The health benefits of myrrh essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antimicrobial, astringent, expectorant, antifungal, stimulant, carminative, stomachic, anticatarrhal, diaphoretic, vulnerary, antiseptic, immune booster, circulatory, tonic, anti-inflammatory, and an antispasmodic substance.
The essential oil of myrrh is extracted from resin. Myrrh, in the scientific nomenclature system, is called Commiphora myrrha and is native to Egypt. The resin was frequently used in incense and perfumes in ancient Egypt, and the oil obtained from it was used for healing wounds in ancient Greece. The main components of this essential oil are alpha-pinene, cadinene, limonene, cuminaldehyde, eugenol, cresol, heerabolene, acetic acid, formic acid, and sesquiterpenes.
Health Benefits of Myrrh Essential Oil
Apart from being a very reputable oil in the field of aromatherapy, it has plenty of medicinal uses too. Let’s look at the most common health benefits it has in stock for us.
Inhibits Microbial Growth
Myrrh essential oil does not allow microbes to grow or infect your system. It can be used to prevent many problems occurring due to microbial infections such as fever, food poisoning, cough and cold, mumps, pox, and infection of wounds. It has no adverse side effects, unlike other antibiotics, such as weakening of liver or digestive malfunction.
Astringent Properties
Myrrh essential oil is an astringent, which means that it strengthens the gums and muscles, intestines, and other internal organs, and smoothens the skin. It also strengthens the grip of hair roots, thereby preventing hair loss. One more serious aspect of this astringent property is that it stops hemorrhaging in wounds. When this astringency makes the blood vessels contract and checks the flow of blood, it can stop you from losing too much blood when wounded.
Relieves Cough
Myrrh essential oil is good for cold and cough. It fights the viral infections that can cause them, as well as relieves congestion, and reduces the deposition of phlegm in the lungs and respiratory tracts.
Fights Fungal Infections
Myrrh essential oil acts as a fungicide as well. It can be used both internally and externally to fight fungal infections.
Stimulates the Nervous System
Myrrh essential oil stimulates thoughts, blood circulation, digestion, nervous activity, and excretion. It stimulates the pumping action of the heart, secretion of digestive juices and bile into the stomach, and keeps you alert and active by stimulating the brain and the nervous system.
Improves Digestion
This essential oil helps relieve you of those gases which often result in embarrassing situations in public.
Myrrh Essential Oil is known to offer relief for colds, congestion, coughs, bronchitis, and phlegm. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Acts as Stomachic
Myrrh oil is beneficial for the all-around health of your stomach.
Anti-catarrhal Properties
This property of myrrh essential oil relieves you of excess mucus and phlegm and troubles associated with mucus deposition like congestion, breathing trouble, heaviness in the chest, and cough.
Increases Perspiration
Myrrh essential oil increases perspiration and removes toxins, extra salt, and excess water from your body. Sweating also cleans the skin pores and helps harmful gases like nitrogen escape.
Speeds up Healing
This property of myrrh essential oil protects wounds from infections and heals them quickly. A research report published in the Biochimie Open Journal states that an essential oil combination containing myrrh oil played a vital role in healing skin wounds. However, studies are still being undertaken to ascertain the individual role of myrrh in wound healing. [1]
Prevents Infections
If you have applied a small amount of myrrh essential oil on cuts and wounds, you don’t need to worry about them becoming infected. This oil will prevent them from becoming septic since it is an antiseptic substance. In a preliminary study published in the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, women who couldn’t respond to standard drug treatment for a sexually transmitted infection known as trichomoniasis, were eventually administered with an oral drug known as Mirazid, which is a combination of myrrh sap and its essential oil. After consuming it, it was noted that not less than 85% of the women were cured of the infection. [2]
Boosts Immunity
Myrrh oil strengthens and activates the immune system and keeps the body protected from infections.
Stimulates Blood Circulation
This powerful essential oil stimulates blood circulation and ensures a proper supply of oxygen to the tissues. This is good for attaining a proper metabolic rate as well as for boosting the immune system. Increasing the blood flow to all the parts of the body helps in staying healthy.
Protects Overall Health
As a tonic, myrrh oil tones up all the systems and organs in the body, giving them strength and protection from premature aging and infection. According to a research paper published in the Biomed Research International being used medically and could be used effectively in the near future as appropriate alternatives for many synthetically produced medications. [3]
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Myrrh essential oil sedates inflammation in various tissues in case of fever or viral infections. It also treats indigestion resulting from consumption of spicy food and protects the circulatory system from toxins. According to a study published in the Anesthesiology Journal, this essential oil consists of compounds that interconnect with opioid receptors and inform your brain that’s not in pain. Additionally, myrrh blocks the production of inflammatory chemicals, which can cause some kind of swelling or pain. [4] [5]
Relieves Spasms
It provides relief from unwanted contractions or spasms and therefore eases cramps, aches, and muscle pain. According to a 6-month long study published in the Edizioni Minerva Medica, when people suffering from severe headaches consumed multi-ingredient supplements consisting of myrrh’s pain-relieving compounds, their headache pain had gone down by two-thirds. However, additional research is required to corroborate the benefits. [6]
Other Benefits
This oil is highly valued in aromatherapy as a sedative, antidepressant, and as a promoter of spiritual feelings. It takes care of uterine health and stimulates that organ, helps fade away scars and spots, pyorrhea, diarrhea, and skin diseases such as eczema, ringworm, and itches. It is also an emmenagogue which means that it normalizes menstruation and relieves associated symptoms like mood swings and hormonal imbalances.
How to Use?
Using myrrh essential oil is simple. You can put it to use in three basic ways mentioned below.
- Inhale the steam by adding a few drops of myrrh oil to hot water
- Apply it topically (after mixing with carrier oils)
- Add a few drops to the cold compress and apply on inflamed areas
Word of Caution: Despite these benefits of myrrh essential oil, it can have toxic effects if used in excess. It should be avoided by pregnant women since it stimulates the uterus and could result in miscarriage.
Blending: Frankincense, Lavender, Palma Rosa, Patchouli, Rosewood, Sandal Wood, Tea Tree, and Thyme essential oil blend well with this oil.
