Myrrh;

Happy holidays!

Myrrh resin is an ancient medicinal product that I tried as an essential oil. It seems to have nootropic benefits - mind clearing. Reduction in neuroinflammation is a reported benefit. It also has antimicrobial benefits and has shown potential against CoV. (Batiha, et al., 2022)

Myrrh and frankincense are associated with Christmas because the three wise men brought gold and gifts of the rare medicinal resins to the newborn Jesus, according to the Bible stories.

“In the bible, it was related that Christ was given myrrh at birth. Thus, it was rated higher costing much more than gold. The greatest of all medieval clinicians, al-Razi, a Muslim physician, used myrrh to treat diseases of the kidneys and bladder, and to dissipate swellings in the stomach.” (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022)

The two resins, frankincense and myrrh, are used in combination in Chinese medicine for synergistic value for circulatory health, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory or antibacterial therapies. (Batiha, et al., 2022)

“Generally, the Chinese medical system suggested that myrrh has potent synergistic therapeutic activities like analgesic, anti-inflammatory, blood activation, and antibacterial effects upon use with frankincense (Sadowska-Bartosz et al. 2014).” (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022)

Myrrh in large amounts during pregnancy may cause miscarriage.

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I updated my Lymphedema Protocol post and link to an updated document. The salicylate sensitivity does seem to be a factor in my leg swelling and it has been better since stopping the nicotine/mint lozenges. I am also continuing to try the compression socks - brand new is maximally compress-y I realized - give them a chance to stretch out a bit. They also may hurt a little less when I am less swollen. *Addition: Glycine reference from Dr. Mercola, stating on average we may need an additional 8.5-10 grams per day. How Glycine Fights Virus, (articles.mercola.com) (pdf)

I reported the suspicious accounts mentioned in the last post and stopped future orders - but Fullscript is so quick to ship that the odd orders have already shipped. Ah well.

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In other news - Myrrh essential oil seems like a potent nootropic - I felt more cognitively alert after one drop in 4 ounces of water, doTerra brand Myrrh essential oil. A review article mentions sedative properties were found with some extracts of myrrh.

WebMD: “People use myrrh for back pain, diarrhea, parasite infections, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using myrrh for COVID-19.” (WebMD) Okay then. Ancient people must have been hypochondriacs.

Reasons not to trust WebMD as an up-to-date reference:

“Commiphora myrrh. It has been used traditionally for treating wounds, mouth ulcers, aches, fractures, stomach disorders, microbial infections, and inflammatory diseases. It is used as an antiseptic, astringent, anthelmintic, carminative, emmenagogue, and as an expectorant. Phytochemical studies have shown that it contains terpenoids (monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and volatile/essential oil), diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and steroids. Its essential oil has applications in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and perfumery. Research has shown that it exerts various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic, anti-parasitic, and recently, it was found to work against respiratory infections like COVID-19.” (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022)

Myrrh; “Graphical summary of the phytochemical and pharmacological update of Commiphora myrrh,” (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022)

While myrrh has been shown to be effective against many viral, parasitic, fungal and other infectious conditions - the CoV reference is a review article suggesting use for CoV rather than a clinical trial using it. This reference: (Alyafei 2020). (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022) Efficacy against cancer and potential for Alzheimer’s as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor are included in the lengthy review article by Batiha, et al. Mrryh is a Cox2 inhibitor and may help headache pain. Mybe that is what I felt this morning. I did have a little headache.

WebMD did inform us that guggul is not the same as myrrh. (WebMD) Both are resin from species within the same family, Commiphora, but are from different shrubs. Boswellia, one of the much purchased MediHerb products, seems to have similar metabolites from guggul-sterol as Commiphora. (Batiha, et al., 2022)

The major composition of terpenes in myrrh is furano-sesequiterpenoids with elemane, eudes-mane, guaiane, or runcates, structures (Bisset and Wichtl 1994). It has a peculiar odor resulting from furano-sesquiterpenes (Bruneton 1995), which is likely to be a significant constituent of pharmaceutical myrrh (Wichtl 1994)

The volatile oil fraction from myrrh was found to contain some potent stuff:

“The volatile oil fraction was reported to be composed of various bioactive constituents including elemol, eugenol, esters, cinnamaldehyde, cadinene cumicalcohol, cuminaldehyde, m-cresol, dipentene, limonine, pinene, sesquiterpenes, furano-sesquiterpenes heerabolene, and terpenes, (Rao et al. 2001), alcohols, α-camphorarene, myrcene, Z-guggulsterol, aldehydes I, II, III guggulsterol (Treas and Evans 1978).” (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022)

The furano-sesequiterpenoids make up the majority of the terpene content and provides the unique odor of myrrh. (Batiha, et al., 2022)

“The major composition of terpenes in myrrh is furano-sesequiterpenoids with elemane, eudes-mane, guaiane, or runcates, structures (Bisset and Wichtl 1994). It has a peculiar odor resulting from furano-sesquiterpenes (Bruneton 1995), which is likely to be a significant constituent of pharmaceutical myrrh (Wichtl 1994).” (CC BY 4.0 DEED Batiha, et al., 2022)

Artemisinin is also a sesquiterpene. They are large molecules and for a large group due to versatility in the carbon structure. They are less volatile than terpenes resulting in a stronger, lingering, aroma. Sandalwood and frankincense contain sesquiterpenes along with black pepper and beta-caryophyllene in ylang ylang. (ScienceDirect/sesquiterpene)

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In other non-news - it is snowing here today.

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

The horse knows the way, to carry the sleigh, through bright and shining snow!”

It was a gorgeous sunrise.

Sunrise splendor. Image: J. Depew

Magically delicious. And/or poleshift is on the way and the sky is full of iron rich dust which glows reddish. Peace be with you anyway.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance.

Reference List

(Batiha, et al., 2022) Batiha GE, Wasef L, Teibo JO, Shaheen HM, Zakariya AM, Akinfe OA, Teibo TKA, Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Garbee AI, Alexiou A, Papadakis M. Commiphora myrrh: a phytochemical and pharmacological update. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2023 Mar;396(3):405-420. doi: 10.1007/s00210-022-02325-0. Epub 2022 Nov 18. PMID: 36399185; PMCID: PMC9672555. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9672555/