Myrrh: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) is a resin with bitter, astringent, pungent, and sweet tastes, heating virya, and pungent vipaka (KV- P+ in excess). It is one of the most famous and ancient substances used for preventing decay, reversing the aging process, and rejuvenating body and mind. It works on all tissue-elements and acts through the circulatory, reproductive, nervous, lymphatic, and respiratory systems.

Myrrh is closely related to the guggul of Ayurvedic medicine, an important Ayurvedic rasayana. Like guggul, myrrh is a rejuvenative for Vata and Kapha, but it works more specifically on the blood and the female reproductive system, while guggul possesses a stronger action on the nerves. Myrrh helps dispel old and stagnant blood from the uterus and aids in new tissue growth. It catalyzes the healing of sores and wounds while stopping pain. It also helps dispel repressed emotions, as its purifying action extends to the subtle body.

Myrrh possesses true tonic, stimulant, and rejuvenative powers along with strong detoxifying effects. Its key actions include alterative, emmenagogue, astringent, expectorant, antispasmodic, rejuvenative, analgesic, and antiseptic. It is indicated for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopause, cough, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, rheumatism, traumatic injuries, ulcerated surfaces, anemia, and pyorrhea. Precautions: Avoid in high Pitta. Preparations: Infusion, powder (250 mg to 1 g), pill, paste.

• Lekhanı-ya: Reduces accumulations
• Hr• daya: Benefits the heart
• Kaphahara: Reduces kapha
• Dı-pana: Appetiser
• Pa-cana: Toxin digester
• Ka-saghna: Clears coughs
• Raktadhara: Improves circulation
• Raktahara: Cures diseases that originate in the blood Garbha-śayaviśuddhi Clears impurities from the uterus
• A-rtavajanana: Promotes menses
• Tridos. ajit: Alleviates all three dosa Alterative, cholesterolaemic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, emmenagogue, antithrombotic, analgesic, vulnerary, antibacterial/fungal, leucocytogenic treating arthritis and joint inflammation when ślesaka kapha is causing swelling and degeneration of the joints (Tillotson 2001).
• Mucous membranes: Myrrh is the No.1 herb for mouth ulcers and cold sores. Its ability to increase white blood cell count is reflected in its popular use as a herbal antibiotic and antifungal effective against Escherichia coli,
• Candida albicans: and
• Staphylococcus aureus.: It helps to heal ulcerated intestinal surfaces (Bone 2003).

Dosage: 3–12g per day dried resin, 250– 750mg three times per day of a 1:4 concentrated powder or

Combinations:

• Safflower for chest pains from vata obstructed by kapha and pitta.
• Turmeric, manjishtha for cirrhosis and abdominal pain that is in a fixed location.
• Turmeric, shatavari, mustaka for regulating the menstrual cycle; dysmenorrhoea, irregularity and clots due to kapha obstructing the flow of vata.
• Frankincense, ashwagandha, turmeric for arthritis.
• Rose, haritaki as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory mouthwash. Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES

Contraindications: Pregnancy, excessive uterine; bleeding, kidney problems

Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known. May cause nausea or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals (Bone 2003).