Boswellic Extract | 70% Boswellic Acids | How It's Made
This premium boswellic extract is made from 100% Grade 1 Boswellia carterii resin, sourced from Somalia, and has an exceptionally high boswellic acid content of 70% (including AKBA) and is completely free of solvent residue, verified by third-party testing. It is produced using a pure organic alcohol process, never hexane, in three stages: steam distillation, biomass drying and grinding, and ethanol concentration.
Valerie Burke, MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)
Geologist & Founder of Shungite Queen
What Is Boswellic Extract — What Makes This One Special?
An innovative company has developed a method of creating an absolute boswellic acid (BA) extract from frankincense resin using a completely pure, organic process. The result is a premium powder that can be added to oils and creams for topical application, and pure enough for encapsulation into an oral supplement.
But wait - a few commercial supplement companies have been doing this for years. Why is this one different?
🍁 Source Material
The company that developed this process, based in The Netherlands, is using only premium Grade 1 Boswellia carterii resin from Somalia, not the more widely available Boswellia serrata. Boswellia carterii has been found to be higher in boswellic acids than the more common Boswellia serrata.
🍁 Methodology
This boswellia extract is made using an organic alcohol solvent, as opposed to hexane, a petrochemical solvent commonly used in the supplement industry. The finished extract is dried and tested to confirm no solvent residue.
🍁 Testing
Every batch is tested for strength and purity. The premium extract consistently hits a minimum of 70 percent boswellic acids content, including the highly sought-after AKBA (3-acetyl-11-keto-beta Boswellic acids) - those biologically active pentacyclic triterpene molecules that you desire.
View Certificate of Analysis →
🍁 Sustainability
This company is committed to sustainability in its sourcing and use of the resin. They use frankincense resin to its fullest potential - all parts of it - as explained below. Many essential oil companies discard the boswellia biomass after distillation, which amounts to the wasting of a precious resource in limited supply.
How Is Boswellic Extract Made?
Step 1: Essential Oil & Hydrosol
First, the resin is distilled into frankincense essential oil and hydrosol. The resin (biomass) that is "left behind" is used to make the two extracts, as described in steps 2 and 3.
Step 2: The "Raw" Extract, 35% Boswellic Acids
The resin (biomass) is rich in boswellic acids, so a perfect source material for BA extract. Boswellic acids are compounds too large to pass through in distillation so are left behind.
The biomass is dried to remove all water - a process that can take several weeks. Once completely dry, it is ground into a powder with a special mesh grinding machine. This results in a "raw" BA extract powder containing 35% boswellic acids. This can be used as it is, or further refined into a more concentrated extract as described in Step 3. This 35% extract is what I use to make my Frankincense Oil, "Gentle" variety.
Step 3: The Premium Extract, 70% Boswellic Acids
Finally, the powder undergoes an additional process in order to become the premium high-potency extract. This requires treatment with an organic ethanol solvent to concentrate the BA.
Once the solvent treatment has been applied, the extraction undergoes another lengthy drying process. Like before, when completely dry it is ground into a powder with the special mesh grinding machine.
The result is an extract that consistently measures at 70% boswellic acids or above, with no solvent residue. All batches of extract are tested for potency and purity.
This 70% BA extract is the active component in my full strength frankincense resin oil and frankincense cream, and the main ingredient in our fabulous oral boswellia supplement.
The extract itself is simply the powder. It can be dissolved in oil for topical products, encapsulated as an oral supplement, or used in any number of other applications.
From Boswellia Carterii resin "tears" → Ground → Raw extract → Premium extract
❓Frequently Asked Questions
What is boswellic extract?
Boswellic extract is a concentrated powder derived from Boswellia resin that is rich in boswellic acids, including the highly active AKBA. It can be used topically in oils and creams, or encapsulated as an oral supplement. This premium extract achieves 70% boswellic acid content, verified by third-party testing.
What makes this boswellic extract different from other supplements?
Most boswellic extracts use Boswellia serrata and are processed with hexane, a petrochemical solvent. This extract uses only Grade 1 Boswellia carterii resin from Somalia and is processed with organic alcohol, with no solvent residue in the finished extract. Every batch is third-party tested for potency and purity.
How is boswellic extract made?
The resin is first steam distilled to produce essential oil and hydrosol. The remaining biomass is dried and ground into a raw 35% boswellic acid powder. This is then treated with organic ethanol to further concentrate the boswellic acids, resulting in a premium 70% extract powder.
Why is organic ethanol used instead of hexane?
Hexane is also the industry standard solvent for extracting resins, but we prefer organic ethanol, a cleaner alternative that leaves no solvent residue in the finished extract.
Why avoid hexane? → CDC overview · Toxic Free Future
What percentage of boswellic acids does this extract contain?
This extract consistently achieves 70% boswellic acids or higher, including AKBA, and is verified by independent third-party testing on every batch.