What is myrrh: the plant and its mythological significance

Myrrh is obtained from the resin that seeps from certain trees of the Commiphora family; for many centuries it has been used for its therapeutic properties as a painkiller, an ointment and a perfume.

It is no coincidence that the three Wise Men brought frankincense and myrrh alongside gold to the King of kings. Both Western and Eastern cultures have always identified in them the aromas with which to honour the gods and foster the relationship between humanity and mystery. Indeed, both act deeply on the subtle, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of the individual, offering comfort on the inner journey, in the search for oneself and one's own truth.

Therapeutic properties of myrrh

Myrrh as an anti-cancer agent

Researchers at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, have identified a substance found in myrrh that appears to have all the makings of a powerful anti-cancer agent. The discovery was made as part of a wide-ranging study aimed at identifying anti-tumour agents in plants; the researchers used extracts of a plant and tested them on specific breast cancer cells.

Having established that myrrh killed cancerous cells, the research continued until the isolation of a compound that, for now, has an efficacy comparable to that of other natural anti-cancer substances. But the scientists are not stopping there: "If we can better understand its characteristics, it may be possible to further increase its potency. And perhaps within myrrh itself there are other compounds that are even more effective."