Five Benefits of Luban (Frankincense Chewing Gum): What the Research Shows
Frankincense — called luban in Arabic — is one of those ancient materials that modern research is increasingly vindicating. Long known in Arabic and Middle Eastern traditional medicine as a health-supporting substance, luban has now been the subject of enough clinical and laboratory research to provide a scientific basis for many of its traditional uses. Here are five benefits that the evidence supports.
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1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The most well-researched benefit of frankincense is its anti-inflammatory activity. Boswellic acids — compounds found in Boswellia resin — have been shown in multiple studies to inhibit leukotriene synthesis, one of the key inflammatory pathways in the body. This mechanism is similar to how some anti-inflammatory medications work, but through a different biochemical pathway.
Research has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in conditions including osteoarthritis, Crohn's disease, and asthma, with several clinical trials showing meaningful reduction in inflammation markers. The oral form — consuming Boswellia extract or chewing luban resin — delivers these boswellic acids systemically.
In traditional Arabic medicine, luban was used for joint pain, inflammatory conditions, and respiratory issues for centuries before the biochemical mechanisms were understood. The modern research provides the scientific explanation for why these traditional uses were effective.
2. Oral Health Benefits
Chewing frankincense resin — the traditional Arabic chewing gum practice using food-grade luban resin — has documented oral health benefits. Boswellia compounds have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against common oral pathogens including Streptococcus mutans (a primary cause of dental cavities) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (associated with gum disease).
Traditional Arabic dental care incorporated luban chewing as a complement to miswak (the natural tooth-cleaning twig) — a combination that modern research suggests was more effective than its components individually. The antimicrobial action of the boswellic compounds in frankincense resin, combined with the mechanical cleaning action of miswak, provided a natural but genuinely effective oral hygiene practice.
3. Brain and Nervous System Support
Perhaps the most surprising recent research on frankincense concerns its neurological effects. A 2008 study published in the FASEB Journal identified incensole acetate — a compound in Boswellia resin that is released in the smoke of burning frankincense — as an activator of TRPV3 ion channels in the brain. The researchers found anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and antidepressant-like effects in animal models.
This research provides a biological basis for the widespread use of frankincense in meditative and religious contexts across multiple cultures — the neurochemical effects of the aromatic compounds released in frankincense smoke may contribute to the sense of calm and focus that practitioners associate with incense burning during prayer and meditation.
4. Respiratory Support
Traditional Arabic medicine has used frankincense preparations for respiratory conditions — coughs, asthma, bronchitis — for thousands of years. Modern research has found some support for these applications: boswellic acids have demonstrated bronchodilatory effects in asthma research, and a clinical trial published in the European Journal of Medical Research found that 70% of asthma patients treated with Boswellia extract showed significantly improved symptoms compared to placebo.
Whether chewing luban gum delivers enough boswellic acid to produce significant respiratory effects is not definitively established, but the traditional use pattern — which emphasized both chewing and inhaling the smoke of burning frankincense — likely delivered the active compounds through multiple pathways simultaneously.
5. Skin and Wound Healing
Frankincense resin has a long history of topical use in Arabic and Ayurvedic traditional medicine for wound healing, skin conditions, and as a component in aromatic preparations applied to skin. Modern research has found that boswellic acid compounds inhibit the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (involved in inflammatory pathways) and promote collagen synthesis — both mechanisms relevant to skin healing and health.
Frankincense essential oil (steam-distilled from Boswellia resin) appears in many contemporary skincare products for its anti-inflammatory and skin-conditioning properties. This application represents a direct continuation of traditional practices, now supported by a better biochemical understanding of how the compounds work.
Experiencing Luban
The food-grade luban chewing resin at Amir Oud is Omani Boswellia sacra — considered the finest quality frankincense available. It is the same material used for chewing, burning, and incense preparation in the Gulf states. If you want to experience both the traditional and the increasingly evidence-supported benefits of frankincense, this is where to start.
