MYRRH DETAILS

by David Nuttle

The Myrrh tree (Commiphora myrrha) grows on hot desert sands protected by thorns and a waxy protective covering. It grows best in desert sands no deeper than 20 ft. over a layer of limestone rock in areas of 2 to 4 inches of annual rainfall. These trees are typically 13 to 15 ft. in height with a bluish-gray colored bark. I visited an ancient Myrrh tree plantation, of about 2,400 acres in Kenya, along the border w/ Somalia. At the time, I traveled for a week with Myrrh tree tappers who were collecting yellow, fragrant clumps of myrrh resin from cut sites they had made on a prior harvesting trip with camels to pack bags of harvested resin.

The temperatures at noon were always about 120 degrees F. To escape the heat at midday, we went into the Somali's underground shelter where temperatures dropped at least 20 to 30 degrees. When we reached a trading post, on the desert edge, the Somali were paid over US$45,000.00 for four big bags of myrrh resin. Since Biblical times, this myrrh resin has sold for about the same price as gold.

Myrrh resin is used to make Medicinals, religious incense, & perfumery. In liquid form, it is believed to end pain and parasites as well as healing wounds. It is also used as an insect repellant by burning clumps of myrrh resin to create a very oily smoke that user populations capture by standing in this smoke. No insects will bite until you bath and wash clothing, and that practice is not very frequent in desert areas. I observed a Somali tribe burn myrrh resin on flat rocks placed near their livestock, placed to allow a slight wind to blow the resulting oily smoke over these livestock to help protect them from insects. It is believed that the Romans and perhaps others blended a small amount of liquid myrrh with wine to protect against infections by any disease they might have been exposed to.

It is known that Myrrh trees will not long survive freezing temperatures. My charity, NPI, is working on development of a hybrid Myrrh tree that will survive freezing temperatures while still producing resin. If this project is successful, Native American tribes, with reservations on desert lands of the SW U. S., would have a fantastic cash crop giving economic strength to all these tribes. Please wish us well on this Myrrh project!!