Myrrh - Commiphora Myrrha
- Dec 19, 2024
- 24 min read
“Gold, as to a king; Myrrh, as to one who was mortal; And Incense, as to a God.”
-Origen of Alexandria (185-254 A.D.)
As I feel the winter chill, as I see the beautiful Christmas lights and manger scenes throughout my town, and as I see the hustle and bustle of friends and family looking for the perfect gift for their loved ones, I can’t help but reminisce the on the story in the Christian Bible of Christmas which is a central part of the Christian tradition and the manager where the baby Jesus was born. Myrrh was one of the gifts given by the Magi to Jesus along with gold and frankincense.
In Christianity, the Magi are also known as the Three Wise Men. There are many legends and traditions regarding the Magi but the Christian Bible gives three clues as to who the Magi were. Matthew 2:1 states they were “from the East”. Matthew 2:2 states that they came to pay homage to a newborn king after identifying and following a star that led them to the new king, and Matthew 2:11 describes the gifts that they brought to Jesus of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Although tradition believes there were three Magi, nowhere in the biblical text does it state the number of Magi who came, nor does it state that they came from a great distance. They are known to be distinguished foreigners who gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in homage to Jesus.
When we look at the symbolism of the gifts, myrrh was chosen to represent Jesus’ death and burial. It was also symbolic of his suffering but it was also one of the richest of gifts that could be offered to a newborn king. According to Dwight Longenecker in his 2023 article in The Imaginative Conservative, “the wise men were magi from the court of the Nabatean king Aretas IV.”
My personal experience with myrrh has been extremely limited to my long-time use of the liniment recipe that I learned from one of my first herbal books, Back to Eden (1939) by the American herbalist Dr. Jethro Kloss, and my use of myrrh essential oils. I have only used myrrh externally, so my experience with it is quite limited. Because of this, I feel unable to fully express my personal insights about the herb, though I have observed remarkable effectiveness in the ways I have used it
Although I have used both the liniment and essential oil throughout my professional careers as an herbalist, and a holistic registered nurse herbalist, the extensive evidenced-based clinical research that I have uncovered while preparing this monograph, shows the vast and diverse uses of Commiphora myrrha, currently and throughout the centuries, enlightens me to the possibility of what I might be missing. As a result, I plan to utilize C. myrrha personally and with my clients and hope to gain more experience and knowledge about this important herb used medicinally throughout the centuries.
One of the simple and easy formulas that I use containing Myrrh essential oil is as a moisturizing balm for the body that I found and have included it below:
Ingredients: Servings: 3 small lotion sticks. Time: 10 minutes
1/2 Tbsp. (6 g) Coconut Oil
2 tsp. (9 g) Shea Butter
1 Tbsp. (5 g) Beeswax
3 drops Vitamin E Oil
5–8 drops essential oil (2 drops myrrh, 1 drop patchouli, and 5 drops lavender)
3 Small Deodorant Containers
Instructions:
Melt the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a double boiler over low heat. Note: you can create a double boiler by placing the oils and beeswax in a heat-proof glass dish, then place the dish in a pan filled with an inch of water.
Once completely melted, remove from heat and allow cooling for a few minutes.
Stir in vitamin E oil and essential oils.
Transfer liquid to deodorant containers, and allow to cool completely.
If you want a larger lotion stick, just double the recipe and put it in a full-sized deodorant container.
To use, twist up and rub on the skin as needed. Do not use internally.
Cleaning Note: the easiest way to clean up is to wipe as much of the oil/beeswax as possible off all dishes with paper towels before washing with hot, soapy water. Feel free to rub the leftover lotion on your skin before cleaning up!
Herb Name: Myrrh – Commiphora myrrha
Genus: Commiphora (literally means “gum-bearing”)
Species: contains approximately 190 to 200 species of trees and shrubs throughout the world including the Eastern Mediterranean, South America, India, Arabia, and Africa.
Latin: Commiphora myrrha; Commiphora molmol
Family: Burseraceae
Common Name: African Myrrh, Arabian Myrrh, Bol, Bola, Didin, Guggul, Guggal Gum, Guggal Resin, Mukul, Myrrh, Myrrh Tree
TCM Name: Mo Yao
Ayurvedic Name: Guggul; vola; samudraguggul
Energetics: warming, drying, stimulating, astringent
According to Rosalee de la Forȇt, Myrrh is a bitter aromatic with warming and drying tendencies. It also moves circulation, dispelling stagnation.
