Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), of the Burseraceae family. Low thorny desert shrub or small tree yielding an oleo-gum-resin; native range: Arabia and the Horn of Africa — Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia. Globally recognized as bola · gandharasa in Sanskrit, bol · hirabol in Hindi, mo yao (没药) in Chinese, and murr in Arabic. The part used is oleo-gum-resin (hardened exudate). Irregular reddish-brown tears, brittle and waxy, with a warm bitter aromatic taste and a lasting balsamic, slightly medicinal scent; it emulsifies to a yellow milk in water.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
MYRRH
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Myrrh
- Scientific name
- Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.
- Family
- Burseraceae
Form
- Part used
- oleo-gum-resin (hardened exudate)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter, pungent
- Ayurveda
- dominant: bitter (tikta) · pungent (katu) · then: astringent (kashaya)
- Western
- bitter, aromatic, acrid
- Unani
- bitter, pungent
Temperature
- TCM
- neutral
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna virya)
- Western
- warming
- Unani
- hot & dry (second degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Liver · Spleen
- Western
- blood · mucous membranes · uterus · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, reduces swelling, relieves pain, promotes healing of sores (classically paired with ru xiang / frankincense)
- Ayurveda
- raktashodhaka (blood-purifier), artavajanana (emmenagogue), vranaropana (wound-healing), dipana
- Western
- astringent, antiseptic, expectorant, emmenagogue, vulnerary, carminative
- Unani
- mudirr-e-haiz (emmenagogue), munzij wa muhallil (ripener and resolvent), daf-e-taffun (antiseptic), mulattif
Cautions
Contraindications: pregnancy (it moves blood and stimulates the womb); heavy menstrual bleeding; use gently where there is no stasis
Toxicity: low at customary doses; large amounts may irritate the kidneys and cause diarrhoea
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: may add to antiplatelet effect · antidiabetic agents: may lower blood glucose
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