Myrrh Gum
balsamodendron myrrha
commiphora myrrha (HOLMES)
N.O. Burseraceae

Safety Data: Avoid during pregnancy.

Medicinal Action and Uses
Astringent, healing. Tonic and stimulant.
A direct emmenagogue, a tonic in dyspepsia, an expectorant
in the absence of feverish symptoms, a stimulant
to the mucous tissues, a stomachic carminative, exciting
appetite and the flow of gastric juice, and an astringent wash.

It is used in; chronic catarrh, phthisis pulmonalis, chlorosis,
and in amenorrhoea is often combined with aloes and iron.

As a wash it is good for spongy gums, ulcerated
throat and aphthous stomatitis, and the tincture is applied
to foul and indolent ulcers.

It has been found helpful in bronchorrhoea and leucorrhoea.

It has been used as a vermifuge.

When long-continued rubefacient effect is needed,
a plaster may be made with 1 1/2 Oonces each of camphor,
myrrh, and balsam of Peru rubbed together and added
to 32 Ounces of melted lead plaster, the whole being stirred
until cooling causes it to thicken.

Myrrh is a common ingredient of tooth powders, and is used
with borax in tincture, with other ingredients, as a mouth-wash.

The Compound Tincture, or Horse Tincture,
is used in veterinary practice for healing wounds.

Meetiga, the trade-name of Arabian Myrrh, is more
brittle and gummy than that of Somaliland and has
not its white markings.

The liquid Myrrh, or Stacte, spoken of by Pliny,
and an ingredient of Jewish holy incense, was formerly
obtainable and greatly valued, but cannot now be identified.

DOSAGES
10 to 30 grains.

Of fluid extract, 5 to 30 minims.

Tincture, B.P. and U.S.P.,
1/2 to 1 drachm. Of tincture of aloes and Myrrh,
as purgative and emmenagogue, 30 minims.
Of N.F. pills of aloes and Myrrh, 2 pills.

Of Rufus's pills of aloes and Myrrh, as stimulant cathartic
in debility and constipation, or in suppression of the menses,
4 to 8 grains of Br. mass.


Medicinal Action and Uses


Source(s)

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