Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)

Myrrh or Commiphora myrrha has an extensive history compelling most to consider it a remedy of antiquity.  Ancient sources of the Sumerian inscriptions, the Ayurvedic texts, the Chinese texts, and the Egyptian inscriptions all describe its medicinal applications (Michie, 1992).  The papyri of Egypt dating back to 1,500 BC provide the most detailed accounts of myrrh used for sores and wounds and to prevent decomposition by using it as an additive to embalming solutions.  Chinese records reveal myrrh was used in the treatment of mouth and skin infections, and Greek texts point to its use in wounds and sepsis of the mouth.  Myrrh currently has continued to be added to toothpastes and used in throat lozenges as a result of some of its medicinal qualities.

Records reveal that by the mid-Victorian era scientific experiments were devised to determine myrrh’s biological effects of both the resin and the fumes when it was burned (Michie, 1992).  This work has continued building upon the initial thought that myrrh has an antimicrobial effect making it suitable in the treatment of wounds and burns.  One significant study by Dolara et al. (1999) tested the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the active constituents.  The results showed that the constituents did indeed possess bactericidal and fungicidal activity against standard strains of pathogenic organisms such as E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans.  Dolara et al. concluded that this pharmacological action explains the historical use of myrrh for treating wounds as it inhibits the most common cause for infection.  Another study conducted by Saeed and Sabir (2003) confirmed these findings.  Through the use of MIC testing and disc diffusion, it was shown that myrrh essential oil exhibited inhibition of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria for a total of 19 different bacterial strains.

In addition to antimicrobial activity, myrrh acts on the opiod receptors of the central nervous system giving the oil what some refer to as morphine-like activities (Dolara et al., 1999).  Myrrh acts as a local anesthetic allowing it to not only address the microbial load of the wound environment but to contribute to pain management as well.  Dolara et al. (1999) confirmed this property through the suppression of a rabbit’s corneal reflex after the application of eye drops containing myrrh.  This anesthetic activity also explains myrrh’s use in wound treatment, eye medication, and mouthwashes.