| Myrrh or Commiphora myrrha is obtained through | | | | prescriptions and recipes. This is one of those oils used |
| steam distillation of the resin which comes from the | | | | from womb to tomb. Myrrh was used as an |
| trees grown in Somalia and other Middle Eastern | | | | embalming ingredient, was often added to wine to |
| areas. The myrrh tree looks very similar to the | | | | ease pain particularly at the time of death and it was |
| frankincense tree. It grows in arid desert lands and can | | | | given to the condemned on the cross to prolong their |
| reach a height of about 30 feet. It has knotted | | | | agony. |
| branches, aromatic leaves and white flowers. The | | | | Ancient Sun-Screen Secret - To see how myrrh oil is |
| myrrh tree yields reddish brown resin as compared to | | | | a sun-screen secret, we need to look at its chemistry. |
| the pale yellow resin of the frankincense tree. Like the | | | | It is very high in sesquiterpenes making it anti-microbial. |
| frankincense tree, it only puts out leaves if there is | | | | It fights both bacteria and viruses. In its chemistry we |
| moisture in the air. | | | | find there are 20-27% furanoids which are usually |
| In Biblical times there were about 9 different species of | | | | thought of as phototoxic-a real puzzle-the Egyptians |
| myrrh trees, today we would count over 80. It is one | | | | who lived under the hot sun used myrrh oil on their skin |
| of the oldest spiritual oils known to man. Myrrh was | | | | daily without sunburn reactions-in fact they used myrrh |
| used in childbirth to prevent infection and was rubbed | | | | to protect the skin from the sun and as a repellent to |
| on the perineum to aid in stretching to allow for easier | | | | biting insects. It seems to act like a sunscreen |
| childbirth. It was diffused under the bed to promote | | | | protecting the skin from ultraviolet light instead of |
| confidence and calmness and rubbed undiluted on the | | | | increasing its sensitivity to burn. It is believed that the |
| mother's abdomen following birth to reduce stretch | | | | high amounts of sesquiterpenes actually quench the |
| marks. In fact it was the oil of choice for expectant | | | | effects so myrrh is not a phototoxic oil after all. This is |
| and new mothers of Biblical times. It was then used on | | | | an example of synergy and an example of how |
| the umbilical cord to prevent infection. Women | | | | compounds change their behavior according to the |
| particularly used myrrh in their skin care creams and | | | | company they keep. Hazardous and toxic in one |
| oils to preserve a youthful look. Myrrh has astringent | | | | setting-safe and therapeutic in another. When applying |
| properties making it good for mouth and gum issues. It | | | | to the face as a sun protectant, dilute 20-80 or make |
| was mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus which listed 877 | | | | a 5% dilution by putting 10 drops in 5 ml of vegetable oil. |