Myrrh Benefits: From Ancient Resin to Modern Mouth and Gum Care
Myrrh is a fragrant resin from the Commiphora tree, used for thousands of years in medicine, perfume and ritual. Its oldest everyday use is caring for the mouth and gums. Research has found antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, and in a clinical trial a myrrh mouthwash helped the gums heal faster after a tooth was pulled.
Most people know myrrh as one of the gifts of the Magi, alongside gold and frankincense. Far fewer know that it has been a staple of mouth care for just as long. This guide covers what myrrh is, what the research shows for the gums and mouth and beyond, how myrrh tincture is used, the herbs it is traditionally paired with, and who should be careful with it.
What is myrrh?
Myrrh is the dried sap of small, thorny Commiphora trees that grow in the dry lands of the Arabian Peninsula and northeast Africa, especially Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Oman. When the bark is cut, the tree bleeds a pale yellow resin that hardens into reddish-brown, bitter, aromatic "tears".
It has been traded along the incense routes for more than 3,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming and medicine, it is mentioned throughout the Bible, and it appears in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. A 2022 pharmacology review lists its traditional uses as treating wounds, mouth ulcers, aches and stomach complaints, and describes it as an antiseptic and an astringent, which means it tightens and tones tissue.
The active compounds are mostly terpenoids, particularly a group called furanosesquiterpenes, found in myrrh's essential oil. A review in Holistic Nursing Practice credits these compounds with myrrh's antiseptic and pain-numbing properties, and notes its long history of use for periodontal problems.
Myrrh benefits
1. Gum and mouth care
This is where myrrh has the most human research. In a double-blind randomized trial in the Saudi Dental Journal, 40 adults rinsed twice a day for a week after having a tooth pulled, either with myrrh mouthwash or salt water. The myrrh group had significantly less swelling and tenderness, and their tooth sockets healed faster.
Myrrh shows up again when researchers compare mouthwashes. A 2023 systematic review in the European Journal of Oral Sciences looked at mouthwashes for healing the gums after oral surgery and found that a myrrh mouthwash was among those that gave better healing than the comparison rinse. That is why myrrh still appears in natural mouthwashes and toothpastes today, and why a review of herbs in dentistry in the International Dental Journal lists it among the herbs useful for oral health.
2. Antiseptic and cleansing
Myrrh's traditional role as an antiseptic is backed by laboratory research showing antimicrobial activity. That cleansing quality is a big part of why it has been used for mouth care, sore throats and minor wounds for thousands of years.
3. Soothing inflammation
The pharmacology review describes anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, and myrrh has traditionally been used for aches and swollen, tender tissue.
4. Wound healing
In a 2022 animal study in Pharmaceuticals, myrrh extract applied to wounds helped the skin heal completely, with results similar to the standard treatment used for comparison. Its effect on the immune cells that clear up inflammation may explain why.
5. Skin
Myrrh oil is a popular skincare ingredient, valued for its antioxidant properties and its traditional use for dry, irritated or ageing skin.
Myrrh gum benefits: why it suits the mouth
Several of myrrh's properties line up neatly with what the gums need. It is astringent, so it tones and tightens soft tissue. It is antiseptic, so it helps keep the mouth clean. And it is soothing, which is why it has been used for tender gums and mouth sores for so long. Myrrh also has a strong, bitter, resinous taste that many people associate with feeling fresh and clean.
None of this replaces brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups. Think of myrrh as a traditional addition to a good daily routine.
Five traditional mouth-care herbs
Herbalists rarely use myrrh alone for the mouth. It is usually blended with other herbs that each contribute something different.
