Myrrh(maid) Tales
It’s hard to describe the scent of Myrrh. I’d put it in a similar category with cedar, sandalwood, and frankincense. Kind of woodsy (it’s from a tree, after all), but the scent isn’t as strong as frankincense. It’s ancient though-it’s been used for thousands of years, and it’s making a big comeback as people learn about how to use essential oils.
When I was a birth worker, myrrh was one of my favorite oils to recommend for people as their skin stretched to accommodate growing baby. We sometimes used it during labor and after the baby was born, many parents would put a little bit of myrrh around the umbilical cord stump. (If you are pregnant, there are about a dozen uses for myrrh oil and they are covered in Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth, Babies by Stephanie Fritz.)
NOTE: This oil can get really thick so be sure to thoroughly clean the cap and bottle top with carrier oil and a cloth after each use. Otherwise, you’ll end up wrestling with a cap that is glued shut.
AROMATIC
Beyond diffusing, using oils aromatically is really easy. You could mix some water, a small amount of cheap vodka (which freshens linens & clothing), and a few drops of any oil or oil blend.
Diffuse anytime you notice you’re feeling tense or want to uplift your mood.
Smell from the bottle or diffuse when during meditation, prayer, or yoga time to help you center and take a break from the business in your brain.
Diffuse when you or someone in your family wants to open air passages.
Try diffusing this oil with Clementine for an uplifting and calming mood.
TOPICAL
Using oils topically is safe and easy. Diluting them makes them work better and last longer. Have some fractionated coconut oil a non-toxic unscented lotion on hand for easy mixing.
Add it to the tooth oil (which I mentioned in my post about the Top Uses for Spearmint.)
Add to facial lotion to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, tone the skin, and support proper hydration.
Make a cream (recipe here) for your nails during the winter time or anytime when your nails need extra help with hydration.
Dilute and apply to the skin after shaving.
Blend cedar with frankincense, lavender, helichrysm, and tea tree oils for minor skin irritations.
INTERNAL
NOTE ABOUT INTERNAL USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS: not all oils are of high enough quality & purity to use internally. I use a specific brand and this company stands by its oils and has researched to make sure internal use is safe with SOME of their oils. (I say SOME because you can’t eat wood no matter how pure it is.)
While there are benefits to using myrrh oil internally, I think its taste is best in a capsule-that is to say when you can’t taste it at all. But you can have some amazing systemic benefits from using myrrh oil internally. Put it in a capsule to:
Support balanced hormones.
Support thyroid health.
Support proper appetite and digestion.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease.
I. love. science.
If you’d like to read some of the scientific research that has been done on Myrrh oil, check out this site.