Myrrh was used in embalming in ancient days, I've since learned. One Roman emperor burned a full year's supply of myrrh when his wife died. So myrrh — with its pungent taste and aroma — is about experiencing life. But its use in embalming people also makes it about death.
THERE ARE two traditions. 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).
Myrrh was used in ancient Israelite temple worship as an ingredient in the holy anointing oil for consecrating priests, the tabernacle, and kings (see Exodus 30:23–25). It was used in the purification of Queen Esther (see Esther 2:12), and it was also used in embalming (see John 19:39).
Biblicalarchaeology.org says that myrrh was a sign of Jesus' eventual sacrifice and burial. Myrrh was used to prepare Jesus' body for the tomb, the apostle John writes.
Myrrh was used by the ancient Egyptians, along with natron, for the embalming of mummies.
And the Jews were no exception: frankincense was regularly added to burnt offerings at the Temple in Jerusalem, and was part of a special incense blend reserved for divine service. Liquid myrrh was a component in the holy anointing oil used to consecrate vessels and officiating priests.
In aromatherapy, Myrrh Essential Oil is known to offer relief for colds, congestion, coughs, bronchitis, and phlegm. Inhaling its sedative scent is known to lift negative moods, promote the feeling of being grounded, and encourage the feeling of spiritual awakening.
Myrrh – the Death of Jesus
Commonly used to embalm bodies, the gift of myrrh foreshadows Jesus' death.
In perfumery, myrrh lends a subtle, earthy tone pitched halfway between soil and stone. It has a sepulchral quality, leading some to categorize it as Gothic or moldy. Some facets of myrrh are intensely bitter, while some smell like sweet licorice, anise, or rubber.
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.
Incisions are made in the bark of the tree during important times of year, and the sap pours out. 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.
Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.
But more than that, Barker notes that myrrh oil was known as the “dew of resurrection,” and it "had anointed the royal high priests after the order of Melchizedek and transformed them into sons of God." One early Christian, Pope Leo the Great, said: “He offers myrrh who believes that God's only begotten son united to ...
It is also well known for its extensive health benefits to heal wounds, combat pain, inflammatory conditions, e.g., arthritis and obesity, and to treat infections, including leprosy and syphilis [1].
Myrrh, an exotic biblical spice, was used in purification and beautification rites, in the formula for the Holy Anointing Oil, and in burial spices. Queen Esther was bathed in Oil of Myrrh for six months and with other aloes and perfumes for another six months before her presentation to the king.
Studies also suggest that certain myrrh oil extracts can significantly reduce pain from headaches, sore muscles, and sore backs. The compound furanodiene, which is found in myrrh oil, appears to help reduce pain significantly in many pathologies.
Oudh in Islamic Text
However, in several Hadith, which is a report of the words, actions, or tacitly approved by the prophet Muḥammad, agarwood or Oudh is referred to as a kind of Indian incense (i.e., Ūd Al- Hindi or aloes).
In the West, frankincense and myrrh have been used as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies since ancient times; in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, they are used mainly for the treatment of chronic diseases. The main chemical constituents of frankincense and myrrh are terpenoids and essential oils.
Many estimate that at that time, translated into modern money, frankincense would have cost $500 per pound. Myrrh would have cost $4,000 per pound. While much is known about the gifts themselves, the bearers, known as the Magi or “Wise Men,” remain somewhat mysterious to modern scholars.
In addition, myrrh is an oil that was used to consecrate levitical priests and the wilderness tabernacle, the forerunner to the temple in Jerusalem (Ex. 30:23-33). Myrrh was also used as a burial ointment. There are also the spiritual senses of Scripture (see the Catechism 115-19).
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.
Overview. Myrrh is a sap-like substance (resin) that comes out of cuts in the bark of certain trees. Myrrh is used for problems in the stomach and intestines, congestion, parasite infections, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Today, frankincense and myrrh are still commonly used in cosmetics and medicines but also play a significant role in modern aromatherapy as an alternative treatment for anxiety and depression.
Frankincense was often burned as an incense, while myrrh made its way into medicine and perfume. In antiquity, writes Cotton, these saps were worth just as much as gold. But as modern science has shown, these Magi (or wise men or kings, as they've come to be known) may have been onto something with their gifts.