Myrrh
Myrrh is a gum-resin extracted from a few small, thorny tree species of the Commiphora genus, belonging to the Burseraceae family.
Myrrh resin was traded in the ancient world, and has been used throughout history in medicine, in ritual, and to make perfume and incense. Its use is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and in Islamic texts, as well as by ancient historians. It is still used by certain Christian denominations for ritual purposes.
Extraction and production
When a cut on a tree penetrates through the bark and into the sapwood, the tree secretes a resin. Myrrh gum, like frankincense, is such a resin. Myrrh is harvested by repeatedly cutting the trees to bleed the gum, which is waxy and coagulates quickly. After the harvest, the gum becomes hard and glossy. The gum is yellowish and may be either clear or opaque. It darkens deeply as it ages, and white streaks emerge.Myrrh gum is commonly harvested from trees of the genus Commiphora. It is commonly extracted from the species Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora africana, Commiphora erythraea, Commiphora gileadensis, Commiphora habessinica, Commiphora hodai, Commiphora quardricincta, Commiphora schimperi and Commiphora truncata.
Commiphora myrrha is native to Somalia, Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Somali Region of Ethiopia and parts of Saudi Arabia. Meetiga, a trade name for Arabian myrrh, is brittler and gummier than the Somali variety and does not have the latter's white markings.
Liquid myrrh, or stacte, which was written about by Pliny, was formerly a greatly valued ingredient and is commercially available as Jewish Incense.
Etymology
The word myrrh corresponds to a common Semitic root m-r-r meaning "bitter", as in Arabic مُرّ murr and Aramaic ܡܪܝܪܐ mureera. Its name entered the English language by way of the Hebrew Bible, in which it is called מור mor, and also later as a Semitic loanword. It appears in numerous pre-Hellenic sources up to the translation of the Tanakh into the Septuagint, and later makes its way into the Greek myth about Myrrha; in the Ancient Greek language, the related word μῠ́ρον, likely derived from a Semitic source, became a general term for perfume.Attributed medicinal properties
In pharmacology, myrrh has been used as an antiseptic in mouthwashes, gargles, and toothpastes. It has also been used in liniments and salves applied to abrasions and other minor skin ailments. Myrrh has been used as an analgesic for toothache pain and in liniments applied to bruises, aching muscles, and sprains.Myrrh gum has often been claimed to reduce the symptoms of indigestion, ulcers, colds, cough, asthma, respiratory congestion, arthritis, and cancer, although more good scientific evidence is needed to support these uses. There is evidence to suggest certain compounds in myrrh interact with central opioid pathways in the brain.
Myrrh mixed with posca or wine was widely used in many ancient cultures to produce pleasurable feelings and as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
Religious ritual
In Ancient Egypt and Punt (Horn of Africa)
The fifth-dynasty ruler of Egypt, King Sahure, recorded the earliest attested expedition to the land of Punt, the modern day Horn of Africa, whose members brought back large quantities of myrrh, frankincense, malachite and electrum. The expedition also brought back wild animals, a secretary bird, giraffes and Hamadryas baboons, ebony, ivory and animal skins. In a relief from his mortuary temple celebrating the success of this expedition, Sahure is shown tending a myrrh tree in the garden of his palace. The relief, entitled "Sahure's splendor soars up to heaven", is the only one in Egyptian art that depicts a king gardening. Myrrh was used by the ancient Egyptians, along with natron, for the embalming of mummies.In the Hebrew Bible
Myrrh is mentioned as a rare perfume in several places in the Hebrew Bible. In, the traders to whom Jacob's sons sold their brother Joseph had "camels... loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh," and specifies that Moses was to use 500 shekels of liquid myrrh as a core ingredient of the sacred anointing oil.Myrrh was an ingredient of Ketoret: the consecrated incense used in the First and Second Temples at Jerusalem, as described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud. An offering was made of the Ketoret on a special incense altar and was an important component of the temple service. Myrrh is also listed as an ingredient in the holy anointing oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings.
Oil of myrrh is used in in a purification ritual for the new queen to King Ahasuerus:
In ancient Nabataea
Myrrh was recorded in the first century BC by Diodorus Siculus to have been traded overland and by sea via Nabatean caravans and sea ports, which transported it from Southern Arabia to their capital city of Petra, from which it was distributed throughout the Mediterranean region.In the New Testament
Myrrh is mentioned in the New Testament as one of the three gifts that the magi "from the East" presented to the Christ Child. Myrrh was also present at Jesus' death and burial. Jesus was offered wine and myrrh at his crucifixion. According to John's Gospel, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea brought a 100-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes to wrap Jesus' body. The Gospel of Matthew relates that as Jesus went to the cross, he was given vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink ; the Gospel of Mark describes the drink as wine mingled with myrrh.In contemporary Christianity
Because of its mention in the New Testament, myrrh is an incense offered during some Christian liturgical celebrations. Liquid myrrh is sometimes added to egg tempera in the making of icons. Myrrh is mixed with frankincense and sometimes more scents and is used in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, traditional Roman Catholic, and Anglican/Episcopal churches.Myrrh is also used to prepare the sacramental chrism used by many churches of both Eastern and Western rites. In the Middle East, the Eastern Orthodox Church traditionally uses oil scented with myrrh to perform the sacrament of chrismation, which is commonly referred to as "receiving the Chrism".
In Islam
According to the hadith of Muhammad, narrated by Abu Nuaim on the authority of Abban bin Saleh bin Anas, Muhammad said, "Fumigate your houses with mugwort, myrrh and thyme.". The Encyclopedia of Islamic Herbal Medicine mentions the same hadith: "The Messenger of Allah stated, 'Fumigate your houses with al-shih, murr, and sa'tar.'" The author states that this use of the word "murr" refers specifically to Commiphora myrrha. The other two are Al-Shih and Sa'tar.Ancient myrrh
described the myrrh of the first century AD as most likely to refer to a "species of mimosa", describing it "like the Egyptian thorn". He describes its appearance and leaf structure as "spinnate-winged".Other products that can be confused with myrrh
The oleo-gum-resins of a number of other Commiphora species are also used as perfumes, medicines, and incense ingredients. These myrrh-like resins are known as bdellium, balsam and opopanax.Fragrant "myrrh beads" are made from the crushed seeds of Detarium microcarpum, an unrelated West African tree. These beads are traditionally worn by married women in Mali as multiple strands around the hips.
The name "myrrh" is also applied to the potherb Myrrhis odorata, otherwise known as "cicely" or "sweet cicely".