Myrrh Tree: Health Benefits, Medicinal Uses, Side Effects

Myrrh is native to (North) East Africa to Arabia, primarily the plant originates from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen and Abyssinia. The drug is also imported from these countries.

Myrrh in herbal medicine

In herbal medicine, the gum resin of myrrh is used. This exudes from the bark either spontaneously or after injury, and then hardens in the air. While scoring the bark causes the resin to come out more quickly, it also reduces its quality.

Myrrh: characteristics of the plant

Not all Commiphora species are suitable for the extraction of myrrh. Suitable are the shrubs up to 3 m high and small trees with large, sharp thorns and hairless, toothed leaves. The leaves are usually three-toothed and alternate.

Furthermore, the plant bears pink and yellow flowers arranged in terminal panicles and about 12 mm long, beaked fruits.

Myrrh resin as a medicine

The dried myrrh presents itself in the form of irregularly rounded grains and lumps of various sizes. The color of the lumps varies from dark to blackish brown to dark orange to yellow and colorless.

Odor and taste of myrrh

Myrrh exudes a tart, aromatic odor. The resin tastes bitter and scratchy and sticks to the teeth when chewed.