Sallaki (Boswellia) and Guggul
These two go together in Ayurvedic joint formulations often enough that people treat them as a pair. Both are tree resins rather than leaves or roots, and both have been used for joint complaints for as long as the classical texts have existed.
- Botanical name
- Boswellia serrata and Commiphora mukul
- Sanskrit / Hindi
- सल्लकी, गुग्गुल
- Part used
- Gum resin of both trees
- Known compounds
- Boswellic acids, including AKBA (Sallaki), Guggulsterones (Guggul), Terpenoids and essential oil fraction
Where they come from
Sallaki is the Ayurvedic name for Boswellia serrata, the Indian frankincense tree. Cut the bark and it weeps a gum resin, which hardens and is collected. Guggul comes from Commiphora mukul in the same way, a small thorny tree found across the drier parts of western India.
Both are resins, which matters practically. Resins are sticky, aromatic and oil-soluble, which is why they turn up in oil-based preparations rather than watery ones.
What the research looks at
Boswellia is among the more heavily researched herbs in the Ayurvedic materia medica. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials covering 545 patients with osteoarthritis reported improvements in pain, stiffness and function scores against control, and the authors noted that a treatment period of at least four weeks was needed. Those trials used oral Boswellia extract.
Guggulsterones, the characteristic compounds in Guggul, have been documented for anti-inflammatory activity, and Guggul appears in classical formulations for Ama Vata, the presentation Ayurveda associates with inflammatory joint disease.
Their place in Ayurvedic practice
In classical practice Sallaki and Guggul are both categorised as useful in vata and kapha conditions of the joints. They appear in internal preparations and in medicated oils used for massage.
In Dr. Granny's Magic they sit alongside Ashwagandha, Rasna, Harjod and Dashamula in a sesame and mustard oil base, for external massage use.
Questions about Sallaki and Guggul
What is Sallaki?
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Sallaki is the Ayurvedic name for Boswellia serrata, the Indian frankincense tree. The part used is the gum resin that seeps out when the bark is cut.
What are boswellic acids?
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They are the characteristic compounds in Boswellia resin, and the reason the plant has been studied for joint comfort. AKBA is the one most often named in the research.
Are Boswellia and Guggul the same thing?
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No. Both are resins used in Ayurvedic joint formulations, but Boswellia comes from Boswellia serrata and Guggul from Commiphora mukul. They are usually used together rather than interchangeably.
Is Guggul the same as guggul gum used for incense?
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It is the same resin. The grade and preparation used in Ayurvedic medicine is processed differently from the material sold for burning.
References
Where this sits in the bottle
Sallaki Oil (Boswellia) & Guggulis one entry in the 25-herb blend in Dr. Granny's Magic Pain Relief Oil, carried in a base of sesame, mustard, yellow mustard, black seed, clove and eucalyptus oils for external massage use.
Other ingredients
Ayurvedic product. For external use only. Not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.