Myrrh is a resin extracted from the stems of the balsam tree family. This resin has been an important component of personal hygiene, pharmaceutical production and culture of various countries and ancient empires for several thousand years. Since the plants needed for this purpose usually grow only in tropical or Mediterranean areas, myrrh is often an important economic factor in countries with suitable vegetation.
Occurrence and cultivation of myrrh
Externally, myrrh is often used for inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa. The resin has an inhibitory effect on inflammation and disinfects the sore areas extensively. The use of myrrh was already an integral part of funeral culture in ancient Egypt over 3000 years ago. The sticky and solid resin was used in embalming and as incense at funeral ceremonies. The great world religions such as Judaism and Christianity also used myrrh from the beginning as an offering for their deceased and as part of cultic anointings. Myrrh was also frequently used as an aphrodisiac, as well as a remedy for many other ailments. In fact, myrrh was so important in the ancient healing arts that the highest prices were paid for this raw material in the ancient Roman Empire. Myrrh, if the harvest was poor, was at times more valuable than gold and even in the ancient world was an important status symbol for rich and wealthy people. Myrrh is taken directly from the living wood of the balsam tree, usually the Commiphora Myrrha. When extracting it is important not to damage the tree, because only with proper care and expert treatment a balsam tree can produce high quality resin for several years. To extract the resin, a notch is carved into the tree and a collection container is placed under it. The resin thus flows directly into the collection container and can be passed on for processing. Since the trees grow mainly in tropical regions, myrrh is now one of the most important economic goods of the Third World. Large cultivation areas can be found in Somalia and other African countries, for example. Advantageous in the production is that the dried resin does not require further processing and can be used directly.
Application and effect
Depending on its use, myrrh has different effects and therefore can be used in many ways. Usually, treatments with myrrh or extracts of it belong to natural medicine. However, due to its versatility and good results, the resin is now more often used in traditional medicine. Its use in medicine can be divided into two sub-areas:
Externally, myrrh is often used for inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa. The resin has an inhibitory effect on inflammation and disinfects the sore areas extensively. In addition, the application promotes the formation of scars. Myrrh also has hemostatic, antispasmodic and sedative effects, which is why it is more often used for intestinal diseases. For internal use, chewed myrrh (very bitter) proves beneficial in bronchitis and intestinal inflammation. Chronic intestinal diseases such as Morbus Chron can be treated with myrrh demonstrably more effectively than with usual products of conventional medicine. Another form of external application can be performed by lighting and smoking myrrh. Here, however, it is important to note that it is better to refrain from using it in the case of colds and bronchitis, as the smoke is very harmful to the pores and respiratory tract. For this, the smoked resin has a demonstrably calming and relaxing effect and exudes a pleasant and soft scent when used in the right dosage. Less is more – if too much is added, the scent quickly turns into an unpleasant and acrid smell. Because of its pleasant smell, myrrh has always found its way into many perfumes and toiletries. Here, the sticky resin is used more as a fixing material. The scent obtained from the oil, on the other hand, is often already found in the top note and is particularly popular in Arab and Far Eastern countries. It is obtained with the help of the process of water distillation. As a basic component, it also serves in many Western perfumes in the upper price segment due to its velvety and soft note.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Myrrh has experienced a real revival within the last few decades.While in the past it was a pleasant-smelling incense, today it is already an important component of many alternative and conventional medical treatments. However, it is quite expensive compared to other domestic medicinal products such as nettle or fennel, because its cultivation and extraction are complicated and costly. Especially the plants from which the resin can be extracted always pose challenges to growers. Although low-maintenance and undemanding, they are always surprisingly sensitive to breeding attempts aimed at increasing yields. However, due to the increased demand in medicine, in the beauty scene and ultimately among private users as a luxury item, it can be assumed that myrrh will continue to be one of the most popular home remedies worldwide in the future.
