Botanical name: Boswellia serrate
English name: Frankincense, Indian olibanum
Family: burseraceae
Part used: resin
Taste (Rasa): bitter (tikta), sweet (madhura), astringent (kasaya)
Characteristic (Guna): light (laghu), dry (ruksha)
Energy (Veerya): cooling (sheeta)
Post Digestive Effect (Vipak): pungent (katu)
Action (Karma): destroys toxins (amanasaka), pain killer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator, analgesic, antitumor, aphrodisiac, appetizer & digestive (dipana), antiarthritic, lung tonic, antifungal, induces apoptosis, anti-cholesterol, bone mender (sandhana), rejuvenating (rasayana)
Dosa effect: reduces vata, pitta, kapha
Contraindication: caution during pregnancy
 
Ref: ‘Ayurvedic Medicine’ by Sebastian Pole; ‘Ayurvedic Pharmacology & Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants’ by Vaidya V.M. Gogte; ‘Yogi of Herbs’ by V. Lad & D. Frawley; ‘Herbs Are Special’ by Isabel Shipard.