According to Holmes, P. (2006) in the book “The Energetic's of Western Herbs: a Materia Medica, integrating Western & Chinese Herbal Therapeutics”, Holmes discusses the triad of constituents in myrrh consisting of gum, resin, and volatile oils and notes that “the various herbal actions will differ according to the means of preparation or extraction. A further complication of myrrh is that the substance is also considered to be somewhat dual in its energetics: warming (systemically) and cooling (locally)”.
Properties:
Analgesic
Anti-catarrhal
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antiparasitic
Aromatic for essential oils
Astringent
Blood mover
Carminative
Diaphoretic
Expectorant
Promotion of leukocytosis
Vulnerary
Taste: bitter and pungent
Aroma: sweet and pleasing aroma
Parts Used: Gum resin
Degree of Action: 3rd degree (medicinal)
Tissue state: Depression, relaxation
Key uses:
Amenorrhea, arthritis, bruises, bronchial infections, gum diseases, skin/wound healing, sore throat.
Lungs: Expectorant, especially when there is an excess of thick mucus (anti-catarrhal)
Throat: An excellent remedy for throat and mouth inflammations and ulcers.
Skin—cooling on the skin
Cosmetic: myrrh is considered anti-aging. It had been used in embalming. It is good for mature skin, helping to preserve a youthful complexion.
Skin healing: Promotes wound healing, reduces inflammation, and is healing for dry, cracked, or chapped skin.
Emotions—seductive qualities, spiritual awareness, the spirit of reality to face denial, calm fears, face future uncertainties, cools heated emotions. Myrrh is said to magnify emotional strength and courage.
Botany & Ecology; Plant identification characters:
Botanical Description: Commiphora myrrha is a deciduous, short, shrubby, thorny tree that grows in a very select environment in sub-tropical regions and desert climates throughout the world. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa but is found in parts of the Mediterranean area and throughout the Middle East. It is difficult to cultivate outside of these regions. Myrrha usually grows 6 to 9 feet but has been known to grow as high as 16 feet in height. It has the ability to grow at high altitudes of between 820 to 4,270 feet (250 to 1,300 m) with few trefoil leases about ½ to 1 inch in length. The tree can be leafless until the rainy season then bare leaves. The bark is papery quality and peels easily. The tree produces fragrant resin (bdellium) obtained from the sap. A yellow-white sap is produced by cutting the bark but will harden quickly into a solid resin. Myrrh flowers grow on stalks, are yellowish-red in color, and hang elongated, in branching clusters. Myrrh produces small brown, oval fruits that taper to a point.
History, Herblore & Tradition:
Myrrh has been used since ancient times and although it is native to the Middle East and Africa, it has been used in the Greek, Persian, Chinese, and Ayurvedic medicinal traditions. It was highly prized and extremely costly. For thousands of years, it has been revered and regarded as a gift for Kings, and a treasure from the East. It has been used as perfumes, holy ointments, incense, medicinally, and for embalming. Myrrh has a long history of use and is associated with wealth, beauty, and healing qualities. It is also associated with the mystical and mysterious.
The name “Myrrh” is considered to be Semitic in origin and taken from its botanical name myrrha, which means “bitter, or bitterness”. During the era of Thutmose III, the great Egyptian pharaoh of the fiftieth century (1493 BCE), Queen Hatshepsut, the aunt of Thutmose III, hearing that the Land of Punt in Africa had abundant myrrh trees, sent out an expedition to the land to retrieve many myrrh trees and bring them back to Egypt. She wanted to plant an abundance of living myrrh trees around the Temple of Amon to please the god. The god Amon was so pleased at her expedition and the gifts of Myrrh, that he rewarded her greatly with life and satisfaction forever. The legend of the Temple and the Myrrh trees is depicted on the walls of Queen Hatshepsut’s tomb. The Punt expedition inscriptions on her tomb give us the first surviving historical recording of a successful transplantation of botanicals from a foreign country.
