Myrrh Gum
Name : Commiphora myrrha
Other Name
- Common Myrrh
- Gum Myrrh
- Karan
- Bal
- Bdellium
- Bol
- Murrah
- Bola
- Bowl
- Didin
- Didthin
- Gomme de Myrrhe
- Vola-Heera-Bol
- Myrrha
- Heerabol
- Herabol Myrrh
- Myrrhenbaum
- Mirra
- Mirrh
- Mo Yao
- Myrrhe and Malmal
Description
Myrrh gum comes from a small, spiny, deciduous shrubby tree native to Yemen, Somalia, Eritrea and eastern Ethiopia which reaches a height of 4 metres. The base of the trees trunk is thick and looks swollen, stems like this are known as ‘pachycaul’, the bark is papery and can be reddish in colour to bluish grey; many gnarly thorny branches grow off the trunk. The trifoliate, elliptical to lanceolate leaves are pinnately compound, alternate and 5-35mm in length, they are mid green in colour with serrated edges. The 4-petaled flowers are 3-4mm in length and white to creamy white in colour. The resin exudes from the tree readily without the tree having to be cut or scored.
Suggested Use
Use the resin on its own as incense, it blends well with other herbs and resins and is often used as a base resin in blends. The resin can be turned into tincture or powdered to add to lotions, creams, balms and soaps for the skin, and can help minor wounds to heal. As a tincture, myrrh can be added to dental products to help heal mouth ulcers and sore gums.
SHELF LIFE
Shelf life of two years provided that goods are stored in an airtight container in ambient conditions.
