Myrrh comes from the sap of small, thorny trees in the genus Commiphora, part of the Burseraceae family. When the bark of these trees is cut or naturally cracked, it bleeds a sticky, reddish-brown resin that hardens into waxy, tear-shaped lumps. That dried resin is myrrh.
The Trees That Produce Myrrh
The genus Commiphora includes 150 to 200 species, but the one responsible for “true myrrh” is Commiphora myrrha. These are scrubby, low-growing trees with rough bark and spiny branches, rarely taller than about 5 meters. They thrive in dry, hot climates where most other trees can’t survive. The bark has a pale gray surface, but when it’s damaged, it oozes a reddish-brown resin from secretory tissues just beneath the surface.
Several other Commiphora species also produce aromatic resins, but they’re generally considered lower-grade substitutes. When you buy myrrh essential oil or resin labeled as genuine myrrh, it should come from Commiphora myrrha specifically.
Where Myrrh Trees Grow
Myrrh trees are native to a narrow band of arid land stretching from the Horn of Africa across to the southern Arabian Peninsula. Somalia is the single largest source, followed by Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, and Sudan. Parts of India also produce myrrh commercially. These regions share the combination of extreme heat, low rainfall, and rocky or sandy soil that Commiphora trees prefer. The harsh growing conditions are actually part of what makes myrrh valuable: the resin is essentially the tree’s wound-healing response to a difficult environment.
How the Resin Is Harvested
Harvesters make shallow cuts into the bark, which triggers the tree to release sap as a defense mechanism. The sap starts out as a pale, oily liquid and gradually dries into hard, irregular lumps over a period of weeks. These hardened “tears” are collected by hand, sorted by quality, and sold for processing. The raw resin is a complex mixture of water-soluble gum, alcohol-soluble resin, and a small percentage of volatile essential oil, which gives myrrh its distinctive warm, slightly bitter scent.
Historically, this harvesting process made myrrh expensive. Transporting it from remote growing regions across long trade routes added tolls, taxes, and labor costs. In the ancient world, workers who processed the resin were reportedly strip-searched daily to prevent theft.
Myrrh in the Ancient World
Myrrh has been traded for thousands of years and was once valued on par with gold. Ancient Egyptians used it to embalm corpses, taking advantage of its natural antimicrobial properties to slow decomposition. Romans burned it as incense at funeral pyres. Greek, Egyptian, and Roman societies all incorporated myrrh smoke into religious rituals, and it appears famously in the biblical account of the gifts brought to the infant Jesus.
Beyond ceremony, myrrh was a practical medicine in the ancient world. It was applied to wounds, used to treat infections, and taken internally for digestive complaints. Many of these traditional uses have turned out to have a real biological basis.
What Makes Myrrh Biologically Active
Myrrh’s medicinal reputation isn’t just folklore. The resin contains compounds that reduce inflammation by interfering with specific signaling pathways the body uses to mount an immune response. In lab studies, bioactive compounds from myrrh suppressed the production of several key inflammatory molecules, including TNF-alpha and various interleukins. The resin also has genuine antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which explains why it was effective as a wound treatment long before anyone understood germ theory.
How Myrrh Is Used Today
You’ll find myrrh in a surprising range of modern products. It’s a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes and toothpastes, where its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties help with gum health. In parts of the Middle East, it’s still widely used as a home remedy for mouth sores and minor wounds. Research on oral wounds in animal models found that a low-concentration myrrh solution promoted faster tissue repair than some conventional treatments, with the remodeling stage of healing starting earlier. Notably, wounds treated with myrrh showed no bacterial colonization, while untreated wounds did.
Myrrh essential oil is also popular in aromatherapy and skincare. The resin itself is still burned as incense in religious and spiritual practices worldwide, and it’s used as a flavoring agent in small quantities in some foods and beverages.
Safety Considerations
Myrrh is generally safe in the small amounts found in mouthwashes, toothpastes, and aromatherapy products. However, concentrated doses applied directly to open wounds can actually cause pronounced inflammation and tissue damage rather than healing. The key appears to be using low concentrations for short periods, typically less than two weeks for topical applications.
Taken orally in large amounts (more than 2 to 4 grams), myrrh can cause kidney irritation and heart rate changes. Pregnant women should avoid ingesting myrrh entirely. The resin acts as a uterine stimulant, meaning it can trigger contractions and potentially cause miscarriage or preterm labor. In at least one documented case, a pregnant woman developed acute abdominal pain from taking myrrh orally, and her symptoms resolved only after she stopped. Women who are breastfeeding should also avoid it, as its safety during lactation hasn’t been established.