Rung 2 · Limited
Boswellia for brain-radiation swelling
Reduced brain swelling in one small placebo-controlled trial.
Side-effect supportWith your doctor
What studies found
In 44 patients receiving brain radiation, 60% on Boswellia serrata (Ayurvedic shallaki) had a 75% or greater reduction in brain swelling versus 26% on placebo.
The catch
Small pilot study; steroid doses didn't differ. It treats a side effect, not the tumor.
What to do
Only with your radiation oncologist's agreement.
Sources
Rung 2 of 5, Limited: Few, small or conflicting human studies, or only indirect measures such as blood markers. How we score
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Every option we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.