Title: Herbal Oil: Myrrh Oil Benefits and Uses
Headings: Myrrh Oil: Benefits of This Holy Oil
Myrrh Oil: Benefits of This Holy Oil
Story at-a-glance
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What Is Myrrh Oil?
Uses of Myrrh Oil
Composition of Myrrh Oil
Benefits of Myrrh Oil
How Does Myrrh Oil Work?
Is Myrrh Oil Safe?
Side Effects of Myrrh Oil

Content: 3,4 The word "myrrh" comes from "murr," which means "bitter" in Arabic, probably referring to the bitter taste of the resin. 5
Myrrh was very popular among ancient cultures. The Chinese valued it as a medicine, while Egyptians used it not just for their sun-worshipping rituals, but also to embalm their pharaohs. 6 In fact, myrrh was mentioned in "Ebers Papyrus," one of the oldest Egyptian medical texts, which dates back to 1550 BC. 7
Even the Greek soldiers made use of this resin, bringing it with them to battle to stop their wounds from bleeding. 8 To extract myrrh, the bark of the tree is cut, and a pale yellow sap comes out. This gum is then allowed to dry, which then causes it to turn into a reddish-brown color. 9 The dried pieces of resin are then steam-distilled to make myrrh oil. Myrrh oil has a yellow or greenish-yellow color, and a rich, balsamic and earthy aroma. 10,11
Uses of Myrrh Oil
Both myrrh resin and myrrh oil have a long history of medicinal use, and are valued for their wound-healing properties.