Pain of any kind – especially chronic pain – can really throw us off balance. It often leads to withdrawal, frustration, and a reduced quality of life. This is usually the point where many people reach for painkillers. While these can relieve the symptoms, they do not address the root cause. In addition, taking pain medication over a longer period can bring about unwanted side effects. In this blog post, we’d like to introduce you to MSM and Boswellia – two natural active compounds known for their pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. We’ve summarised what’s really behind them and how they may help your body naturally.
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Pain and Its Different Forms
Pain can be unbearable and significantly reduce quality of life – that much is certain. However, it’s important to distinguish between acute and chronic pain.
Acute pain usually appears suddenly and doesn’t last long. It can occur due to injury, sudden inflammation, or after surgery. In such cases, the body is signalling that something isn’t right and that action is needed.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists over a longer period and often develops when injuries heal slowly, inflammation remains in the body, or degenerative conditions such as rheumatism are present.
Here, we’ll focus primarily on chronic pain caused by inflammation, as this is one of the most common sources of ongoing discomfort. The causes are wide-ranging, and the pain can vary in strength and nature. Often, deep-seated inflammation — such as joint or muscle inflammation, cartilage wear, or autoimmune diseases — is behind it. Inflammation can also damage surrounding tissue, aggravating conditions such as rheumatism.
What’s Behind the Pain?
When an injury or inflammation occurs, the body releases inflammatory messengers such as prostaglandins and cytokines. These substances stimulate pain receptors in the nerve endings, causing the tissue to become hypersensitive. Even small movements or gentle touch can then be perceived as painful.
This is why reducing inflammation is a key part of pain therapy. Conventional painkillers, such as ibuprofen, work by blocking these inflammatory messengers. Boswellia and MSM act in a similar way — but far more gently and naturally — helping to relieve pain without the potential side effects of synthetic drugs.
Boswellia: A Brief Overview
The name Boswellia refers to a genus of trees from which a valuable resin is obtained. This resin has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and Arabic medicine for its pain-relieving, digestive, and calming properties. Thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory effects, it was also traditionally used to treat infections and fever.
Boswellia resin has long been valued not only for its health benefits but also for its use in spiritual rituals. In Christianity, for example, it is burned as incense to symbolise purification and blessing. This unique combination of sensory, spiritual, and therapeutic qualities makes Boswellia a truly remarkable natural substance – appreciated both in traditional medicine and modern natural health.
Active Compounds
What makes Boswellia so special are its boswellic acids, particularly acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) and 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA). These compounds are considered especially potent and have been studied for their effects on chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. 1
Boswellia resin also contains essential oils responsible for its distinctive aroma, as well as compounds such as incensole acetate and incensole, which have been linked to anti-inflammatory properties.
Research supports these findings: several studies indicate that Boswellia serrata has anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and joint-protective effects. A meta-analysis of seven clinical studies involving 545 participants found that Boswellia extracts reduced pain, decreased joint stiffness, and improved mobility. The results suggest that Boswellia may be a safe and effective natural therapy for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. For noticeable results, a treatment period of at least four weeks is recommended. 2
The pain-relieving effects of Boswellia are attributed to its anti-inflammatory action, which helps reduce the body’s inflammatory response — and with it, the sensation of pain.
MSM: A Brief Overview
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is an organic sulphur compound found naturally in plants, certain foods such as fruits and vegetables, and in the human body. Although “sulphur” might sound chemical, MSM actually plays a crucial role in the body’s natural functions.
Sulphur is essential for the production of collagen and keratin – the building blocks for healthy hair, nails, and joints. MSM is also popular for its detoxifying properties, as it helps support the body’s natural elimination of toxins. Like Boswellia, MSM is associated with reducing inflammation and alleviating pain.
Research has shown that cartilage tissue from horses with arthritis contained around two-thirds less sulphur than healthy cartilage, suggesting that sulphur plays an important role in cartilage stability and health. A sulphur deficiency could therefore contribute to osteoarthritis and related pain. 3
In another study, 50 men and women aged 40–76 with knee osteoarthritis received either 3 g of MSM or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks (6 g per day in total). The results showed a significant reduction in pain and physical impairment in the MSM group compared to the placebo group. 4
These findings indicate that both Boswellia and MSM can support the body in managing pain and inflammation – not only in osteoarthritis but in other inflammatory conditions as well.
Boswellia and MSM: The Perfect Duo
Boswellia and MSM form an ideal combination to supply your body with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving compounds, as well as essential sulphur for joint health. Taken together, they work synergistically, enhancing each other’s positive effects.
MSM supports joint structure and cartilage regeneration, while Boswellia helps inhibit inflammation and reduce pain. Regular supplementation may therefore help improve mobility, comfort, and overall well-being in daily life.
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Many dietary supplements – including ours – contain the recommended daily dosage, making them easy to integrate into your routine. The quantities are carefully balanced for optimal effect. However, if you’re unsure about taking them, it’s always best to consult your doctor beforehand.
Sources
1. Roy NK, Parama D, Banik K, Bordoloi D, Devi AK, Thakur KK, Padmavathi G, Shakibaei M, Fan L, Sethi G, Kunnumakkara AB. An Update on Pharmacological Potential of Boswellic Acids against Chronic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Aug 22;20(17):4101. doi: 10.3390/ijms20174101. PMID: 31443458; PMCID: PMC6747466.
2. Yu, G., Xiang, W., Zhang, T. et al. Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther 20, 225 (2020).
3. Rizzo R, Grandolfo M, Godeas C, Jones KW, Vittur F. Calcium, sulfur, and zinc distribution in normal and arthritic articular equine cartilage: a synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission (SRIXE) study. J Exp Zool. 1995 Sep 1;273(1):82-6. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402730111. PMID: 7561728.
4. Kim LS, Axelrod LJ, Howard P, Buratovich N, Waters RF. Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2006 Mar;14(3):286-94. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003. Epub 2005 Nov 23. PMID: 16309928.
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