| Herb | Traditional role | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Myrrh | Cleansing and toning | Antiseptic, astringent, soothing |
| Clove | Numbing | The classic toothache spice |
| White oak bark | Tightening | Rich in astringent tannins |
| Plantain leaf | Healing | A centuries-old wound herb |
| Dandelion root | Supporting | A traditional bitter tonic |
- Clove is the best known of the group. Its active compound, eugenol, has been used in dentistry for generations, and in a randomized study in the Journal of Dentistry, a homemade clove gel numbed the gums as effectively as benzocaine gel, the standard dental numbing agent
- White oak bark is packed with tannins, the same astringent compounds that make strong tea feel dry in the mouth. That tightening effect is why it has a long history in traditional gum care
- Plantain (the common broadleaf weed, not the banana) has been used to heal wounds for centuries in almost every part of the world, as a review in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology documents, along with anti-inflammatory and soothing activity
- Dandelion root is a traditional bitter tonic used throughout Western herbalism
How to use myrrh
Myrrh comes in a few forms:
- Tincture: myrrh resin extracted in alcohol, which dissolves it well. This is the traditional form for mouth care
- Essential oil: mostly used on the skin and in aromatherapy, always diluted in a carrier oil and never swallowed
- Toothpastes and mouthwashes that include myrrh as an ingredient
- Raw resin: mostly burned as incense
How to use myrrh for gums
Traditionally, a few drops of myrrh tincture are added to a little warm water and used as a rinse, or dabbed directly onto the gums. With any ready-made product, follow the directions on its label, because tinctures are made at different strengths.
Is myrrh safe?
Myrrh has been used for thousands of years and is generally well tolerated in the amounts found in mouth-care products and tinctures. Talk to your doctor before using it if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding. Myrrh has traditionally been used to stimulate the uterus, so it should be avoided in pregnancy
- Take diabetes medication, since myrrh may lower blood sugar
- Take blood thinners such as warfarin
- Have a fever, heart condition or are scheduled for surgery
Myrrh essential oil should never be swallowed, and anyone with sensitive skin should patch-test it first.
What do frankincense and myrrh do together?
Frankincense and myrrh are both resins from the same family of trees, traded side by side for thousands of years. In aromatherapy and skincare they are often blended for their warm, resinous scent and their complementary soothing properties. For the mouth, myrrh is the one with the long track record.
Our Tooth and Gum Herbal Tincture
Our Tooth and Gum tincture brings the five traditional mouth-care herbs above together in one bottle:
- Myrrh, the ancient resin of mouth care
- Plantain, the traditional healing leaf
- White oak bark, for its natural tannins
- Dandelion root, the classic bitter tonic
- Clove, the time-honoured toothache spice
Five ingredients, all named, nothing hidden, extracted in an organic cane alcohol base, which suits a resin like myrrh. Take one dropper a day with a meal, as the label directs. It is prepared slowly by hand in small batches in Holmes County, Ohio, and is part of our herbal tincture range alongside our elderberry tincture and Thunder Cleanse, which is built on cascara sagrada, the traditional "sacred bark".
Frequently asked questions
What is myrrh good for?
Myrrh is best known for mouth and gum care, and has also been used for minor wounds, sore throats, skin care and aches. Research has found antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, and a myrrh mouthwash helped the gums heal faster after a tooth extraction in a clinical trial.
Is myrrh good for your gums?
Myrrh has been used for gum care for thousands of years. It is astringent, antiseptic and soothing, and in a randomized trial a myrrh mouthwash reduced swelling and tenderness and helped the gums heal faster after a tooth was pulled.
How do you use myrrh tincture for gums?
Traditionally, a few drops are added to a little warm water and used as a rinse, or dabbed onto the gums. For a ready-made product, follow the directions on its label.
What is the best way to use myrrh?
For the mouth and gums, a tincture or a myrrh-containing mouthwash or toothpaste. For the skin, diluted essential oil. Myrrh essential oil should never be swallowed.
Who should not use myrrh?
Avoid it during pregnancy, and talk to your doctor first if you are breastfeeding, take diabetes medication or blood thinners, or have surgery coming up.
What does myrrh taste like?
Strong, bitter and resinous, with a warm, slightly medicinal aroma. Many people find the taste leaves the mouth feeling fresh and clean.
What do frankincense and myrrh do together?
They are related resins often blended in aromatherapy and skincare for their warm scent and complementary soothing properties. For mouth and gum care, myrrh is the one with the long history.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is general information and not medical or dental advice. Talk to your dentist or healthcare provider about any ongoing gum or tooth problem, and before starting any supplement, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, or take prescription medication.