Myrrh or Commiphora myrrha is obtained by steam distillation of resin that comes from trees grown in Somalia and other areas of the Middle East. The myrrh tree looks a lot like the frankincense tree. It grows in arid and desert lands and can reach a height of about 30 feet. It has knotted branches, aromatic leaves and white flowers. The myrrh tree produces reddish-brown resin compared to the pale yellow resin of the frankincense tree. Like the frankincense tree, it only removes leaves if there is moisture in the air.
In biblical times there were about 9 different species of myrrh trees, today we would have more than 80. It is one of the oldest spiritual oils known to man. Myrrh was used in childbirth to prevent infection and was rubbed on the perineum to help stretch and facilitate delivery. It was diffused under the bed to promote confidence and calm and was rubbed undiluted on the mother’s abdomen after birth to reduce stretch marks. In fact, it was the oil of choice for pregnant women and new mothers in biblical times. It was then used on the umbilical cord to prevent infection. Women especially used myrrh in their skin care creams and oils to preserve a youthful appearance. Myrrh has astringent properties that make it good for mouth and gum problems. It is mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus listing 877 recipes and recipes. This is one of those oils used from the womb to the grave. Myrrh was used as an embalming ingredient, often added to wine to ease pain, particularly at the time of death, and given to those condemned on the cross to prolong their agony.
Ancient Sunscreen Secret: To see how myrrh oil is a sunscreen secret, we need to analyze its chemistry. It is very rich in sesquiterpenes, which makes it antimicrobial. Fight against bacteria and viruses. In their chemistry, we found that there are 20-27% furanoids that are generally considered phototoxic, a real puzzle, Egyptians who lived in the hot sun used myrrh oil on their skin on a daily basis with no sunburn reactions, in fact, they used myrrh to protect the skin from the sun and as a repellent for stinging insects. It appears to act as a sunscreen that protects the skin from ultraviolet light rather than increasing its sensitivity to burns. High amounts of sesquiterpenes are believed to actually turn off the effects, so myrrh is not a phototoxic oil after all. This is an example of synergy and an example of how compounds change their behavior depending on the company they maintain. Dangerous and toxic in one setting, safe and therapeutic in another. When applying sunscreen to the face, dilute 20-80 or make a 5% dilution by putting 10 drops in 5 ml of vegetable oil.
