Myrrh
Commiphora Myrrha
The gifts of the three wise men to baby Jesus
were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the Bible, Moses was said to
have used oil containing myrrh to anoint priests. At least 2000
years before the dawn of the Christian era myrrh was prized for its
aromatic, unguent and healing properties.
Myrrh gets its name from Myrrha the daughter of Thesis, king of Syria.
A Syrian and Greek legend says that Myrrha was forced by Aphrodite to
commit incest with her father. To save Myrrh from being killed by her
father the gods transformed her into a myrrh tree. Myrrha's tears are
the gum resin that flows from the tree, these drops have the medicinal
and aromatic properties we look for.
In the Greek culture when
soldiers went to battle is was an essential part of their combat gear
because of myrrh's extremely high antiseptic and
anti-inflammatory
properties. It was used to clean wounds and to prevent infection. It was
also used to prevent the spread of gangrene in already infected parts of
the body.
Myrrh is effective as an antibiotic and disinfectant in that it causes
the body to increase white blood corpuscles up to four fold their
regular number. It is an excellent antiseptic in the mouth for sore
throat, gum sores, toothache pain, denture-irritated gums, canker sores
and pyorrhea. Myrrh is good for bathing all open wounds, sores,
hemorrhoids and abscesses.
Myrrh's antiseptic, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties make it
excellent for uterus and vaginal infections.
Myrrh relieves menstrual pains; it is useful for amenorrhea,
dysmenorrhea, menopause and uterine tumors, as it purges stagnant blood
out of the uterus.
Taken internally, myrrh cleans the colon and brings order to the
digestive system. It is a stimulating tonic that promotes peristalsis,
stimulates gastric secretions and relaxes the smooth muscles. Myrrh
destroys putrefaction in the intestines and prevents blood absorption of
toxins. Myrrh is a blood mover;
it increases circulation, heart rate
and power.
It is used in
aromatherapy
for its healing, purifying and uplifting characteristics. Myrrh oil is
extracted from the trunk, stem and branches by steam distillation. Myrrh
oil blends well with juniper, cypress, lavender, frankincense, and tea
tree and vetiver oil. Some of myrrh oil's healing characteristics are
that it is an antiseptic,
deodorant,
stimulant, and a fungicidal agent and tonic.
Uses:
Antibiotic, Antiseptic, arthritis, Asthma,
boils, breath Freshener, bronchitis, canker Sores, Catarrh, Cavities,
Colds, Colitis, Colon (cleans), Coughs, Cuts, Digestion, Diphtheria,
Emphysema, Gangrene, Gargle, Gums, Halitosis, Healing (general),
Hemorrhoids, Herpes, Hemorrhoids, Indigestion, Infections, Lung Diseases,
Menstruation, Mouth Sores, Nervous Conditions, Nipples (sores), Phlegm
(reduces), Pyorrhea, Rheumatism, Scarlet Fever, Shock, Sinus Problems,
Skin Sores, Sore Throat, Sores (poultice), Stomach (cleans), Thyroid,
Tonsillitis, Toothache, Tuberculosis, Ulcers (leg), Ulcers (leg),
Vaginal Discharge, Wounds, Yeast Infections
Sources:
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 1987
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
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