Commiphora myrrha Engi. (Burseraceae), Commiphora molmol Engl. Myrrh is also obtained from at least two or three more distinct plants with a confusing variety of names. Commonly called Myrrh, Commiphora resin, Heerabo... *
Has a little bit of an after-taste "The tea has a strong odor which puts you off initially when drinking it. I think it would taste a little better with honey and maybe in an iced tea. It really settled my stomach issues. Asisted in providing a sense of well-being." -- wooddrgn64 (D.D.)
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Name
Commiphora myrrha Engi. (Burseraceae), Commiphora molmol Engl. Myrrh is also obtained from at least two or three more distinct plants with a confusing variety of names. Commonly called Myrrh, Commiphora resin, Heerabol Myrrh or Somalian Myrrh. In French, it is Myrrhe; in German, it is Myrrha.
Source
Myrrh is the name applied to the resin extracted from the stems of a related group of small trees or bushes that grow mainly in Somalia. The resin is obtained by cutting the stems and collecting the thick yellow liquid that drains from them. As the liquid dries it hardens into a reddish-brown, somewhat sticky, solid. The resin contains water-soluble gums, alcohol-soluble resins, and an essential oil. Depending on where the trees are grown, the dried resin may contain anywhere from two to eight percent of a volatile oil. Myrrh comes from the same family (Burseraceae) as the other famous resin, frankincense.
History
Myrrh was, of course, one of the gifts carried by the Three Wise Men to the Christ Child but, in fact, myrrh was used long before the Bible was ever written.
According to Greek mythology, Myrrha, the daughter of the King of Cyprus, took up Aphrodite's challenge, and had a child by her own father. The child was Adonis, the darling of the earth and heavens. Myrrha's father became outraged when he found out how he had been duped. He would have killed Myrrha had she not already been changed into a tree by the other gods who were trying to protect her!
Dioscoriades mentions myrrh in his herbal, and so did Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD). Even before the birth of Christ, wine makers in the Middle East knew that by adding myrrh to wine they could prevent it from being ruined by bacteria. In the 10th Century, Arab and European physicians alike firmly believed that chewing on the resin could prevent travelers from catching the plague (it didn't).
Culpepper's Herbal, written in 1790, recommended applying myrrh to wounds in order to help prevent infection (along with using it to induce labor, kill worms, treat cough, freshen the breath and cure deafness!). Myrrh is still used as a breath freshener today.
Traditional Claims
Expectorant, antispasmodic, disinfectant, astringent, and for treatment of bad breath.
Commission E Recommendations
As a topical treatment of mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.
Proven Effects
Myrrh's ability to relieve pain is explained by the presence of two molecules called sesquiterpene lactones (furanoeudsema-1, 3-diene and curzarene). The results of studies with experimental animals have shown that both of these molecules bind to brain opiate receptors. In other words, they activate some of the same brain circuits that are activated by drugs like morphine and heroin.
In experimental animals, myrrh's ability to relieve pain is completely blocked by giving the narcotic antagonist naloxone (the drug used to treat narcotic overdoses). Of the two lactones, furanoeudesma-1, 3-diene is by far the most potent, but only very small amounts are contained in the resin.
Myrrh also contains another, completely unrelated sesquiterpene lactone called T-cardinol. Laboratory studies have shown that T cardinol relaxes smooth muscle, and shares common mechanisms of action with some drugs that are widely used to treat high blood pressure (calcium blocking agents).
Both the intestines and larger blood vessels have smooth muscle in their walls. If the smooth muscle contained in blood vessels relaxes, the vessel dilates and blood pressure drops. If the smooth muscle in the intestine relaxes, the normal propulsive movement of the intestine ceases. Constipation is the result.
One side effect of most of the calcium blockers used to treat high blood pressure is, in fact, constipation. The fact that T-cardinol has the ability to relax smooth muscle probably explains why Middle Eastern physicians have, for thousands of years, used myrrh resin to treat diarrhea and upset stomach. The practice persists today. Physicians in Somalia still treat severe diarrheal disease with four to six grams of crushed resin in a liter of water. Unfortunately, neither the analgesic effects, nor the antidiarrheal effects, have ever been evaluated in a real clinical trial.
Dosage
Commission E recommends a myrrh tincture, applied undiluted, three times a day to the irritated skin. It can also be used as a rinse or gargle; 5-10 drops of the tincture in a glass of water, as needed. The Commission also recommends dental powders containing not more than 10% of the resin.
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Directions
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
Cautions
Concerns
Contact dermatitis can be a problem, especially for those exposed to myrrh on a regular basis. In Hong Kong, dermatitis is almost an occupational disease for traditional healers, especially those who specialize in setting broken bones ("bonesetter's herb dermatitis"). Skin disease in these herbalists has been traced to the practice of rubbing a secret blend of herbs on the skin overlying broken bone. They do so because they believe it speeds the healing process. The secret blend they use is composed of a mixture of different herbs, but scientists believe that most of the problem comes from the myrrh that isincluded in the blend. Skin rashes have also been reported after the use of a myrrh-containing solution sold in China (Tieh Ta Yao Gin - it also contains Angelica and Aloe) that is used to treat bruises and muscle aches. Similar skin rashes have been reported in patients who apply myrrh-containing products to healing wounds.
Warnings
There are no reports of any serious medical complications from the use of myrrh.
Drug Testing
None of the components in the resin are likely to be absorbed through the skin, but even if they are, they would be unlikely to result in a false positive workplace drug test.
Additional Information
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
The tea has a strong odor which puts you off initially when drinking it. I think it would taste a little better with honey and maybe in an iced tea. It really settled my stomach issues. Asisted in providing a sense of well-being.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
