Myrrh: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora molmol
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Terpenoids
Sesquiterpenes
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Pharyngitis, Stomatitis ✪✪✪✪✪
Myrrh is commonly used in the treatment of oral conditions such as stomatitis and pharyngitis, often incorporated into gargles or mouthwashes. Although controlled clinical trials on these applications are limited, studies have shown its anti-inflammatory potential. An in vitro study from 2003 found that low concentrations of myrrh oil reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by gingival fibroblasts, thereby decreasing inflammation associated with gingivitis and periodontitis, in part by inhibiting the production of PGE2. Myrrh resin is also valued for dental care applications, used for the topical treatment of minor wounds, soothing inflamed tissues of the oral cavity and throat. Commission E has approved the use of myrrh for these indications, recognizing its benefits in the topical treatment of gingivitis, stomatitis, and other minor inflammations. Similarly, ESCOP recommends myrrh for the topical treatment of gingivitis, aphthous ulcers, minor skin inflammations, and as an adjunct in the treatment of pharyngitis and tonsillitis.
Posologie
Topical and oral administration
fluid extract, mouthwash
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Evaluating Soft Tissue Healing after Implant Placement Using Two Different Mouthwashes (Myrrh and Chlorhexidine Gluconate): A Randomized Control Trial
Digestive parasitic infections ✪✪✪✪✪
Myrrh has proven effective in the treatment of various parasitic infections. For schistosomiasis, studies have shown high cure rates of 97% and 96% for the Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni strains with administration of 1200 mg of myrrh per day for 6 days. Regarding fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica, myrrh reduced symptoms and parasite eggs with an efficacy of 94.1% in treated individuals. In addition, studies on heterophycosis and dicrocoeliosis show that appropriate dosages of myrrh also led to a significant reduction in parasites and associated symptoms. These results support the use of myrrh as a promising therapeutic option against parasitic infections.
Posologie
Orally
600 mg
Mirazid, standardized extract
Myrrh and trematodoses in Egypt: an overview of safety, efficacy and effectiveness profiles
A safe, effective, herbal antischistosomal therapy derived from myrrh
Rheumatism, Joint pain ✪✪✪✪✪
Myrrh has shown promising properties in the treatment of rheumatic and joint pain. A small uncontrolled study of patients with osteoarthritis found that a treatment of 500 mg of C. mukul, administered three times a day for two months, significantly reduced inflammation, swelling, and joint pain. Although these results suggest a significant clinical potential, further research is needed to confirm these effects. Furthermore, a small clinical study on the standardized myrrh extract (MyrLiq, Biosfered S.r.l.) demonstrated that a daily intake of 200 to 400 mg for 20 days improved various types of acute pain, including headaches, fever-related pain, joint or muscle pain, lower back pain, and menstrual cramps, compared with placebo. This use in combination with frankincense is also recognized for its effectiveness against rheumatic inflammation, thus offering a natural therapeutic option for managing various types of pain. Myrrh essential oil can also be used orally or applied topically for pain relief.
Posologie
Orally
200 - 500 mg
essential oil, standardized extract, dry extract
Synergies
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases ✪✪✪✪✪
In the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, myrrh has shown promising results. A clinical study in patients with ulcerative colitis found that taking a product combining myrrh 100 mg, chamomile extract 70 mg, and coffee charcoal 50 mg per tablet (MYRRHINIL-INTEST, Repha GmbH), at a dose of four tablets three times a day for 12 months, was as effective as mesalamine therapy in maintaining remission. In addition, observational research indicated that this same product was able to resolve the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, in 16 to 26 days. Similar research in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) observed an improvement in overall diarrhea symptoms with this product. Overall treatment efficacy was rated good to very good by patients and physicians. However, the observational nature of these studies limits the validity of the results.
Posologie
Oral administration
100 mg
dry extract
Synergies
Randomised clinical trial: a herbal preparation of myrrh, chamomile and coffee charcoal compared with mesalazine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis--a double-blind, double-dummy study
Skin healing ✪✪✪✪✪
Two small clinical studies of patients requiring an episiotomy showed that the use of a diluted myrrh tincture in a sitz bath modestly improves bruising, discharge, and wound healing, compared with a placebo, frankincense extract, or a 10% Betadine solution.nn
Posologie
Topical use
sitz bath, mother tincture
Low back pain ✪✪✪✪✪
Several studies have examined the effectiveness of myrrh in the treatment of chronic back pain. A small clinical trial showed that lower back massages with 5 mL of frankincense and myrrh essential oils at 2% during two 15-minute sessions per week over 3 weeks significantly reduced pain and disability compared with placebo. In addition, an observational study found that the daily intake of a blend of myrrh 200 mg, palmitoylethanolamide 600 mg, and alpha-lipoic acid 800 mg for 30 days, in addition to epidural oxygen-ozone injections, led to pain resolution in 17% more patients than those treated with steroid injections after 60 days. Another observational study found that the specific myrrh extract (MyrliMax) at 100 mg twice daily for 20 days reduced pain and the need for rescue analgesics. Furthermore, a study of adults suffering from acute lumbosacral radiculopathy related to a herniated disc observed that combined supplementation of myrrh 100 mg, alpha-lipoic acid 404 mg, and palmitoylethanolamide 306 mg twice daily for 4 weeks, with steroids and opioids as needed, improved pain, disability, and physical health.