In the Roman era, the well-known naturalist and philosopher Pliny the Elder (23 -79 AD), distinguished between cultivated types of myrrh and wild types; writing at length about harvesting the plant. Herodotus (c. 484–c. 425 BCE), in volume II chapter 86 of his book Histories, described the art of embalming with myrrh, as follows; “next they make a cut along the flank with a sharp Ethiopian stone, and take out the whole contents of the abdomen, which they then cleanse, washing it thoroughly with palm wine, and again frequently with an infusion of pounded aromatics. After this, they fill the cavity with the purest bruised myrrh, with cassia, and every other sort of spicery except frankincense, and sew up the opening. After the expiration of that space of time, which must not be exceeded, the body is washed, and wrapped round, from head to foot, with bandages of fine linen cloth, smeared over with gum,..” Here it is believed that in the Egyptian embalming procedure, they would fill the abdominal cavity was filled with myrrh and the “gum” used externally on the bandages was myrrh resin. (Herodotus, 1902), writes that myrrh was very expensive and only reserved for special people on special occasions. He also mentions that myrrh was used to dress wounds.
14th century BCE, when Queen Nefertiti married Pharaoh Akhenaten the couple received two stone boxes: one containing myrrh resin and the other myrrh oil. Myrrh was mentioned many times in The Ebers Papyrus. The Ebers Papyrus was an Egyptian medical papyrus of herbal knowledge dating back to 1550 BC and provides evidence of Egyptian medicinal use of myrrh. It is one of the oldest surviving medical herbal texts. It documents myrrh’s use for wound healing plasters. It is believed to have been found in Thebes outside of the necropolis, and documents as many as 800 medicinal remedies utilizing myrrh as well as other medicinal plants such as aloe, juniper, peppermint, and many other commonly used herbs that are still used today. Archeological evidence indicates that the Egyptians were known to use myrrh to repel fleas and mosquitoes by burning pellets of resin and that myrrh was carried by the wealthy in small pouches around their necks as fragrance.
The Syrians write of a legend about the myrrh tree. The daughter of the King of Syria, Thesis, was displeased with his daughter for her refusal to worship Aphrodite, the god of love. Her father, enraged by her behavior, threatened to execute her. The gods transformed her into the Myrrh tree to protect her from her father’s wrath. Her tears can be seen in the teardrops of the resin of the tree. Hippocrates recommended the use of myrrh to treat mouth sores and eventually myrrh was used as a mouthwash, for mouth ulcers, to treat bleeding gums, and for sore throats.
Myrrh is mentioned multiple times in the bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. In Genesis 37:25, Joseph is sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites, by his jealous brothers. The scripture notes that the Ishmaelites were traveling in a caravan with products of commerce with their camels carrying gum balm and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. Psalms 45:8 describes garments that “smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia”, and in Song of Solomon 5:5 we read that Solomon’s beloved had hands that “dripped with myrrh”, and “fingers with flowing myrrh”.
In the New Testament scriptures, myrrh was a component of the bitter solution offered to the crucified Jesus during Roman times. The herb was traditionally mixed with wine and offered to prisoners to ease pain prior to execution. One of the best-known biblical stories about myrrh was recorded in Matthew 2:11 regarding the birth of Jesus when the Magi visited the Christ-child bearing costly gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
In 600 AD in China, myrrh was recorded during the Tang Dynasty as a medicinal herb. For damp conditions with Yang deficiency, myrrh is generally prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also used for those with lymphatic constrictions, wounds, painful swellings, arthritic conditions, circulatory problems, and menstrual pain due to blood stagnation. In Ayurvedic Medicine Myrrh is considered a tonic to cleanse the blood. Even today, myrrh is viewed as a valuable treatment and is a part of many Ayurvedic medications, especially for its beneficial effects on the circulatory and nervous systems. It is also used for rheumatic issues. Myrrh oil is said to increase pitta dosha and pacify vata and kapha doshas.
Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th century German herbalist prescribed myrrh powder mixed with Aloe for dental problems and later it was recommended as an expectorant for colds and congestion. In the 19th century in America, the Eclectic physicians had a strong influence on Western Herbalism and frequently used myrrh in remedies as an antiseptic as an external treatment for skin conditions, and internally for asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, and indigestion. It is also for sore throats, dental conditions, and even bad breath.
