Commiphora myrrha flower

Use for Calming & Balancing, Combating Pain & Swelling, Anti-aging, Skin Rejuvenation, Wound Treatment, Antibacterial, Skin Cancer Support

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  1. BOTANICAL NAME Commiphora myrrha
  2.  
  3. PARTS USED Gum/Resin
  4. EXTRACTION METHOD Steam distilled
  5. COLOR Ranges from yellow to amber to dark brown
  6. NOTE CLASSIFICATION Base
  7. AROMA Smoky, sweet & spicy
  1. Calm and Balanced Two primary active compounds are found in myrrh, called terpenoids and sesquiterpenes. Sesquiterpenes specifically have an effect on our emotional center in the hypothalamus, helping us remain calm and balanced. Inhaling the sedative scent of Myrrh is known to stabilize emotions, lift negative moods, promote the feeling of being grounded, and encourage the feeling of spiritual awakening.
  2. Combats Pain & Swelling Myrrh oil contains compounds that interact with opioid receptors and tell your brain you’re not in pain. Myrrh also blocks the production of inflammatory chemicals that can lead to swelling and pain.
  3. Anti-Aging, Skin Rejuvenation and Wound Treatment Myrrh is a powerful antioxidant that combats oxidative damage from free radicals that contribute to aging and some diseases. A test-tube study found that myrrh oil was more effective than vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, at fighting free radicals. Myrrh oil also helps elevate white blood cells around skin wounds for faster healing.
  4. Antibacterial Myrrh oil has been used to kill harmful bacteria long before scientists discovered that microbes cause contagious illnesses. It may have an impact on some drug-resistant and Lyme disease bacteria. In test-tube studies, myrrh oil has strong effects against several infectious bacteria, including some drug-resistant ones.
  5. May Help Treat Skin Cancer Myrrh is being studied for its potential anti-cancer benefits. It has been shown to be beneficial against skin cancer cells in laboratory studies. Consider using it in addition to other traditional treatments, if you have been diagnosed with skin cancer. Apply a few drops per day directly onto the cancer site, always testing a small area first.

The History of Myrrh

Myrrh is most commonly known as one of the gifts (along with gold and frankincense) the three wise men brought to Jesus in the New Testament.

Isolated from the dried resin in the bark of either Commiphora myrrha or C. gileadensis, shrubs found in Somalia and throughout the Middle East. Myrrh was historically used in liniments, including in Chinese medicine (called Mo Yao), to treat the symptoms of arthritis and as an antiseptic ointment. The Egyptians used it to embalm mummies.

Because of its versatility and effectiveness, myrrh has been valued across many cultures for centuries. With countless applications, myrrh was used anciently for everything from medicine to religious purposes. A common historical use was to burn the resin over hot coals. This would release a mysterious, spiritual quality into any room before a religious ceremony.

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PRECAUTIONS Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes. If pregnant or lactating, consult your healthcare practitioner before using. If applying an essential oil to your skin always perform a small patch test before using.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES
  1. Al-Hasani, Ream, and Michael R Bruchas. "Molecular mechanisms of opioid receptor-dependent signaling and behavior."  Anesthesiology  vol. 115,6 (2011): 1363-81. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0b013e318238bba6
  2. Alyafei, Najat. "Can Myrrh Combat COVID-19?"  Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine  vol. 2,3 (2020): 223–229. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3830386
  3. Ashry, Khaled M et al. "Oxidative stress and immunotoxic effects of lead and their amelioration with myrrh (Commiphora molmol) emulsion."  Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association  vol. 48,1 (2010): 236-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2009.10.006
  4. Chen, Yingli et al. "Composition and potential anticancer activities of essential oils obtained from myrrh and frankincense."  Oncology letters  vol. 6,4 (2013): 1140-1146. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2013.1520
  5. Dolara, P et al. "Local anaesthetic, antibacterial and antifungal properties of sesquiterpenes from myrrh."  Planta medica  vol. 66,4 (2000): 356-8. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2000-8532
  6. Germano, Antonio et al. "A Pilot Study on Bioactive Constituents and Analgesic Effects of MyrLiq®, a Commiphora myrrha Extract with a High Furanodiene Content."  BioMed research international  vol. 2017 (2017): 3804356. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3804356
  7. Grassmann, Johanna et al. "Plant’s defence and its benefits for animals and medicine: role of phenolics and terpenoids in avoiding oxygen stress."  Plant Physiology and Biochemistry  vol. 40,6–8 (2002): 471-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0981-9428(02)01395-5
  8. Hanus, Lumir O. et al. "Myrrh - Commiphora Chemistry (PDF)."  Biomed Papers  vol. 149,1 (2005): 3–28.
  9. Lee, Kayeon et al. "Anti-biofilm, anti-hemolysis, and anti-virulence activities of black pepper, cananga, myrrh oils, and nerolidol against Staphylococcus aureus."  Applied microbiology and biotechnology  vol. 98,22 (2014): 9447-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5903-4
  10. Racine, P, and B Auffray. "Quenching of singlet molecular oxygen by Commiphora myrrha extracts and menthofuran."  Fitoterapia  vol. 76,3-4 (2005): 316-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2005.03.017
  11. Wanner, Juergen et al. "Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of selected essential oils and some of their main compounds.Natural product communications  vol. 5,9 (2010): 1359-64.