Posologie
Oral, topical
200 mg
essential oil, standardized extract, dry extract
Synergies
New Approach to Chronic Back Pain Treatment: A Case Control Study
MyrliMax® and Low Back Pain: A Multicenter, Observational, Post-Marketing Surveillance Study in Indian Patients Suffering from Chronic Low Back Pain of Various Pain Intensities
Oxygen-Ozone Therapy Associated with Alpha Lipoic Acid Plus Palmitoylethanolamide and Myrrh versus Ozone Therapy in the Combined Treatment of Sciatic Pain Due to Herniated Discs: Observational Study on 318 Patients
Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Palmitoylethanolamide, Myrrh, and Oxygen-Ozone Therapy Improve Pharmacological Therapy in Acute Painful Lumbosacral Radiculopathy due to Herniated Disc
Dermatoses ✪✪✪✪✪
Myrrh is used in ointments and topical preparations for the treatment of bedsores, minor wounds, and hemorrhoids. Although lacking clinical trials, its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and local anesthetic properties support its theoretical efficacy. ESCOP recommends its topical use for minor skin inflammations and small abrasions.
Posologie
Topically
fluid extract, mother tincture, cream
Properties
Analgesic
Myrrh is recognized for its analgesic effects in both animals and preliminary human research. These properties are mainly attributed to furanodiene sesquiterpenes, such as curzerene, furanoeudesma-1,3-diene and lindestrin. Studies have shown that myrrh acts similarly to opioids on the central nervous system, increasing its potential as an analgesic. For example, a dose of 1 mg/kg of C. myrrha powder administered orally showed significant analgesic activity in mice, which was supported by tests demonstrating that furanoeudesma-1,3-diene at 50 mg/kg was remarkably more effective than the control in mouse writhing tests.
Usages associés
Antiparasitic
Myrrh, specifically the oleoresin of Commiphora molmol (marketed under the name Mirazid), has demonstrated remarkable antiparasitic properties against Eimeria stiedae, Fasciola gigantica, Giardia lamblia and Schistosoma mansoni. Studies have shown its 100% efficacy against Giardia lamblia in rats and a significant reduction in parasite load in cases of heterophyiasis and hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits and rats. It has also shown antiparasitic activity against Schistosoma mansoni, reducing eggs and worms in the livers of mice while normalizing liver enzymes and liver structure. This efficacy has been compared to that of drugs such as Praziquantel. Note that volatile myrrh oil appears to have greater anthelmintic activity than an oleoresin myrrh extract.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Myrrh shows notable anti-inflammatory activity, even surpassing hydrocortisone in some animal models of inflammation. The triterpene Myrrhanol A, isolated from the gum resin of Commiphora mukul, and myrrh essential oil, which inhibits production of IL-6, illustrate these properties. In addition, the ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of C. myrrha have proven effective as analgesics and anti-inflammatories. When combined with Boswellia carterii (frankincense), myrrh enhances its effects, likely acting by inhibiting the overproduction of inflammatory mediators such as nitrites and prostaglandin E (PGE).
Usages associés
Cognitive function
Some preliminary animal research suggests that myrrh may help improve memory disorders. In a study conducted on mice with scopolamine-induced memory impairment, oral administration of a myrrh resin extract for 7 days reversed the negative effects of scopolamine. The observed memory improvement could be attributed to the activation of specific proteins in the brain, notably in the hippocampus, a region crucial for learning and memory. These proteins, called Akt and ERK, play an important role in cellular signaling that supports cognitive function and neuronal health.
Hypoglycemic
Myrrh extracts have shown their ability to increase glucose tolerance in rats, both normal and diabetic. The purified ethyl ester of commiphoric acid, administered at 150 mg/kg twice daily, reduced fasting blood glucose, insulin, and triglycerides. These results suggest that this component may be partly responsible for the antidiabetic effects of myrrh, although its oral bioavailability is limited.
Gastroprotective
Myrrh shows protective activity for the gastric mucosa. A study demonstrated that an aqueous suspension of myrrh, administered to rats at doses of 250 to 1000 mg/kg, provides significant and dose-dependent protection of the stomach lining.
Wound healing
Myrrh is recognized for its astringent properties, promoting tissue granulation and accelerating wound healing. In studies on mice, a myrrh suspension helped to heal and repair damaged tissues of the oral mucosa over a two-week period.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults aged 12 years and older: 300 mg - 1500 mg (powder)
The dosage of myrrh varies depending on the form in which it is administered and the intended use: - Powder : The recommended daily dose is 0.3 to 1.5 g, generally divided into several pills taken throughout the day. - Oleocapsules: According to the British Pharmacopoeia Commission, oleocapsules are available in dosages of 150 mg, to be taken 2 to 6 times per day, or 300 mg to 900 mg, to be taken 2 to 3 times per day. - Mother tincture: The recommended dosage is 6 to 10 drops per day, divided into 2 drops per dose. It can also be diluted at a rate of 2.5 to 5.0 mL in a glass of water, to be taken three times a day. - External use: Myrrh can be used as a gargle, mouthwash, or applied directly to the skin for its antiseptic and healing properties.
Interactions
Médicaments
Cyclosporine: moderate interaction
Myrrh is incompatible with cyclosporine.
Precautions
Child aged 6 to 12 years: use with caution
There is little reliable information on the safety of using myrrh in children. According to ESCOP, myrrh can be used in children under the same conditions as adults for external use only, except that tinctures must be diluted when applied to the skin.
Breastfeeding: avoid
Insufficient data.
Contraindications
Pregnant women: contraindicated
Myrrh is contraindicated for pregnant women, as it may stimulate uterine tone and have an abortifacient effect.