Traditionally myrrh has been used for all manners of respiratory symptoms. Myrrh is best known today in Western herbalism for its topical application to infections and wounds pertaining especially to dental health. Matthew Wood writes that Arabic practitioners would recommend that their patient “suck on pieces of myrrh resin” for its healing properties in the mouth for any mouth and gum issues. He further promotes myrrh for wound healing and writes about a story regarding a personal experience from Samuel Thomson, the father of Thomsonian medicine from the 19th century.
“While breaking new land in Vermont, he cut a gash clean through his foot with an ax. His father, not knowing what to do, kept the wound open by putting a string through it (do not try this at home), put the boy on a sledge and headed for the nearest doctor, several days away. Dr. Kitteridge was disgusted by the inept wound treatment—the string caused the wound to putrefy and poisoned the blood. ‘Is he going to die?’ asked the ashen father. ‘Of course he is,’ the old doctor retorted sharply. ‘But not from this wound.’ With myrrh powder the gash slowly healed” (Wood, 2008, p. 205).
Matthew Wood also suggests that myrrh, as an astringent stimulant, is one of the best palliative for diabetes mellitus type II because astringent agents “cut down on the secretion of urine through the kidneys and stimulate cell life and therefore bold sugar and insulin uptake” (Wood 2008, page 206)
Thomson developed a remedy he called formula “number six” which was a mixture containing myrrh. It became a well-used remedy in Thomsonian medicine. (Felter, 1898).
In King’s "American Dispensatory", page 1300, it states that “myrrh is a stimulant, especially to the mucus tissues. It also exerts an antiseptic influence used to promote expectoration, as well as menstruation, and as a vermifuge. Internally, the smaller doses promote digestion. Large doses accelerate the pulse, augment the heat of the body, cause gastric heat and burning, great sweating and marked prostration; occasionally it causes nausea, vomiting, and purgation.” It goes on to give specific indications and uses and states “Chronic bronchitis, with profuse secretion of mucus or muco-pus, with difficult expectoration’ membranes lax and pallid, tonsils enlarged and spongy, throat pale and tumid; soreness and sponginess of the gums; reproductive disorders of women, with weight and dragging in the parts, and leucorrhea.”
According to Felter, (1898) a compounded tincture called “Hot Drops” was used for wounds, ulcers, rheumatism, cuts, bruises, and sprains. Hot Drops was a tincture mixture of myrrh and cayenne. American herbalist Dr. Jethro Kloss who wrote “Back to Eden” in 1939, has a liniment and antispasmodic formula useful as a disinfectant, for inflamed muscles, and as a specific for arthritis.
It contains:
1 ounce of Echinacea root powder
1 ounce of goldenseal root powder
1 ounce myrrh gum resin powder
1 part rubbing alcohol
Apply it with a cotton ball to infected area
Repeat as often as needed until infection clears.
Well -known modern herbalist Rosemary Gladstar uses myrrh traditionally in combination with other herbs like goldenseal for colds, flus, lung congestion, and for female reproductive system problems in her Yoni Powder recipe. Yoni is the Sanskrit word for the female reproductive organ. She combines myrrh with Black walnut hull powder, and goldenseal, as well as sage, tea tree, and rosemary oils. Myrrh’s traditional role as a remedy for the digestive system may help ulcers or dysbiosis. Gladstar recommends myrrh for its anti-infective and vulnerary actions as well as for skin conditions including as an antifungal for Tinea Pedis.
David Hoffman suggests that myrrh is a naturally occurring hypolipidemic and for external use, can be combined with white hazel as an astringent. With the history of the use of myrrh in Eastern and Western medicine, we know that has many applications of use and actions but more studies need to be conducted for use in other areas such as cancer and diabetes.
Clinical Use:
According to Matthew Wood, there are specific indications for myrrh: “Myrrh gum is indicated by a pale, flabby, damp tongue. This symptom, with heaviness and indigestion, indicates relaxation of the gastrointestinal tract, with mucus in the stool; relaxation of the respiratory mucosa with phlegm in the lungs; a full congested feeling in the pelvis and clear vaginal discharge, reproductive relaxation, and so forth.”
