Botanical Name

Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.

Family

Burseraceae.

Synonyms

Balsamea myrrha (T.Nees) Oken, Balsamea myrrha Baill., Balsamea  playfairii Engl., Balsamodendrum myrrha T.Nees, Commiphora  coriacea Engl., Commiphora cuspidata Chiov., Commiphora molmol (Engl.) Engl. ex Tschirch, Commiphora  rivae Engl.Regional Name :-  English: Myrrh, Hindi : Bol, Bola, Hirabol, Sanskrit: Barbarah, Bola, Bolah, Gandharasah, Rasagandha, Rasam, Surasah, Urdu: Mur makki, Kannada: Bola, Gandharasa, Guggula, Malayalam: Narumpasa, Narumpasamaram, Marathi : Hirabol, Gujrati : Hirabol, Bengali : Gandhbol, Gujarati : Hirabol, Tamil : Vellaippa-polam, Vellaippapolam, Telugu: Balintrapolum, Balin tabolu,  Valentrapolam,

Part Used

Exudate.

Description

This species is an inhabitant of the Somali and Arabian littorals of the Red Sea, also found in the Indian Subcontinent. Within India, this species is not found naturally but is cultivated in West and South India, particularly in dry regions of Karnataka and Kerala. It is a sturdy, spiny, glabrous shrub or small tree, usually with a distinct short trunk up to 4 m tall with knotted branches, and branchlets that stand out at right-angles, ending in a sharp spine. Outer bark silvery, whitish or bluish grey, peeling in large or small papery flakes from the greener under-bark; exudate hardly scented, viscid, producing a hard translucent yellowish gum-resin. The bushes yielding the resin do not grow more than 9 feet in height, but they are of sturdy build, with. The trifoliate leaves are scanty, small and very unequal, oval and entire.

Phytoconstituents

It contains commiferin, a- and b amyrones, Myrrhol, Myrrhin, a-pinene, cadinene, limonene, cuminaldehyde, eugenol, m-cresol, heerabolene, acetic acid, formic acid and sesquiterpenes. It also contains resin, α-, β- and γ-commiphoric acids, α- and β-heerabomyrrhols, heeraboresene, commiferin, burseracin, various terpenes, steroids campesterol, cholesterol and β-sitosterol.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Tikta, Katu, Kashaya, Guna : Laghu, Rooksha, Vipaka : Katu, Virya : Ushna.

Ayurvedic Applications

Pachana, Deepana, Medhya, Vrushya, Garbhashaya, Vishodhana, Jwara, Kushta, Apasmara, Arsha, Bhagna, Svedagraha, Pradara, Raktadosha.

Medicinal Uses

Myrrh is used for indigestion, ulcers, colds, cough, asthma, lung congestion, arthritis pain, cancer, leprosy, spasms, and syphilis. It is also used as a stimulant and to increase menstrual flow. It applied directly to the mouth for soreness and swelling, inflamed gums (gingivitis), loose teeth, bad breath, and chapped lips. It is also used topically for hemorrhoids, bedsores, wounds, abrasions, and boils, pain relief, including menstrual pain resulting from blood stagnation. Treat throat and mouth inflammation, swelling, conjunctivitis, cold sores and cancer sores, leucorrhea, heavy periods, used locally to treat boils, abscess, applied locally to treat gum disorders, sore throat etc.