Many people might associate myrrh with the wise men at Christmas but there is certainly much more to this essential oil than just that. In this article, we are going to be looking at how myrrh essential oil is used and how it can be of benefit to your health and well-being.
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What Is Myrrh Essential Oil?
Myrrh comes from a thorny tree called C-molmol and is in fact, the sap from this tree, When extracting the essential oil from the dried sap, a steam distillation process is used giving a brownish coloured oil which can be used in many ways.
This particular essential oil has been widely used in Ayurvedic practise and Chinese medicine for many thousands of years but in this modern age, the oil is just a popular.
You will find the c-molmol tree growing in a variety of locations around the globe including in China and Africa but is most prevalent in the Mediterranean area of Europe.
Myrrh Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
Myrrh essential oil is used to treat everything from pain and inflammation to eradicating parasites, but there are many other ways in which this is an essential oil worth using. Let’s explore some of these uses now.
Slow The Growth Of Cancer Cells
One of the most promising uses of myrrh essential oil is that it is thought to have the power to drastically slow down the growth of certain cancerous cells. Most notably those found in the skin, breast, prostate and liver. There have been animal tests conducted to show the effectiveness of the oil used for this purpose but these tests are yet to be extended to humans.
Improve Skin Health
Myrrh essential oil can be particularly effective in treating skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis since it is a potent anti-inflammatory. This means that any redness or soreness associated with these conditions may be greatly reduced when the oil is applied as a topical treatment.
What’s more, myrrh oil is thought to be an excellent anti-microbial and anti-bacterial agent which translates into cleansing the skin and removing any underlying infections which can commonly cause skin conditions like these.
In addition to this, it has been observed that myrrh essential oil may have the power to aid in the healing of wounds and cuts due to its ability to clear infection and reduce the appearance of scars.
Anti-oxidant
Myrrh is a powerful anti-oxidant which is ideal for getting rid of free-radicals in the body which can contribute to things like premature ageing of the skin. On the more serious side of things, these free radicals may be responsible for causing a variety of disease.
There have been many interesting studies surrounding the use of myrrh oil as an anti-oxidant and it has been seen that it may be more effective than vitamin E which has a reputation for its excellent anti-oxidant qualities.
Through these qualities, it is thought that myrrh may be very effective in maintaining a healthy liver and the oil can be used either topically or via inhalation to benefit in this way.
Treats Swelling
Myrrh essential oil is a very effective anti-inflammatory, as we have already discovered. This means that the oil may be beneficial in conditions such as arthritis and headaches. There have been some detailed pieces of research demonstrating that people suffering from regular headaches found that through the use of myrrh essential oil, their pain was reduced.
In addition to this is has been noted that myrrh essential oil will react with certain receptors in the brain which respond to pain – these are known as opiod receptors and when stimulated, pain can be alleviated. The essential oil may also stop the brain from releasing chemicals which cause inflammation, providing you with a double-edged sword against these two common ailments.
Oral Health
It is thought that myrrh may be useful when it comes to maintaining good oral health and there has been much research to support these claims.
One of the main reasons that myrrh may be effective in treating certain conditions in the mouth is thanks to its anti-inflammatory qualities, which can reduce swelling and pain. Most notably, it has been observed that oral hygiene products that contain myrrh are likely to prevent and treat gum disease.
Remove Parasites
Parasites can cause many serious health problems in human beings but myrrh is thought to be able to counteract the side effects of these such as liver damage and gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting. In addition to this, the essential oil is believed to have the ability to kill of any parasitic eggs, therefore preventing further spread of the parasite.
Protect The Immune System
Aside from it’s potent anti-bacterial properties, which can be very beneficial in keeping the immune system healthy, it may also stimulate the production of white blood cells. This means that your body will be better able to fight off infection and disease and therefore be more healthy.
There is also some suggestion that myrrh essential oil may be able to attack certain bacteria, namely those which cause conditions such as lyme disease, in a more effective way than antibiotics.
Treat The Common Cold
Whilst there is currently no known cure for the common cold or cough, there are certainly things that can help to treat the symptoms of these conditions and myrrh is one of them.
This essential oil is known to be able to remove congestion in the form of phlegm from the respiratory system which can greatly reduce symptoms of coughs and colds. On top of this it can alleviate pain and inflammation experienced from a sore throat and help the body in preventing future infections with its anti-bacterial qualities.
Safe Use Of Myrrh Oil
All essential oils warrant a degree of safety and there are certain ‘rules’ that should be followed when using them. Myrrh essential oil is no exception to this rule and there are some specific things to keep in mind before commencing use of the oil.
- When used to treat oral conditions, it is important to remember never to ingest myrrh oil and care should be taken.
- It is advisable to avoid using myrrh oil during healing of oral surgeries since the oil may prematurely dissolve stitches.
- Myrrh essential oil is known to bring on contractions of the uterus and vaginal bleeding and so is not recommended for use by pregnant women.
- If you have a fever, you should avoid using myrrh as the oil may make this worse.
- For those who are being treated for heart conditions, there is some suggestion that myrrh may do more harm than good as the heart may be stimulated through its use. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid use.
Conclusion
Myrrh essential oil has been used for thousands of years and it is little wonder when you think about the health benefits that it may bring. From being able to treat symptoms related to the common cold through to improving the health of the skin, this essential oil is one with many uses.
When using myrrh essential oil. it is advised to be cautious and follow the recommended safety guidelines to ensure that you do not experience any unwanted effects.