- Matt Wood, Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants 3
His complete list of indications for Myrrh as quoted below from his book, I felt were important and complete that I thought it was worth listing them below:
Specific indications for Myrrh. (Matthew Wood)
• Constitution, complexion, characteristic symptoms
Endomorphic (kapha) constitutions with relaxation and depression; vascular enfeeblement, poor circulation to extremities, depressed cell life.
Tongue pale, flabby, moist, mucosa pale, flabby, with profuse secretion.
• Respiration
Catarrh of the nasal passages, throat, pharynx, and ears.
Sore throat, tonsillitis, diphtheria.
Free secretion and phlegm in the lungs.
Chronic catarrh, “profound congestion”
Cough
Bronchitis
Asthma
Tuberculosis
• Digestion
Bad breath; gum disease; canker sores; bleeding gums; wounds in the mouth
Atonic dyspepsia; indigestion, gas
Chronic atonic diarrhea, dysentery, colitis
Mucus in stools
Worms (powder in capsules)
Pelvic engorgement, rectal fissure, hemorrhoids
• Kidney and Bladder; mucus in urine
• Female
Vaginitis, yeast infections, leucorrhea, discharge
Menstrual derangements characterized by debility of the muscular fiber, flaccidity of the womb, amenorrhea, uterine tumors, infertility
Parturition: deficient labor helps pass the afterbirth following an exhausting labor
Menopause
Nipples, sore and abraded.
• Muscular and Skeletal
Arthritis
• Skin and External
Eczema
Abrasions
Skin and mucosa rotten, putrid, ulcerated, gangrenous (myrrh dissolved in water or wine)
Leg ulcers
Boils, wounds, pimples, herpes
Externally in tooth powders, mouthwashes, and gargles, and also as a mildly stimulating application to sluggish ulcers.
• Fever
Scarlet Fever
Other:
Adult-onset diabetes
Hypothyroidism (uncertain evidence
Matthew Wood, in his book Earthwise Herbal, Volume 1: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants, pages 205 – 206.
Studies and Supportive Research:
According to David Hoffman, Myrrh has been shown to work as an effective antimicrobial agent in two complementary ways; primarily to stimulate the production of white blood cells, and secondarily as a direct antimicrobial. It has specific use as a treatment for infections of the mouth such as stomatitis, gingivitis, and periodontitis. It is also an excellent remedy for such conditions as laryngitis, pharyngitis, and sinusitis. Externally it is an effective wound healer and has antiseptic properties.
Sloan Kettering reviewed animal studies on Commiphora molmol and found it to protect against gastric mucosal damage caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ethanol. Myrrh may be effective in treating trichomoniasis vaginalis in affected women according to another small study.
Myrrh is used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, asthma, bronchial conditions, and stomach illnesses, but several recent in vitro mice studies indicate that myrrh has cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-trichomonas, and antipyretic effects based on its constituents that have been shown to inhibit certain cancers. A remedy for cancer is an exciting new category of use for myrrh outside of the traditional uses, and warrants more research to be conducted on the effects of myrrh in this promising area of treatment.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discusses the mechanism of action of Myrrh on their website. They found that C. molmol is thought to have properties that are free radical scavenging, prostaglandin inducing and thyroid stimulating. They state “These effects are caused by increases in mucus production, and nucleic acid and non-protein sulfhydryl concentrations”.
A study done in vitro, by Mazzio and Soliman, found that “myrrh gum had tumorcidal effects against a malignant murine neuroblastoma cell line”.
al Harbi MM, et al. “Anticarcinogenic effect of Commiphora molmol on solid tumors induced by Ehrlich carcinoma cells in mice”, Chemotherapy 1994; 40:337-47; states that Commiphora molmol inhibits the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma cells in mice and appears to be as effective as cyclophosphamide in solid tumor-bearing mice. Qureshi S, et al, in their study to evaluate the genotoxic, cytotoxic, and antitumor properties of myrrh on normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing Swiss albino mice, found that the sodium (Na), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) levels in cancer cells were reduced by myrrh leading to cellular proliferation inhibition and tumor growth. The anti-proliferative activity in human prostate cancer cells is thought to occur through androgen receptor signaling inhibition and is thought to be from myrrh’s constituents of sesquiterpenoids ST1 and ST2.
