Research appearing in the European Journal of Medical Research (November 17, 1998;3(11):511-514) tested the effect of an extract from the herb Boswellia serrata on patients with asthma. Subjects in the study were 17 women and 23 men between the ages of 18 and 75 years of age. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study lasted six weeks. In the group taking the Boswellia, 70% showed improvement. They had a reduction in symptoms and improvement in lung function tests (FEV1, FVC and PEFR). There was also improvement in the sedimentation rate (a measure of inflammation) and a reduction in the number of eosinophils (white blood cells that are present in patients with allergies). Only 27% of the group receiving the placebo showed any improvement.