A study of the clinical efficacy of frankincense in the acute phase of ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and its most important symptoms are paralysis and movement disorders. Therefore, finding a method for treating this disorder is greatly important. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical efficacy of frankincense on the patients with ischemic stroke. In this clinical trial study, 60 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly assigned into two groups of treatment and control (30 patients in each group). In the treatment group, in addition to the routine treatment of stroke, four capsules containing 500 mg of powdered frankincense were used daily, but in the control group, only the treatment of stroke (without frankincense) was implemented. Treatment continued for one month. NIHSS questionnaire (to assess speech and muscle strength) was completed at the baseline, on the seventh day and at the end of treatment for each patient. In this study, statistical analysis was carried out by t- test, chi-square and Mann-Whitney using SPSS software. The results showed that only in the second step in the treatment group, the rate of recovery of the left lower and muscle strength of upper limbs was significantly increased in patients compared to the control group. Introducing frankincense into treatment for stroke patients can contribute in improving muscle strength of the patients with muscle weakness in non-dominant hemisphere in acute phase of neurological disorder, while it has no effect improvement of muscle strength of right limbs or speech.