Because of its versatility and effectiveness, myrrh has been valued across many cultures for centuries. With countless applications, myrrh was used anciently for everything from medicine to religious purposes. Today, the resin extracted from the myrrh tree is transformed into an herbaceous, woody essential oil that captures all of the resin’s effectiveness. Whether you want to promote smooth, youthful-looking skin, promote emotional balance, or cleanse the body, Myrrh oil is a useful addition to your essential oil collection.
Myrrh Essential Oil Uses and Benefits
Myrrh oil is well-known for its ability to cleanse the mouth and throat. To take advantage of the cleansing properties of Myrrh oil, incorporate it into your daily oral hygiene routine. Add one or two drops of Myrrh oil to your toothpaste when you want added cleansing benefits. Or, for an effective mouth rinse, combine one drop of Myrrh oil and two ounces of water. Gargle the rinse for 30 seconds for an extra clean feeling.
Another benefit of Myrrh oil is that it promotes a youthful-looking complexion and offers a soothing sensation to the skin. To use Myrrh oil for skin, consider adding one or two drops of the oil to your daily lotion or moisturizer. By incorporating Myrrh oil into your skincare routine, you can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, especially when used daily.
In addition to its benefits for the skin, Myrrh oil can be helpful for improving the health of your nails. If your cuticles are lacking hydration, try this DIY Cuticle Cream to help give your nails the moisture they need. With four simple ingredients—shea butter, beeswax, doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil, and Myrrh oil, your nails will soon find relief. This concoction can also be used on the hands, lips, or any dry skin.
If you are looking for a more unique diffuser option, aside from floral or citrus essential oils, Myrrh oil is the perfect choice. Try diffusing Myrrh oil when you feel yourself or your enviornment becoming tense. This will help to promote emotional balance and well-being. You can also diffuse Myrrh oil when you want to uplift your mood or promote awareness. Myrrh essential oil is a popular oil to diffuse during the holidays because it can help maintain peaceful feelings throughout the home.
The soothing benefits of Myrrh essential oil are very useful when it comes to shaving. Avoid irritated skin after shaving with this easy DIY Razor Relief Serum. This serum uses some of the best essential oils for skin, including Frankincense, Lavender, Melaleuca, Helichrysum, and Myrrh to help keep the skin calm and diminish any reactions after a shave. The lovely scent created by this combination of oils will linger on your skin, and helps you escape the irritation of razor bumps every time you shave. The added bonus to this recipe is that it works well for both men and women.
Sometimes you just need to have an at-home spa night. Myrrh essential oil really comes in handy in this situation. For example, you can mix two or three drops of Myrrh oil with doTERRA Spa Lotion to help add a smooth touch to callused or dry feet. You can also mix Lemon, Frankincense, and Myrrh oil (10 drops of each) with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to help soften the cuticles. If you are looking for more at-home spa treatments, take a look at our Girls Guide from the Living Magazine.
Fun Fact:
In Arabic, the world myrrh means “bitter.”
Plant Description
Native to regions in Africa and Arabia, the Commiphora myrrha is a small tree that produces a sap that hardens into the resin known as myrrh. Typically a thorny tree or shrub, the myrrh tree produces few leaves and rugged, angled branches. Due to its highly aromatic nature, myrrh has been used since ancient times for medicine, perfumery, incense, religious purposes, and burials. When extracted, sap from the myrrh tree, also referred to as myrrh gum, eventually hardens and dries into myrrh resin. When the myrrh tree is harvested, it “bleeds” the tree sap, which then turns hard and glossy. Through steam distillation, myrrh resin is converted into an essential oil with a dry, woody aroma.
Bottle of doTERRA Myrrh oil with myrrh resin and green leaves. What are the benefits of Myrrh essential oil? Myrrh oil has many benefits when used aromatically, topically, and internally.
Chemistry of Myrrh Essential Oil
Main Chemical Components: Furanoedudesma, 1,3-diene, curzerene
Due to its chemical design, Myrrh oil has proven to be helpful for cleansing, improving the appearance of skin, and promoting grounding feelings or the balancing of emotions. The sesquiterpene ethers in Myrrh oil are known for their soothing properties, which is why Myrrh is useful for soothing the skin or soothing emotions. One of the primary sesquiterpene ethers in Myrrh oil, curzerene, is commonly added to skin care products because of its ability to improve the appearance of skin.
Oils that Blend Well with Myrrh Essential Oil
Myrrh can be categorized as one of the wood essential oils. The smoky, dry aroma of Myrrh oil is rather unique; however, the woody and herbaceous notes of the oil allow it to blend well with spicy, floral, or citrus essential oils. Try blending Myrrh oil with any warm, spicy oil like Frankincense, Sandalwood, or Clove. For an intriguing, fresh scent, blend Myrrh with floral or leafy oils like Lavender, Eucalyptus, or Jasmine. When you want to produce a sweet, herbaceous scent, consider blending Myrrh with Lemon, Juniper Berry, or Grapefruit essential oil.
Cautions
Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.
Where to Buy Myrrh Oil
To purchase your own bottle, visit my SHOP!