Joint Pain Relief With 5-Loxin (Boswellia Serrata)

Joint pain is a common complaint with ever increasing numbers of people suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis and inflamed and painful joints. With arthritis incurable, getting joint pain relief and preventing deterioration of the joints is the only treatment, with the alleviation of the painful symptoms the goal of treatment.

Arthritis is far from a new condition affecting the modern world, with this wear and tear problem having affected man since the dawn of time. It is therefore not surprising that man has sought natural joint pain relief from this painful condition, and without the benefit of modern anti-inflammatory medication, natural cures have long been the only option.

Whilst there are many plants and herbs with medicinal benefits, a Northern Indian tree called Boswellia Serrata has proved to be one of the best natural remedies for joint pain, and has been used for centuries in traditional Indian herbal medicine to treat painful flare ups of arthritis and other causes of joint inflammation.

Boswellia Serrata (also known as Indian Frankincense and Salai) has been used for centuries with good effect, but recently the tree, or more accurately its resin, has become a hot topic in scientific circles and has been put to the test for the treatment of many inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties it has also been investigated for its effects on a wide range of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis as well and asthma. With modern NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) being harsh on the stomach and not tolerated well by some people, a natural and healthier alternative has clear benefits.

The resin from Boswellia Serrata contains a number of biological actives calledpentacyclic triterpene acids, which give the extract its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, with boswellic acid the major active ingredient. These acids have been demonstrated to interfere with the body’s natural inflammatory response by inhibiting cytokines and leukocyte activity, which has major benefits for joint pain relief. Whilst the tests on Boswellia Serrata andboswellic acid are promising, we are not quite at the point where it can be considered a miracle cure, and further investigations are needed. However its positive effects and the results from human trial are certainly are exciting, and it shows great potential. This will be nothing new to Northern Indians, where the tree grows native and it has long been known for its health benefits.

Whilst many people take Boswellia Serrata supplements to help with arthritic joints, Boswellia Serrata has now been formulated into a new patent pending complex called 5-Loxin. Whilst the natural extracts from the resin are certainly effective in reducing inflammation, 5-Loxin appears to be far more potent. This is unsurprising when you consider that 5-Loxin contains Boswellia Serrata extract plus 30% 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) for good measure. Beta-boswellic acid is the main form of active found in Boswellia Serrata. As well as helping to reduce inflammation, it is believed that 5-Loxin also inhibits the activity of enzymes which breakdown cartilage, thus helping to reduce further arthritic damage

5-Loxin has shown clinically and statistically significant results in reducing pain and improving movement, with significant improvements in just 7 days from taking the compound according to one peer reviewed and published scientific study*. Whilst the study was completed in 2008, it has taken a while for the compound to be introduced into nutritional supplements, but from the feedback from the many people who have tried taking supplements with 5-Loxin, it appears to be well worth the wait!

5-Loxin is most notably used in the latest formula of the Osteo Bi-Flex™ range of natural joint pain relief supplements, alongside the older tried and tested compounds of glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). Osteo Bi-Flex™ has previously just used its Joint Shield™ formula of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM with the triple strength variety proving to be an effective product based on online reviews on the likes of Amazon.com amongst others.

With the addition of 5-Loxin however, the product appears to have much greater benefits, rarely being awarded less than 4 or 5-stars on Amazon, with those not giving it the full rating often doing so due to the size/taste of the pills rather than their effectiveness.

It is not clear whether the improved effectiveness of the latest Osteo Bi-Flex™ are due to the the new 5-Loxin (Boswellia Serrata) on its own, or that it is proving to be highly effective in combination with the glucosamine hydrochloride, MSM and chondroitin sulfate also present in the mix, especially considering that Osteo Bi-Flex™ was already a highly rated product for helping to ease joint pain. The majority of those who have tried the product are over the moon with its effects on the joints will not be bothered by the whys and wherefores of how or what specifically is doing the good work, just the fact that the product has really helped to ease pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions of the joints such as bursitis. With the latest formula you will also get a healthy dose of minerals known to be beneficial for joint health, including boron, manganese as well as vitamin C

5-Loxin certainly shows great potential, and anyone who has previously had success with the original Osteo Bi-Flex™ formulas should seriously consider the latest incarnation of the product, as would anyone who is already taking other branded glucosamine/ chondroitin / MSM supplements that they are not totally happy with. With this product there appear to be only two down points; that of the size of the pills, which it has to be said are rather large, and the fact that they do not taste particularly good. No doubt Osteo Bi-Flex™ will be reincarnated again with a smooth coating to make them easier to take, although due to the ingredients the large size is probably unavoidable. Given the feedback from customers and the relief from joint pain, these are two down points which mot are happy to live with.

Given the glowing reviews, whilst theOsteo Bi-Flex™ Advanced with 5-Loxin nutritional supplements are more expensive than the generic of glucosamine/ chondroitin tablets, they appear to be well worth the cost. At 21c per pill, these will cost 42 cents a day which is $12.78 a month, and the price certainly seems worth it for the help that they can offer.

Whilst Osteo Bi-Flex™ is the best known nutritional supplement; there are cheaper 5-Loxin alternatives on the market, generally available at about a quarter of the cost. If you like the sound of 5-loxin as a natural therapy for helping with joint pain relief, these are certainly worth a try. The advantages of these, aside from the cost, are that many of these are suitable for vegetarians, as well as for anyone with a shellfish allergy. On the downside, they do not contain glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM which are also highly beneficial for the joints.

Consult a doctor before taking any new nutritional supplement, especially if you suffer from any serious health complaint or are pregnant or lactating. Glucosamine in all forms can raise blood sugar (diabetics take note), and do not exceed the stated dose, even during a painful flare up of arthritis. These nutritional supplements contain glucosamine from marine sources and are therefore not suitable for vegans or anyone with a shellfish allergy. These pills are not considered a treatment for any health condition, rather a complimentary supplement with positive effects for easing joint pain, mobility issues and inflammation.

Sengupta K, Alluri KV, Satish AR, Mishra S, Golakoti T, Sarma KV, Dey D, Raychaudhuri SP. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Res Ther. 2008 October 10(4):R85. Cellular and Molecular Biology Division, Laila Impex R&D Center, Jawahar Autonagar, Vijayawada, India.