Description
Myrrh is one of the oldest and most esteemed Etheric Resin aside from the Boswellia tree Resin. It is harvested from the thorn bush of Commiphora Myrrha, which grows in the driest desert areas of north-eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In the old world, it had the same or even higher value than gold, and until this day, together with Boswellia, it is used in the most sacred temple rituals of almost all religions and spiritual beliefs in the world.
The word Myrrh or “Murr” derives from Semitic languages and means bitter. In old Egypt, it had high value. They were using it as an indispensable temple incense, lubricating oil, an antiseptic for the mouth and cut wounds, and to treat arthritis.
Besides natron, it was the main ingredient used in embalming mummies.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said to have exceptional efficacy on the HEART, liver, and spleen meridians and “blood-moving” powers to purge stagnant blood from the uterus. Therefore, it can be used to treat rheumatic, arthritic, and circulatory problems. It is also helpful when treating amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopause, and uterine tumors.
In pharmacy, Myrrh is used as a potent antiseptic in high-quality oral water and toothpaste. It is also used for disinfection of cut wounds, wound healing, healing of some skin diseases, as an analgesic for toothaches, and can be used in liniment for bruises, aches, and sprains.
In medicine, it is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, ulceration, colds, cough, asthma, lung congestion, arthritis, and cancer. As part of a more extensive search for anticancer compounds from plants, the researchers obtained extracts from a Commiphora Myrrha and tested it against a human breast tumor cell line (MCF-7) known to be resistant against anticancer drugs. Research data indicated that the extract killed all of the cancer cells.
