Natural gum of myrrh

Myrrh is a reddish resin collected from the short, thorny tree Commiphora myrrh. This species is related to the source of frankincense: both it and B. carteri belong to the family Burseraceae.

The tree produces its oily, bitter-tasting resin at the bases of its branches, and has a wider distribution than its sweet-tasting relative: it also grows across Ethiopia and Kenya. Myrrh resin collects in canals in the inner bark of the tree. It is secreted through fissures, wounds or incisions made in the bark.

Myrrh is slightly antiseptic, and is astringent to the mucous membranes. Internally, owing to its volatile oil, it is carminative and during excretion, act as a mild, stimulating expectorant, diaphoretic and diuretic.

Myrrh resin correctly termed an ‘oleo-gum-resin is co called because the crude product contains a lipid soluble essential oil, a water soluble gum, and a resin which is soluble in alcohol. Myrrh resin comprises around 60% gum, 35% resin and only 5% essential oil but these figures can very significantly.

Biochemists have found that the resins are made up of a large number of compounds, but their individual medicinal effects are hard to pin down.

Myrrh contains a number of flavonoids, derivatives of phenylbenzopyrone, which medical researchers are interested in because they help to reduce inflammation and chance the immune response.
Natural gum of myrrh