A Guide to the Health Benefits of Myrrh Essential Oil

myrrh essential oil

Myrrh essential oil is extracted from resin. Traditionally, in ancient Egypt, the resin was commonly used in incense and perfumes, while the oil derived from it was used for healing wounds. The main components of myrrh essential oil include acetic acid, alpha-pinene, limonene, cadinene, cuminaldehyde, eugenol, heerabolene, formic acid, sesquiterpenes, and cresol.

The health benefits of the essential oil can be attributed to its astringent, antimicrobial, expectorant, antifungal, anticatarrhal, stimulant, carminative, stomachic, diaphoretic, vulnerary, antiseptic, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties.

The earthy flavor of myrrh essential oil blends well with citrus and floral essential oils, such as lavender, frankincense, and lemon.

Health Benefits of Myrrh Essential Oil

In addition to being a powerful oil in the field of aromatherapy, myrrh essential oil possesses a range of medicinal uses as well. Let’s take a closer look at the most common health benefits that the essential oil offers.

Boosts Immunity

Myrrh essential oil fortifies and activates the immune system and keeps infections at bay.

Stimulates Blood Circulation

This powerful essential oil stimulates blood circulation and ensures a proper supply of oxygen to the tissues. This is good for attaining a proper metabolic rate as well as for boosting the immune system. Increasing the blood flow to all the parts of the body helps in staying healthy.

myrrh essential oil

Prevents Microbial Growth

Myrrh essential oil does not allow microbes to grow or infect your system. It can be used to prevent many problems occurring due to microbial infections such as fever, food poisoning, cough and cold, mumps, measles, pox, and infection of wounds. It has no adverse side effects, unlike other antibiotics, such as weakening of liver or digestive malfunction.

Protects Against Infections

If you have applied a small amount of myrrh essential oil on cuts and wounds, you don’t need to worry about them becoming infected. This oil will prevent them from becoming septic since it is an antiseptic substance. It can protect you from tetanus as well to some extent.

Contains Astringent Properties

Myrrh essential oil is an astringent, which means that it strengthens the gums and muscles, intestines, and other internal organs, and smoothens the skin. It also strengthens the grip of hair roots, thereby preventing hair loss. One more serious aspect of this astringent property is that it stops hemorrhaging in wounds. When this astringency makes the blood vessels contract and checks the flow of blood, it can stop you from losing too much blood when wounded.

Aids Digestion

This essential oil helps relieve a person of those gases which often lead to embarrassing situations in public.

Relieves Cough

Myrrh essential oil is effective for treating cold and cough. It combats the viral infections that can result in them, as well as relieves congestion, and decreases the amount of phlegm in the lungs and respiratory tracts.

myrrh essential oil

Fights Fungal Infections

Myrrh essential oil functions as a fungicide and can be used both internally and externally to prevent fungal infections.

Possesses Anti-catarrhal Properties

This property of myrrh essential oil can provide relief for excess mucus and phlegm and issues associated with mucus like congestion, cough, difficulty in breathing, and heaviness in the chest.

Stimulates the Nervous System

Myrrh essential oil stimulates thoughts, blood circulation, digestion, nervous activity, and excretion. It stimulates the pumping action of the heart, secretion of digestive juices and bile into the stomach, and keeps you alert and active by stimulating the brain and the nervous system.

Increases Perspiration

Myrrh essential oil increases perspiration and eliminates excess salt and excess water as well as toxins from your body. Sweating also cleans the pores of the skin and helps harmful gases such as nitrogen escape.

Hastens Healing

This property of myrrh essential oil protects wounds from infections and heals them quickly.

Supports Oral Health

Owing to its antimicrobial properties, myrrh essential oil has traditionally been used to treat oral infections and inflammation.  In fact, the oil is an ingredient in some natural mouthwashes and toothpaste. Myrrh oil is also used by people with Behcet’s disease to treat painful mouth sores. The oil may also help treat gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums around the teeth due to an accumulation of plaque.

However, it is important to note that oral care products containing myrrh essential oil should never be swallowed as high doses of the oil can be toxic.

myrrh essential oil

Combats Oxidative Damage

Myrrh essential oil may be a powerful antioxidant, a compound that combats oxidative damage. Free radicals are responsible for oxidative damage and may trigger premature aging and some diseases.

Additionally, myrrh essential oil can help protect the liver against lead-induced oxidative damage.

Prevents Premature Aging

As a tonic, myrrh essential oil strengthens and protects the organs of the body from premature aging and infection.

Has Anti-inflammatory Properties

Myrrh essential oil blocks the production of inflammatory chemicals that can lead to swelling and pain such as headaches, joint pain, and back pain. The oil prevents inflammation in tissues in case of fever or viral infections. It also treats indigestion caused by the consumption of spicy food.

Relieves Spasms

It provides relief from uncomfortable contractions or spasms and therefore relieves muscle pain, cramps, and aches.

myrrh essential oil

Other Potential Benefits of Myrrh Essential Oil

This essential oil is highly beneficial in aromatherapy as a sedative, antidepressant, and improves emotional health.

It also regulates menstruation and relieves symptoms like hormonal imbalances and mood swings.

It supports uterine health, fades away scars and spots, pyorrhea, diarrhea, as well as treat skin diseases such as ringworm, eczema, and itches.

Myrrh essential oil may help kill or slow the growth of cancer cells from the liver, prostate, breast, and skin.

The compounds found in the essential oil may help treat stomach ulcers and intestinal spasms caused by irritable bowel syndrome.

How to Use Myrrh Essential Oil

You can put myrrh essential oil to use in three simple ways outlined below.

  • Inhale the steam by incorporating a few drops of myrrh oil into hot water.
  • After mixing with carrier oils, apply it topically.
  • Add a few drops to the cold compress and apply on inflamed areas.

Side Effects of Myrrh Essential Oil

Despite the impressive range of health benefits of myrrh essential oil, it can have toxic effects if used in excess.

  • Myrrh essential oil is very concentrated, so it should not be diffused close to young children.
  • If used in excess, myrrh essential oil may affect a person’s heart rate. People with heart conditions should use the essential oil with caution.
  • People taking diabetes medication should keep in mind that myrrh essential oil may lower blood sugar. In fact, it may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery.
  • Pregnant women should steer clear of the oil as it stimulates the uterus and may trigger miscarriage too.
  • People who are on blood thinners should avoid the use of myrrh essential oil as the oil may decrease their effectiveness.

Bottom Line

Evidently, myrrh essential oil contains several health benefits which include its ability to kill parasites, harmful bacteria, and other microbes. The essential oil may also heal wounds, support oral health, increase perspiration, aids digestion, and relieve pain and inflammation.

However, due to its side effects, you should check with a medical practitioner before using myrrh essential oil.