PLANTS, THEIR PROPERTIES, YOUR BALANCE.
Botanical photograph: Boswellia neglecta (Boswellia neglecta S.Moore)

BOTANICAL PHOTOGRAPH · BURSERACEAE

THE HERBARIUM · BURSERACEAE

Boswellia neglecta

Boswellia neglecta S.Moore

Source topics

These topics describe what the sources discuss, including unproven claims and risks. They are not therapeutic recommendations.

Documentary entry
  • Historical record: gonorrhoeaReported historical use
  • Historical record: woundsReported historical use
Plant partgum · bark
FormsNo recommended preparation

Documentary entryReported uses only. No preparation or therapeutic use is recommended.

Historical record only. Do not prepare or consume this plant based on this notice.

Identity & origin

BOTANICAL IDENTITY

The right name is the first step.

Boswellia neglecta is documented in Kew’s SEPASAL inventory. This notice identifies the taxon and a selection of attributed historical uses. It does not recommend medicinal use.

Part used
gum · bark
Origin & distribution
See the linked taxonomic record for distribution; the origin of the documented practice is not inferred from the plant’s range.

Also known as: Boswellia neglecta S.Moore, Boswellia elegans Engl., Boswellia holstii Engl., Boswellia campestris Engl., Boswellia hildebrandtii Engl., Boswellia multifoliolata Engl.

The accepted name is reconciled with GBIF; historical source names remain visible as synonyms. Other species and plant parts are not interchangeable. A photograph cannot confirm an identification for consumption.

An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.

Uses & evidence

UNDERSTANDING THE USES

Properties & uses.

Reported historical use

Historical record: gonorrhoea

SEPASAL records an earlier use involving gum under “gonorrhoea” (use group 30730). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.

Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.

Read the source
Reported historical use

Historical record: wounds

SEPASAL records an earlier use involving bark under “wounds” (use group 45132). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.

Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.

Read the source
Reported historical use

Historical record: tonic

SEPASAL records an earlier use involving bark under “tonic” (use group 45131). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.

Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.

Read the source

The traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.

Precautions before use

BEFORE ANY USE

Precautions & contraindications.

This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.

The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.

Contraindications & precautions

  • Historical record only. Do not prepare or consume this plant based on this notice.
  • A complete clinical contraindication assessment is not available in the references used here. Missing information is not evidence of safety.

Medicine interactions

  • Interactions have not been systematically assessed in this historical inventory. Compatibility with medicines cannot be established.

“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.

Adverse effects

  • The historical inventory does not provide a complete adverse-event assessment.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established here. No medicinal use is recommended.

Children & adolescents

No paediatric preparation or dose is validated by this notice. Do not extrapolate historical adult uses to children.

If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.

Sources & last review

CHECKING REFERENCES

Sources for this profile.

  1. SEPASAL, use group 45131 — Maundu, P.M., Ngugi, G.W. and Kabuye, C.H.S. — 1999 — Traditional food plants of KenyaAccessed on 09/10/2026
  2. GBIF — Boswellia neglecta S.MooreAccessed on 09/10/2026

Image: Elliot Kulakow · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.

Looking for personal guidance?View consultations · from $40 USD
WhatsApp Appointments