A study conducted by Yingli Chen, et al., published in the 2013 October 6th edition of Oncology Letters was designed with the aim to investigate the composition and potential anticancer activates of essential oils. They studied two plant species, myrrh and frankincense by hydrodistillation. “They looked at the two essential oils, independently and as a mixture, on five tumor cell lines and found that MCF-7 and HS-1 cell lines showed increased sensitivity to the myrrh and frankincense essential oils compared to the remaining cell lines. They also discovered the anticancer effects of myrrh were markedly greater compared to those of frankincense. Results indicated that apoptosis may be a major contributor to the biological efficacy of MCF=7 cells.”
One of my favorite scientific herbal discoveries concerning myrrh and many other herbs we still use today comes from archaeologists in Scotland. Archaeologist in 1993, found ruins of an old medieval Scottish hospital north of York run by Augustinian monks of Soutra. The monks of Soutra ran the hospital and chose Soutra because it once stood on the main highway from England to Edinburgh. The Archaeologists did a scientific analysis of 800-year--old medical waste and found traces of myrrh dating back to 1300 and 1320 during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Clues are emerging from the scientific analysis of what is effectively 800-year-old medical waste. Dr. Brian Moffat, led the investigation of the site for nearly 10 years where a total of 230 plant species with medical applications were found, including herbs and spices imported from abroad, “such as pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, frankincense and myrrh. Pollen analysis shows that opium poppy, flax and hemp (cannabis), were all cultivated on the site”. Dr. Moffat’s most exciting discovery “found from the analysis of the medical waste at Soutra were clumps of 574 seeds believed to represent a single herbal preparation”.
In conclusion, myrrh has been used medicinally for centuries as a remedy for a multitude of illnesses. There has been documentation on traditional uses of myrrh from all over the world dating back to the Egyptian empire BCE. Today we are discovering and scientifically proving possible new methods of use for myrrh. There are several initial studies conducted on myrrh indicate that many of the constituents of myrrh have been shown to inhibit certain types of cancers and cancer cell lines. These studies were all conducted on animals; human studies and data are lacking; however, animal studies show a possible promising future for the treatment of some cancers with myrrh as a part of the clinical approach.
Key Chemical Constituents:
Gum: (30-60%), water soluble, acidic polysaccharides, (aluminum, bromine, calcium, chlorine, chromium, phosphorus, scandium) and beta selinene, curzerene, germacrene B, isocericenine, limonene, myrcenol, spathulenol (Ahamad et al., 2017).
Resin (25-40%), alcohol soluble, average is 20% - Commiphoric acids
Volatile oils (1.5-17%), including heerabolene, eugenol, and many furanosesquiterpenes.
Warnings & Contraindications:
British myrrh has no cautions listed. Myrrh is widely considered a mild herb with minimal toxicity.
Do not use myrrh during pregnancy as it is a uterine stimulant and emmenagogue. Myrrh as a uterine stimulant is contraindicated in pregnancy. Myrrh may worsen uterine bleeding, fever, and inflammation. It is also contraindicated in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) during heavy uterine bleeding (Bone & Mills, 2013). Avoid myrrh if nursing.
Undiluted tincture of myrrh rinsed in the mouth may cause burning and irritation to the soft palate.
Do not take if you have sensitive skin: Topical myrrh products may cause irritation. Myrrh may cause contact dermatitis (rare). Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.
Myrrh, in some people, may also induce contact allergic reactions and allergic responses to oral administration. Indeed, there may be a temporary burning sensation. Based on the tincture dilution, it is advised that myrrh should not be ingested for more than a few weeks at a time due to this allergic potential (Bone & Mills, 2013).
Do not take if you are taking warfarin: Myrrh may reduce the therapeutic effects of warfarin. Sloan Kettering reports “Aqueous extracts of myrrh may induce hepatic microsomal enzymes, causing a more rapid metabolism of warfarin.” Myrrh may interact with anti-coagulant treatments; one case of interaction with Warfarin was reported in Saudi Arabia in 2005 (Bone & Mills, 2013).
May cause digestive upset in sensitive individuals or in high dosages.
The herbalist Michael Tierra precautions that myrrh should not be used over a long period of time and may cause kidney damage because it is not easy for the body to eliminate resins.
