Description:
Commiphora myrrha is thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora is native to Oman, Yemen, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia. The gum resin is also produced in these countries as well as in other countries like Central African, Kenya, Chad Republic, Cameroon, Uganda, and Sudan. The trees growing in exposed and arid or semi-arid regions with poor organic soil composition.

Myrrh is derived from the Arabic word “murr”, which means “bitter”, reflecting its bitter and astringent character. Myrrh is a small, shrubby tree with thorny, knotted branches with scant leaves and small white flowers. Myrrh is a natural exudate or gum resin collected from Commiphora myrrha trees.

There are three trees namely Frankincense(Boswellia), Commiphora myrrha, and Commiphora wightii (Guggul) which produces gummy sap that oozes out from these trees when their bark is cut.

Myrrh is harvested by repeatedly wounding the trees to bleed the gum, which is waxy and coagulates quickly. The leaking resin is hardened and scraped off the trunk, then essential oil extracted from this dried gum resin. The essential oil is liquid when freshly distilled but transformed into a thick, sticky liquid when exposed to air.

Myrrh essential oil obtained by steam distillation of gum resin yield from 6 to 8%. Essential oil is used in a variety of products like mouthwashes, syrups, sweets, skin creams, lip balms, bath salts, toothpaste, shampoos, and soaps.

Odor profile:
Balsamic, smoky, herbaceous, and woody

Major Constituents:
Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, lindestrene, dehydroaromadendrane, curzerene, germacrone, caryophyllene, alloaromadendrene, elemol, caryophyllene alcohol, caryophyllene oxide, furanodiene.

Application:
~ Myrrh Oil is used in electric diffusers which will support the respiratory system by soothing, cough, and cold symptoms.
~ It is used in medicinal applications as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory.
~ The oil kills harmful bacteria, support oral health, combats pain and swelling.
~ Applying Myrrh oil on cuts, boils, wounds, athlete’s foot, chapped skin, hemorrhoids, bedsores, eczema, ringworm, and skin ulcers can help heal such skin problems and protect them from infections.

Aromatherapy:
Used in aromatherapy applications, the myrrh oil is known to reduce tension and anxiety, which in turn supports emotional and physical well-being.