I learned something knew today! The origin of the word perfume comes the words pur fume meaning “through smoke”. Which probably meant the smoke from incense or the lingering scent of it left on clothes or skin. This important because in biblical times, that was a majority of the fragrance you smelled amongst the Jews. The smell of the incense from the temples. And two of the most important forms were Frankincense and Myrrh. We talked about Frankincense before, but what I didn’t realize is that Myrrh is harvested the exact same way! You cut into the tree bark, let the resin weep and harden and then harvest the resin crystals.

Two Kinds of Myrrh: Regular Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha) from Yemen and Biblical Sweet Myrrh or Opoponax (Commiphora Erythraea) from Somalia. Regular Myrrh is the more medicinal of the two and the resin form was what was used in biblical times. Regular Myrrh is high in sesquiterpenes at 75%. Is anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitumor, astringent, and tonic qualities. Has deeper, woodsier, smokey musk like scent. Biblical Sweet Myrrh is lower in sesquiterpenes at 45%. Is anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic.  Has a more intense, sweeter, balsamic scent. Regular Myrrh is the more medicinal of the two and the resin form was what was used in biblical times.

Now, Myrrh, as we all know, was one of the gifts to Jesus by the three wise men. And it, along with Frankincense and gold were three of the most valuable things in biblical times. They were the most precious. But did you release they tried to give Jesus wine mixed with Myrrh before he was hung on the cross (Mark 15:23)? And Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought a 100 lbs mixture of Myrrh and aloes to wrap Jesus body in John 19:39.

Myrrh was used for incense in the temple just the same as frankincense because of its ability to help us connect with God during our meditation and worship. It was used medicinally to help treat skin ailments, wounds, diseases like leprosy, syphilis, and even cancer. And the Egyptians used it as one of the main ingredients in their embalming rituals. And during the time of Christ, wine mixed with myrrh was given to the prisoners before they were crucified as a sort of painkiller. As we read, Christ wanted none of that and it was the fulfillment of a prophesy of King David in Psalm 69:16-21.

Now let’s talk about all the ways we can use Myrrh in our day and age. Myrrh is great for skin support. Especially when dealing with minor skin irritations. A mixture of Myrrh with a carrier oil would be great in helping with problems like acne, ringworm, and athlete’s foot. Myrrh is great to use in oil cleansing for your skin because of its astringent qualities. It helps to provide skin support by improving elasticity and shrinking pores. It’s also a moisturizing oil and would work great for dry, cracked and chapped skin.

Myrrh also works great in oral care. Use a mixture of 2 tablespoons of food grade coconut oil with a drop of Myrrh to help with inflammation and prevent gum disease. Swish and hold in your mouth for up to 20 mins, at a minimum for 5 mins and spit it out in the garbage. Add a drop of Copaiba in there to help with a toothache until you can get in to see the dentist. They say that regular mouthwash is just like antibiotics. It wipes out all the bad bacteria but also the good bacteria, too. A good replacement for that mouth wash is using this oil mixture on a daily basis. And add a drop of clove to help battle that nasty plaque bacteria.

Myrrh taken internally will help support digestive health. Stomach aches, diarrhea, indigestion, etc. all come from digestive problems. 3 to 4 drops of Myrrh in a gel cap will help to maintain healthy gut function. But a word of warning for those taking Warfarin or any kind of drug similar, it does interfere with the drug function and to diabetics it does interact with your blood sugar, so use with caution and stop using it for at least two weeks before any surgeries.

Myrrh can help internally and externally with hair loss. Its astringent qualities will help to strengthen and tighten the hair follicles helping to reduce hair loss. Just a couple drops in a gelcap or a couple drops rubbed directly on your scalp in problem areas. Mix with a carrier oil if you experience any skin discomfort. I like to use almond oil.

One of the coolest things I’m excited to see on the horizon is its use in treating cancer. There are multiple studies being conducted as we speak using myrrh for its anti-oxidant properties to treat particularly resistant cancers. And there’s already documented use of it for helping in treatment of skin cancer. Along with traditional treatment you could use a couple drops directly on the skin cancer site per day might help to slow or inhibit its growth. And again, use with a carrier oil if any irritation pops up.

I just recently purchased Myrrh and now I know how I’m going to use it. FOR EVERYTHING! Happy Oiling Ya’ll!

Hey, do you have any questions about oils and how to use them? Leave me a comment here and I’ll get right back to you or email me directly at thecurrentoilco@gmail.com.