Myrrh tree

The myrrh tree is a plant native to the eastern Mediterranean region, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and belongs to the balsam family (Burseraceae). It is thorny and strongly branched, and reaches a height of growth up to 3 meters. The leaves are imparipinnate and the flowers are yellow-red. The myrrh tree has secretory vessels. In these, a gum resin is found that seeps out when the bark is injured and hardens in the air. Myrrh is a product of excretion of the myrrh bush, see under myrrh.

Commiphora abyssinica and Commiphora molomol (also known as Commiphora myrrhae) are parent plants of the official myrrha (also known as gum-rice myrrha, real myrrh or somali myrrh), the bitter-tasting lactic juice that has been extracted from the bark and dried. A positive monograph of Commission E is available for this.

Commiphora myrrha extract (INCI) is the resin of myrrh dissolved in ethanol. The extract has skin caring effects in cosmetic products.

Commiphora myrrha oil (INCI) is the ethanol-soluble essential oil of myrrh which is used in cosmetic products.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/myrrhe.php