Myrrh Essential Oil Benefits
Even if you don't know what myrrh is, you may recognise it from Biblical legends.
Myrrh is a reddish-brown dried sap from a thorny tree endemic to northeastern Africa and southwest Asia called Commiphora myrrha, often known as C. mol.
Myrrh essential oil, which is amber to brown and has an earthy aroma, is extracted using a steam distillation technique.
Myrrh has long been utilised in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. Scientists are currently evaluating the oil's possible applications, which include pain relief, infection treatment, and skin sore treatment.
Here are the 5 myrrh essential oil benefits and uses for myrrh essential oil that have been proven by science.
1. Kills Bacteria That Can Be Harmful
Myrrh and other essential oils were used to embalm mummies in ancient Egypt because they provide a pleasant aroma while also slowing deterioration. This is because the oils destroy bacteria and other organisms, according to scientists.
Additionally, in Biblical times, myrrh incense was burned in places of worship, frequently in conjunction with frankincense, to help purify the air and prevent the transmission of contagious diseases, such as those caused by bacteria.
Burning myrrh and frankincense incense lowered airborne bacterial counts by 68 per cent, according to a recent study.
Myrrh appears to kill germs directly and stimulate the immune system to produce more white blood cells, which also kill bacteria, according to preliminary animal research.
Myrrh oil has been shown to have potent antibacterial properties in test tubes, particularly against drug-resistant microorganisms.
Myrrh oil at a low dilution of 0.1 per cent eradicated all dormant Lyme disease bacteria in one test-tube research, which can persist in some persons after antibiotic therapy and cause illness (11Trusted Source).
More research is needed to see if myrrh oil might help with persistent Lyme infections.
2. it may help with your oral health.
Myrrh has traditionally been used to treat mouth infections and irritation due to its antibacterial qualities.
The FDA has approved myrrh oil as a flavour in several natural types of mouthwash and toothpaste.
Furthermore, when persons with Behcet's disease, an inflammatory ailment, took a myrrh mouthwash four times daily for a week to treat severe mouth sores, 50% of them experienced complete pain alleviation and 19% saw complete healing of their mouth sores.
Gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums around your teeth caused by plaque accumulation, may be helped by mouthwash containing myrrh oil, according to test-tube studies.
More research is needed to confirm these advantages.
Keep in mind that large amounts of myrrh can be hazardous, so how to apply myrrh essential oil?
Additionally, if you have oral surgery, myrrh mouthwash may be best avoided throughout the healing process. Stitches, especially silk ones, can disintegrate when exposed to myrrh, according to a test-tube study, albeit they held up in concentrations similar to those found in mouthwash.
3. Promotes skin health and may aid in the healing of sores
Myrrh has been used for centuries to treat skin wounds and infections. Scientists are currently putting these applications to the test.
An essential oil mix including myrrh was discovered to help heal wounds in a test tube examination of human skin cells.
Another study found that bathing with myrrh and other essential oils helped moms repair skin lesions caused by vaginal deliveries.
However, because many oils were used in these investigations at the same time, the individual effects of myrrh on wound healing are unknown.
The results of tests on myrrh oil are more conclusive.
Myrrh essential oil blends well with sandalwood oil and was found to be particularly effective at killing microorganisms that infect skin wounds in a test tube research of 247 different essential oil combinations.
In addition, myrrh oil alone prevented 43–61 per cent of the growth of five fungi that cause skin disorders like ringworm and athlete's foot in a test tube research.
The human study is required to verify these advantages. Many natural ointments and soaps contain myrrh if you want to try it for general skin health. You can also directly apply diluted myrrh oil to your skin.
4. Assists in the Relief of Pain and Swelling
Discomfort is a common complaint, including headaches, joint pain, and back pain.
Compounds in myrrh oil interact with opioid receptors, signalling to your brain that you are not in pain. Inflammatory molecules that cause swelling and pain are likewise inhibited by myrrh.
During a six-month trial, persons who were prone to headaches received a multi-ingredient supplement containing myrrh's pain-relieving chemicals, and their headache pain was decreased by around two-thirds.
More research is needed to verify these advantages. The product tested isn't accessible in the United States, and taking myrrh oil isn't advised.
You may buy homoeopathic rubbing oils containing myrrh and other essential oils that can be used directly to aching body regions to ease the pain. These, however, have not been investigated.
5. May Be a Powerful Antioxidant
Myrrh could be a potent antioxidant, a substance that protects against oxidative damage.
Free radical oxidative damage contributes to ageing and various illnesses.
Myrrh oil was discovered to be more effective than vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, in combating free radicals in a test tube investigation.
How to apply myrrh essential oil?
Myrrh oil helped protect the liver from lead-induced oxidative damage in animal research in direct proportion to the amount of myrrh given before lead exposure.
It's unclear whether inhaling myrrh oil or applying it topically — two safe ways to use myrrh oil for individuals — helps protect your body from oxidative damage.
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Take Away
myrrh essential benefits in addition to its pleasant, warm, and earthy aroma.
It may help destroy dangerous bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms, according to research. It may also aid with oral health, skin sore healing, and pain and swelling relief.
However, because most of these studies are conducted in test tubes, on animals, or small groups of people, it's difficult to draw clear conclusions about its benefits.
On use myrrh oil, dilute it in a carrier oil and apply it to your skin, or diffuse it to inhale the perfume. You can also buy items containing the oil, such as mouthwash and ointments.