedema in rats and mice and dextran oedema in rats. Two placebo-controlled studies, involving a total of 81 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, found significant reductions in swelling and pain over the course of 3 months. A comparative study in 60 arthritic patients over 6 months showed that Boswellia extract produced symptomatic benefits comparable to oral gold therapy in arthritic patients. According to a recent review of unpublished studies, preliminary double-blind trials have found Boswellia to be effective in relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Dose: decoction 50-100 ml

Capsule Shallaki contains pure and concentrated Shallaki

Dosage: one capsule twice a day.

Package 60 capsules

References:

1. Prof P.V Sharma, Dravya Guna Vigyana, Vol II, pg 488-491

2. Dr.KM Nadkarni, The Indian Materia Medica, Vol.I, pg 212