Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl.Burseraceae // oleo-gum-resin
Overview
Plant parts
oleo-gum-resin
Known constituents
furano-sesquiterpenes, resin acids
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include furano-sesquiterpenes; resin acids; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Myrrh has been used for oral inflammation; wounds; digestive complaints; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (oral inflammation; wounds; digestive complaints), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Traditional-use support; limited clinical evidence for oral/topical preparations.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is oleo-gum-resin; traditional and modern forms include tincture, powder/capsule, topical preparation. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Mucosal irritation; possible kidney/cardiac effects at high exposure. Contraindications/cautions include Pregnancy; kidney disease.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Potential anticoagulant, glucose-lowering and warfarin interactions.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid in pregnancy/lactation.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Synonym
GBIF resolves Balsamodendrum myrrha T.Nees as a synonym of Commiphora myrrha. The older name still appears in herbal and taxonomic literature.
HIGH · GBIF Species Match API
Botanical synonym
Balsamodendrum myrrha T.Nees
Taxonomic identity note
- Myrrh is treated here as Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. in the family Burseraceae; recorded older names include Balsamodendrum myrrha T.Nees.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
WHO monograph
EMA monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
- GBIF Species Match API1 claim
authoritative taxonomic database