Ethiopia, Somalia, the Dhofar region and northeastern Kenya lead the forefront in wild harvested Myrrh resin.
Herabol myrrh is obtained from C. myrrha, which grows in Ethiopia, Arabia, and Somalia, while bisabol myrrh is obtained from C. erythraea, which is an Arabian species of similar appearance. Myrrh trees are found on parched rocky hills and grow up to 3 m (9 feet) tall.
Commiphora myrrha is a small, thorny tree or shrub that can grow to 9 feet tall. It is native to southwest Asia, including Arabia, and most commonly east and northeast Africa near the region of the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf,3-6 specifically Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya.
BOTANICAL ORIGIN AND COLLECTION
Today, most of the internationally-traded myrrh and frankincense are produced in the southern Arabian peninsula (Oman, Yemen) and in northeast Africa (Somalia).
Equivalent to today's prices, a pound of frankincense was worth $500 a pound, and a pound of myrrh was $4,000. Today, each are priced at approximately $15 a pound.
The sacred trees that produce Frankincense and Myrrh are almost impossible to grow outside of the Arabian Peninsula, which meant they were constantly in short supply and high demand. According to a famous Roman historian, the sap made the Arabians the richest people on earth by Jesus's time, more valuable than gold.
The short answer is: high demand and high transport costs. Both frankincense and myrrh were employed by a great many ancient societies in religious rituals, though they had medicinal and other non-religious uses. The burning of incense was a regular accompaniment to animal sacrifice around the Mediterranean world.
The earliest and best-known source of Frankincense is the country of Oman, which has shipped this fragrant resin to regions like the Mediterranean, India, and China for thousands of years.
You wouldn't think much could thrive here, in the semi-desert landscape of the Dhofar region in southern Oman, yet these arid conditions produce a precious natural resource – the world's finest frankincense.
The finest and most highly prized frankincense resin is produced by the Boswellia sacra species, which grows in Oman. Oman has a reputation for producing superior-quality frankincense trees that deliver the highest-grade resin, the resin reserved for royalty.
In traditional Chinese medicine, for instance, it was said to have a number of benefits, including purging stagnant blood from the uterus. In Ayurvedic medicine, myrrh tonic is considered rejuvenating. As with frankincense, myrrh is thought to be anti-inflammatory. It also appears to be, to some degree, antibacterial.
Ancient Egyptians used myrrh to embalm corpses and Romans burned it as a type of incense at funeral pyres. Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman societies burned frankincense or myrrh incense during rituals.
Myrrh oil should be used as a part of topical treatments or aromatherapy only. Swallowing any amount of myrrh oil can have dangerous side effects. Using myrrh oil as a part of skin treatments or in an oil diffuser is much safer than consuming any amount of it.
Frankincense is often mentioned together with it's cousin myrrh, another aromatic and earthy scent derived from the resin of the Commiphora tree which also has a long history in religion and spirituality. When comparing the two scents, frankincense is considered sweeter and warmer while myrrh is more earthy and bitter.
Myrrh gum is commonly harvested from the species Commiphora myrrha. Another commonly used name, Commiphora molmol, is now considered a synonym for Commiphora myrrha.
Species of Commiphora exist as small trees or shrubs having rough and thorny branches. The species Commiphora myrrh found in the southern part of Arabia to the north-eastern part of Africa (mainly Somalia) and the north-eastern part of Kenya is responsible for the production of the true myrrh.
Green Royal Hojari (botanical name: Boswellia sacra) is considered to be the highest quality or highest grade of Frankincense.
This particular species of Frankincense is known as Maydi and is often referred to as the King of all Frankincenses. It comes from the mountainous regions of northern Somalia, as does Boswellia carterii.
Cheap resin is produced in the Horn of Africa, which is the Roman Catholic Church's major source. The main species in trade are: Boswellia sacra: South Arabia. Boswellia carteri (older spelling Boswellia carterii): Horn of Africa, Nubia.
The most elusive and rarest Frankincense in the world is now a reality to behold. Green Frankincense sacra resin is classically reserved for the royal family of Oman, being prized as the best variety of Frankincense to obtain and thus dubbed “Royal Green”.
Wadi Dawkah is a major place where the frankincense tree (boswellia sacra) can still be found and frankincense is harvested to this day. The wadi seasonally drains the north-south mountains disappearing into the desert of the ´Empty Quarter´, the Rub al Khali.
The top 3 importers of Frankincense are United States with 2,680 shipments followed by United Kingdom with 835 and Vietnam at the 3rd spot with 731 shipments.
It can cause some side effects such as diarrhea. But large doses of myrrh are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Amounts greater than 2-4 grams can cause kidney irritation and heart rate changes. When applied to the skin: Myrrh is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when applied to the skin or diluted in a bath.
There isn't enough information to rate the safety of using myrrh on the skin during pregnancy, so until more is known, it's best to avoid this use. Breast-feeding mothers should also avoid using myrrh. Not enough is known about the safety of using myrrh when breast-feeding. Diabetes: Myrrh might lower blood sugar.
The first, referred to in the carol 'We Three Kings', interprets the gifts as symbolising three aspects of Christ's future life: gold representing kingship, frankincense (worship) and myrrh (death and mourning).