Interactions and Side Effects:
According to David Hoffman in his book “Medical Herbalism, The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine”, David warns that a tincture, undiluted, will give rise to transient sensations of burning and irritation of the soft palate of the month.
He also warns that in theory, because Myrrh has shown hypoglycemic activity in animal studies and may have hypoglycemic properties in humans and thus interfere with diabetic medications. The possible interaction with diabetic medication since it has documented proven hypoglycemic effects
Dosages & Preparations& Administration:
It is important to note that myrrh can have various herbal actions depending on the manner of extraction and preparation. I have included several different sources of recommendations on the adult dose according to preparation.
Adult Dose:
Dose: PDR for Herbal Medicines
Tincture: Daily dose 2 to 3 times a day with an undiluted tincture (1:5).
Rinse: 5 to 10 drops in an 8oz glass of water.
Dental powder: 10% of powdered resin
Dose: David Hoffman, FNIMH, RH, AHG
A tincture is preferred since resins dissolve much easier in alcohol than in water and should be powered well for an infusion.
Tincture: 1:1 in 90% ETOH - 1 to 4 ml TID
Infusion: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of Myrrh powder and infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink 3 times per day (TID).
Dose: recommendations according to Matthew Wood
Tincture of myrrh: 1- 10 drops, internally or as a gargle.
Use as a powder, or externally in water, alcohol, or oil.
Dose: Commission E recommended dose
As a rinse: Add 5 to 10 drops of a tincture to a glass of water, and gargle.
Dental powders: Powder should contain no more than 10% powdered myrrh resin. 0.5-1.5 grams per day up to 10 grams/day.
External use: Dab the skin with undiluted tincture 2 to 3 times per day.
Dose: A compendium of the Pharmacopoeias and Formularies; Charles John Samuel Thompson, page 58
“Tinctura Myrrhae – Myrrh, in coarse powder, 200 gm; alcohol (90%), sufficient to produce 1,000mils. Place the myrrh with 800 mils of the alcohol in a closed vessel for seven days, shaking occasionally; filter; pass alcohol through to produce the required volume.”
Other Dose recommendations and uses:
Essential Oil: 2-3 drops in gel cap and olive oil (essential oil is made from the sap via steam distillation).
Tincture: 0.5-1.5 ml; 1.5-4.5 ml/day or 5-15 drops TID.
Powder: 1-15 grains over a limited period of time
Chest plasters and oils for bronchitis and colds.
Ointments, balms, salves, oils, etc.
Supportive Research:
References, Citations, and Scientific Research
Al Faraj S. “Antagonism of the anticoagulant effect of warfarin caused by the use of Commiphora molmol as a herbal medication: a case report”. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2005 Mar; 99(2):219-20. PMID: 15814041 DOI: 10.1179/136485905X17434
Ahamad, S. R. et al. (2017). Analysis of inorganic and organic constituents of myrrh resin by GC-MS and ICP-MS: an emphasis on medicinal assets [Abstract]. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 25(5), 788-794. Retrieved on 14 October 2017 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2872515
Ahmad A, Raish M, Ganaie MA, Ahmad SR, Mohsin K, Al-Jenoobi FI, Al-Mohizea AM, Alkharfy KM. “Hepatoprotective effect of Commiphora myrrha against d-GalN/LPS-induced hepatic injury in a rat model through attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and related genes”. Pharm Biol. 2015; 53(12):1759-67. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1005754. Epub 2015 Apr 13. PMID: 25864920 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1005754
Ahmed F, Ali M, Singh O. New compounds from Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. Pharmazie. 2006 Aug;61(8):728-31. PMID: 16964720
Al-Jaroudi D, Kaddour O, Al-Amin N. Risks of Myrrh usage in pregnancy. JBRA Assisted Reproduction. 2016; 20(4):257-258. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20160050.
Al Awadi FM, Gumaa KA. “Studies on the activity of individual plants of an anti-diabetic plant mixture”. Acta Diabetol Lat. 1987; 24:37–41. PMID: 3618079
Al Awadi FM,et al. On the mechanism of the hypoglycemic effect of plant extract. Diabetologia 1985; 28:432-4
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