11/20/2018 / By RJ Jhonson
Most people know myrrh as an aromatic, but not so much as a natural medicinal treatment. A study in the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal, however, has proven that it does have remarkable medicinal benefits, among which are faster healing from wounds and protection from bacterial infections.
What most people recognize as myrrh is actually the hardened resin of the myrrh plant (Commiphora myrrha), which is used as a perfume and incense. It has been used since ancient times – in fact, it is said to be one one of the gifts given to Jesus by the three wise men from the East.
Myrrh is also used as medicine in various cultures. In traditional Ethiopian medicine, for instance, it is used to treat wounds. A study looked into the merits of this application, focusing not just on the resin, but also on myrrh essential oil.
The researchers compared ointments made with four percent essential oil and five percent resin. The ointments were applied to wounds and their toxicity was examined. They then tested the ointments for antimicrobial activity in bacterial cultures.
According to the authors, the ointments hastened wound healing and were non-irritant at the concentrations used in their study. Both the essential oil and resin showed remarkable antibacterial effects – their effects were actually comparable to those of antibiotics commonly used against Gram-negative bacteria – although they did not have much impact against fungal pathogens.
The authors concluded that both myrrh essential oil and resin are effective for enhancing wound healing, in part and in full, because of their potent antibacterial effects.
Myrrh has been the subject of several inquiries, with some pointing to the following health benefits:
Wounds have always bothered humanity since time immemorial, so it’s not surprising that a lot of natural remedies have been found for them. Here are some of these treatments:
Discover different natural ways to treat wounds at Remedies.news.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, antibacterial, Commiphora myrrha, food as medicine, Myrrh, myrrh essential oil, myrrh resin, natural cures, remedies, skin care, skin health, Wound Healing, wound management