Commiphora molmol
(Myrrh)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antifungal
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiseptic
• Antispasmodic
• Expectorant
• Stimulant
• Stimulates the production of white blood cells

Clinical Indications:

• Aphthous stomatitis
• Boils
• Brucellosis
• Gingivitis
• Laryngitis
• Pharyngitis
• Sinusitis
• Thrush caused by Candida albicans
• Tinea pedis
• Tonsilitis

Contraindications:

• Acute gastric inflammation
• Excessive uterine bleeding due to the emmenagogue effect
• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and abortifacient effects

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Water will cause myrrh to precipitate

Chemical Constituents:

• Furanosesquiterpenes:
  
  2-methoxy furanodiene
  Curzerenone
  Furanodiene
  Furanodienone
  Lindestrene
• Gums:
  
  4-O-methylglucuronic acid
  Arabinose
  Galactose
  Xylose
• Resins:
  
  Alpha- and B- and gamma-commiphoric acids
  Alpha- and B-herabomyrrhols
  Commiferin
  Commiphorinic acids
  Heeraboresene
• Sterols
• Volatile oil:
  
  Cadinene
  Cuminaldehyde
  Elemol
  Eugenol
  Heerabolene

Toxicity:

• Large doses may cause irritation of the kidneys and diarrhea

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).