Myrrh

Balasmodendron myrrha, Commiphora Myrrha, Commiphora molmol

Burseraceae

Habitat: Northeast Africa and Arabia.

Collection: The gum resin is collected from the bushes that secrete it in the arid regions.

Other Names: Myrrh, bola, bol, Balasmodendron

Parts Used: The oleo-gum-resin from the stem

Active Compounds:

• Volatile oil, containing heerabolene, cadinene, elemol, eugenol, cuminaldehyde, numerous furanosesquiterpenes including furanodiene, furanodienone, curzerenone, lindestrene, 2-methoxy furanodiene and other derivatives.
• Resins including a-, b- and g-commiphoric acids, commiphorinic acid, heeraboresene, a-and b-heerabomyrrhols and commiferin.
• Gums, composed of arabinose, galactose, xylose and 4-O- methylglucuronic acid
• Sterols etc.

History:

Myrrh is referred to in the Bible. It was used by Egyptians in embalming mixtures. It was used as an aromatic for perfumes, funerals, and insect repellents. It is used today as an aid to repel tooth decay and gum disease. Ancient Greek and Roman physicians used the herb to treat wounds and prescribed it internally as a digestive aid and menstruation promoter.

Contemporary herbalists recommend adding powdered myrrh to well-washed wounds as an antiseptic and consider a gargle made from the herb effective against sore throat, colds, sore teeth and gums, coughs, asthma, and chest congestion.

Remedies For:

Anti-microbial, astringent, carminative, anti-catarrhal, expectorant, vulnerary, alterative, analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, rejuvenative

Myrrh is an effective anti-microbial agent that has been shown to work in two complementary ways. Primarily it stimulates the production of white blood corpuscles (with their anti-pathogenic actions) and secondarily it has a direct anti-microbial effect.

Myrrh may be used in a wide range of conditions where an anti-microbial agent is needed. It finds specific use in the treatment of infections in the mouth such as mouth ulcers, gingivitis, phyorrhoea, as well as the catarrhal problems of pharyngitis and sinusitis. It may also help with laryngitis and respiratory complaints.

Systemically it is of value in the treatment of boils and similar conditions as well as glandular fever and brucellosis. It is often used as part of an approach to the treatment of the common cold. Externally it will be healing and antiseptic for wounds and abrasions.

Myrrh is a common ingredient in European toothpaste to fight the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Myrrh may help prevent heart disease. Preliminary Indian studies suggest that it reduces cholesterol. The herb may also help prevent the internal blood clots that trigger heart attack.

Ayurvedic practitioners suggest that myrrh is useful for: Amenorrhea, anemia, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, cough, dysmenorrhea, menopause, rheumatism, traumatic injuries, ulcerated surfaces, as an infusion with rose petals (50 parts) used as a mouthwash, mouth inflammations, as a gargle for spongy gums, used in tooth powder, indigestion, wasting diseases, prevents loss of hair, menstrual disorders, and chlorosis problems of young girls.

Description:

Indigenous to North-East Africa, collected in Southern Arabia and Iran.
Myrrh is a large shrub or small tree that grows in the Middle East and Ethiopia and Somalia. A pale yellow oil drips from the cuts in its dull gray bark and hardens to form teardrop-shaped nuggets of myrrh, which are powdered for use as a healing herb.

Dosage:

Infusion: as the resin only dissolves in water with difficulty, it should be powdered well to make an infusion. Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the powder and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.

Tincture: as the resin dissolves much more easily in alcohol, the tincture is preferable and easily obtainable. Take 1-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Combinations : It will combine well with Echinacea for infections and as a mouth wash for ulcers and similar problems. For external use it should be combined with distilled Witch Hazel.

Safety:

Ayurvedic science suggests that myrrh can create excess pitta. Do not use if you are pregnant. Large amounts may have violent laxative action and could cause the other symptoms such as seating, nausea, vomiting, and accelerated heartbeat.

Myrrh is included in the FDA's list of safe herbs.

If gum bleeding or tooth or gum pain persists longer than two weeks, consult a dentist.

If you experience any side reactions after taking this herb, contact your doctor immediately.

Actions: Anti-microbial, astringent, carminative, anti-catarrhal, expectorant, vulnerary.

Indications: Myrrh is an effective anti-microbial agent that has been shown to work in two complementary ways. Primarily it stimulates the production of white blood corpuscles (with their anti-pathogenic actions) and secondarily it has a direct anti-microbial effect. Myrrh may be used in a wide range of conditions where an anti-microbial agent is needed. It finds specific use in the treatment of infections in the mouth such as mouth ulcers, gingivitis, phyorrhoea, as well as the catarrhal problems of pharyngitis and sinusitis. It may also help with laryngitis and respiratory complaints. Systemically it is of value in the treatment of boils and similar conditions as well as glandular fever and brucellosis. It is often used as part of an approach to the treatment of the common cold. Externally it will be healing and antiseptic for wounds and abrasions.

Ellingwood describes it thus: "This agent has always been highly esteemed as a stimulant, although its influence is more of a local than a general character. It exercises the characteristic influence of most of the stimulants upon the excretions and secretions, acting as a diaphoretic, expectorant, sialagogue, and to a certain extent emmenagogue. It was once popular in the compound tincture of capsicum and myrrh. As a most active general stimulant in ulcerative, engorged, flabby and a tonic conditions of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat this agent acts promptly. It stimulates the capillary circulation, restores tone and normal secretion and causes the healing of ulcerations. It is useful in sore mouths of all kinds, and especially in syphilitic sore mouth and sore throat. It may be combined with other washes or gargles or it will act promptly alone. It will quickly cure the beginning of syphilitic ulcerations in the throat and mouth. In the spongy gums and aphthous sore mouth of children, in stomatitis materni if combined with an alterative and tonic astringent it will assist in the cure of the very worst cases without taking the child from the breast.

An infusion made of white oak bark, yellow dock root and myrrh, to which may be added a mild antiseptic, as baptisia, echinacea, or boric acid, will cure the most intractable cases of this latter named disease. Myrrh is excellent in the sore mouth and extreme ulceration of mercurial ptyalism. In its influence upon the digestive apparatus Myrrh is direct in its action. It quickly increases the power of the digestive function, stimulating the peptic glands to extreme action. It increases the appetite and promotes the absorption and assimilation of nutrition. It is given in a tonic dyspepsia in the absence of inflammatory action, especially if there is excessive mucous discharge from the bowels. It is exceedingly useful in the apepsia and extreme inactivity of the stomach in alcoholics, either alone or combined with capsicum. While it is expectorant and stimulates the secretion from the mucous membranes when inactive, it influences to a satisfactory extent the restoration of the functions of those membranes when the secretion is excessive, as in catarrhal conditions. In deficient or excessive action it restores the normal conditions.

Combinations: It will combine well with Echinacea for infections and as a mouth wash for ulcers and similar problems. For external use it should be combined with distilled Witch Hazel.

Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: as the resin only dissolves in water with difficulty, it should be powdered well to make an infusion. Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the powder and leave to infuse for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.

Tincture: as the resin dissolves much more easily in alcohol, the tincture is preferable and easily obtainable. Take 1-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.