Today you are going to meet once and for all a species of plant, which has a large number of medicinal uses. La commiphora myrha is considered as a species in itself, but this is nothing more than one of many species that belong to the same family.
In general, the commiphora myrha it is a plant, which has bush-like characteristics and whose origin dates back to Somalia. Although as such, its origin is between Africa and Arabia which is where it is most often found, it should be noted that the plant is known as myrrh, but it has other names that are not usually used.
Features Commiphora myrrha
Now, a very important point that you have to know is that the name of commiphora es used to group around 185 different species, which can be both trees and shrubs.
The vast majority of these they are usually protected, either with thorns or spikes. To this day, myrrh has a much broader level of distribution, although it is still fairly limited to the African continent.
This usually grows mainly in tropical environments such as those found in Somalia, East Africa, Ethiopia, and much of the Arabian Peninsula. Now we move on to perhaps one of the most important points, since a from here you will begin to know the potential of this great species.
Before starting to detail each of the characteristics, you should know that after the end of the rainy season, some tribes and cultivators of this plant They usually do small and numerous incisions all over the trunk of the plant.
This helps the myrrh begin to release a kind of gummy resin., which is used for multiple purposes. You will quickly notice that it is a real myrrh, since the resin has an unmistakable aroma, although the taste is not entirely pleasant as it is bitter. In addition, the color of said resin is yellow and when it dries, acquires irregular shapes with a reddish-brown hue.
Physical appearance
It can be both a tree and a shrub of small size, since it will depend on the variety of myrrh in question. This allows the plant to have multiple sizes, which can range from a meter in height to 6 meters.
In the case of a plant over 4 meters high, these develop a trunk whose thickness is disproportionate and thick. That is why it is practical to extract the resin from the plant, all thanks to how thick this part of the species is.
The bark and its resin
The resin is usually extracted when there is a rainy season, although some usually wait for it to finish to be able to do it. In any case, when the bark suffers "damage" it begins to generate a kind of resin, which is a way of healing the damage that the plant has received.
This kind of liquid is very bitter, but has an unmistakable aroma. Each drop of resin that is generated and / or extracted has around 45% resin, only 3 to 8% essential oils and the rest of the percentage is for rubber.
Leaves
Not much to say about the leaves, These have a green color very similar to that of their flowers and it has only two lateral leaflets. The leaves of this plant are deciduous and do not have a large size or special design.
Crop details
Assuming that for some reason you have the possibility of having this plant and you are about buy a species for your garden or orchard, you have to know some important details when offering a space in your home. These details are as follows:
The area or place where you are going to plant the myrrh has to be a place whose environment is tropical and subtropical. The elevation of the place has to be between 250 and 1300 meters above sea level.
The temperature cannot drop below 10 ° C because does not tolerate cold, so you have to take care of frost.It usually grows in places where precipitation ranges between 230 and 300 mm.
You need a well-draining soil and direct sun exposure. Soil it has to be very shallow and it is recommended to people or growers to be on limestone.
Growth place
More than a feature, this would be more like a recommendation for its cultivation. But in itself, the plant usually grows in soils that are sandy, it can even live in heavy environments such as clayey ones.
On the other hand, has preference regarding the type of soil you need or prefer to develop well as are those who have a good water drainage system and soils that do not have too many nutrients.
As for the pH you need, it has to be neutral or basic alkaline type, although surprisingly it has the ability to grow in soils where the pH level is highly alkaline. Now, before moving on to the next section, you have to know that the plant cannot grow in a place that is in semi-shade or in shadows. It has to be directly in the sun and the ground has to be dry or in its defect humid, avoiding flooding, since it can tolerate times of drought very well.
Uses
This is where we highlight the strong aspects of this great plant:
- Myrrh is and has been used by many, many people in the past to make natural medicines and that are effective against all kinds of problems.
- For example stomach, congestion, intestinal problems, infections caused by parasites and a host of conditions that have not yet been fully scientifically and medically proven.
- However, those who consume myrrh-based medicine have reported a great improvement in their condition. Note that the uses mentioned below have no scientific backing.
- One of the diseases that certain types of parasites usually cause is cryptosporidiosis, which affects the intestines of the person.
- Some research that has been carried out report some improvement, when taking Commiphora myrrha along with other medications.
- It is worth mentioning that myrrh alone will have no effect, unless combined with paromomycin.
- Nothing has been concluded yet, but it is believed that taking a little resin extract can relieve pain on a general level.
- Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease, which It is caused by a kind of parasite that affects both men and women.
- However, in the case of men you can cure this disease just by taking commiphora myrha 6 to 8 continuous days.
- In the case of women, you cannot be cured of the disease if you take myrrhafter taking medicines such as metronidazole or tinidazole.
- Finally, we want to mention that ingesting myrrh is completely safe in most cases they are used in small amounts or doses.
- Although the security of this "natural medicine”Increases significantly when combined with other medications.
It is important to mention that you cannot combine it with any medication, it is best that you consult a specialist doctor and be the one who recommends how and in what way to ingest myrrh depending on the problem you have.