Name : Myrrh
Method : Essential oil distilled from gum resin.
Note Classification : Base
Scent : Camphorous, resinous, slightly spicy, deep, mysterious
Colour : Deep golden
Species : Commiphora myrrha
Extracted From : Tree resin of a small, Middle Eastern tree. Resinoid is dark brown and has to be thinned with diethyl phthalate for pouring.
Region : North-east Africa, south-west Asia. Somalia, Yemen and Ethiopia.
By-products : Used in many toothpastes and mouth washes due to its antiseptic properties and strong scent. Flavour ingredient in some alcoholic and soft drinks.
Historical : Used in ancient Egypt for rejuvenating face masks. In the Bible, myrrh is one of the gifts brought by the three wise men - the others being gold and frankincense. Frequently burned as incense.
Of Interest : Name is derived from the Arabic word 'murr' meaning 'bitter'.
Aromatherapy Properties :Athelete’s foot, bedsores, chapped and cracked skin, eczema, gangrene, herpes, ringworm, ulcers, wounds, wrinkles.
Asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, gum infections, gingivitis, mouth ulcers, sore throat, voice loss.
Diarrhoea, dyspepsia, flatulence, haemorrhoids, loss of appetite.
Thrush, pruritis. Colds.
Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal. Used to treat wounds and for digestive problems.
Blends Well With : Camphor, lavender and wood oils
Chemical Analysis : heerabolene, limonene, dipentene, pinene, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, cuminaldehyde, cadinene
Safety Data : Avoid if pregnant.
