M
I doubt that the Herbal PDR editors and Commission E writers are any wiser than the wise men
or me, or Madaus in 1938, or Felter in 1898, at knowing which species of Commiphora is myrrh.
They call it C. molmol, but also resin, and Myrrh Commiphora. All PH2 entries below were derived
from Gruenwald’s entry for C. molmol. The USDA equates C. molmol with C. myrrha.
Activities (Myrrh) — Analgesic (1; APA; BGB); Antiedemic (1; CAN); Antiinflammatory (1;
APA; BGB; PNC); Antipyretic (1; APA; CAN); Antirheumatic (1; BGB); Antiseptic (1; APA; BGB;
FEL; PH2; PNC; SKY); Antispasmodic (1; APA; PNC); Aperitif (f; PH2); Astringent (2; APA;
KOM; PH2; SKY); Carminative (f; BGB; PHR; PNC); Decongestant (1; APA); Deodorant (1;
BGB; HHB); Digestive (f; PH2); Emmenagogue (f; APA; FEL); Expectorant (f; FEL; PHR; PH2;
PNC); Hypocholesterolemic (1; CAN); Hypoglycemic (1; APA; CAN); Hypotriglyceridemic (1;
CAN); Immunostimulant (1; APA; PNC); Lipolytic (1; CAN); Stimulant (f; APA; FEL); Vulnerary
(f; PNC).
Indications (Myrrh) — Abrasion (1; CAN); Adnexosis (f; MAD); Alopecia (f; MAD); Amen-
orrhea (f; BGB; FEL; MAD; PH2); Anorexia (f; PH2); Aphtha (1; CAN); Asthma (1; APA; FEL);
Atherosclerosis (f; MAD); Athlete’s Foot (1; SKY); Bedsore (f; APA); Bladder Stone (f; BIB);
Boil (f; PNC); Bronchosis (1; APA; BGB; FEL); Cancer (f; APA; PH2); Cancer, abdomen (f;
PH2); Cancer, colon (f; PH2); Candida (1; BGB); Canker Sore (1; APA; SKY); Carbuncle (f;
PH2); Caries (f; FEL); Catarrh (f; BGB; CAN; FEL); Chilblain (f; BIB); Chlorosis (f; BIB);
Cold (1; BGB; CAN; SKY); Congestion (1; APA; BGB); Cough (f; PH2); Cramp (1; APA; PNC);
Decubitis (f; BGB); Dermatosis (1; APA; MAD; PH2); Diarrhea (f; MAD); Dropsy (f; BIB);
Dysentery (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (1; BGB; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; APA; FEL); Dysuria (f;
MAD); Earache (f; BIB); Enterosis (f; PH2); Erysipelas (f; MAD); Fever (1; APA; BIB; CAN;
MAD); Freckle (f; MAD); Furunculosis (1; CAN; PH2); Gangrene (f; FEL); Gas (f; APA; BGB;
MAD; PHR; PNC); Gastrosis (f; FEL; PH2; PNC); Gingivosis (1; APA; FEL; PNC; SKY); Gleet
(f; FEL); Gonorrhea (f; FEL); Halitosis (f; FEL); Hemorrhoid (f; APA; BGB; BIB); Hepatosis
(f; MAD); High Cholesterol (1; CAN); Hoarseness (f; APA); Hyperglycemia (1; APA; CAN);
Immunodepression (1; APA; PNC); Infection (f; PH2); Infertility (f; MAD); Inflammation (1;
APA; BGB; PH2; PNC); Laryngosis (f; FEL); Leprosy (f; APA); Leukorrhea (f; FEL; MAD);
Menopause (1; BGB); Menorrhagia (f; MAD); Mucososis (1; APA; FEL; PH2); Odontosis (f;
MAD); Ophthalmia (f; BIB); Osteosis (f; BGB); Pain (1; APA; BGB); Pharyngosis (2; APA;
FEL; KOM; MAD; PH2; PNC); Pulmonosis (f; MAD); Respirosis (f; BGB); Rheumatism (1;
BGB); Rhinosis (f; APA; BIB); Salpingosis (f; MAD); Side Ache (f; MAD); Sinusosis (1; APA);
Sore (1; APA; FEL; PNC); Sore Throat (2; BGB; FEL; KOM; MAD; SKY); Stomatosis (2; APA;
KOM; MAD; PH2; PIP); Swelling (1; APA; CAN); Tonsilosis (1; APA; BGB; FEL; PNC);
Tuberculosis (f; MAD); Ulcer (f; APA; PH2; X11113992); Uterosis (f; MAD); Uvulosis (f; FEL);
VD (f; FEL); Water Retention (f; MAD); Worm (f; FEL; MAD); Wound (f; APA; BGB); Wrinkle
(f; MAD); Yeast (1; BGB).
Dosages (Myrrh) — 1 tsp powdered myrrh/cup water 1–2 ×/day (APA); 5–10 drops tincture/glass
water for mouthwash or gargle (APA); 6–10 drops tincture several ×/day (MAD); 1–2 ml tincture
3 ×/day (SKY); 2.5–5.0 ml myrrh tincture (CAN; PNC); 8–10 drops myrrh extract to 4 ×/day
(APA); 0.3–1.2 g resin/day (HHB); 1 g resin 3 ×/day (SKY); 0.3–1.5 g (MAD).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Myrrh) — Class 2b. None known (KOM;
PHR). “No adverse effects from myrrh have been reported” (SKY). Emmenagogue and uterotonic.
Contraindicated in uterorrhagia. Doses >2–4 g may cause diarrhea and nephrosis. French permit
only external application (AHP). Undiluted tincture may produce burning and local irritation (AEH).
CAN cautions that because it is reputed to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and
lactation is to be avoided. May interfere with diabetic therapies. In view of the lack of toxicological
data, excessive use should be avoided (CAN). Apprehension, diarrhea, hiccups, and restlessness
have been reported as side effects of gugulipid administration (CAN).