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Lesson Ten

Aromatherapy Lesson Ten

This week’s lesson is going to be short.

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha). Extracted through steam distillation. (Spring must be coming, just saw a hummingbird fly by.)

Are you studying your vocabulary? I AM thinking of making up a test at the end of this little course! Just for your own knowledge of course. ON that test will be a lot of these horrific vocabulary words. So we’ve got what? Six weeks I think? Have to reckon up how many more. However we are on the down side.

Right. What’s the first thing you do when you get your oil? Get your Q-tip and start your sniffing. How are you keeping your information? Are you writing down your impressions? And what do you think of Myrrh? Is it a lightweight oil? Is it a floral oil? Does it smell like freshly tilled soil, or perhaps like house dust? And what are your impressions note wise of this oil? Top note? Hmmmmmm.

The one thing that almost everyone automatically thinks of, when they think of Myrrh is "The Mouth." Myrrh is the best choice when it comes to canker sores, pyorrhea, etc. However, Myrrh does have other uses as we are about to find out.

Safety Information: avoid use on damaged and hypersensitive skin, and on pregnant women.

Main Chemical Components: sesquiterpenes, terpene hydrocarbons

Use Myrrh for Gingivitis, gum disease, canker sores, respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, colds, skin ulcers, weeping eczema, wrinkles, boils, skin ulcers, apathy, calming. Uses and actions: anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, expectorant, fungicidal, revitalizing, sedative, stimulant-digestive, uterine tonic, emmenagogue, vulnerary

Okay - dosage. Whatcha think? Before I tell you, I’ll give you a chance to think about it while I explain how to use Myrrh for mouth disorders. NO, you don’t open your mouth and drop it in. YECH. Take a half a glass of water and 2 drops of Myrrh and swish it about and spit of course.

One little word of warning, some people think it tastes NASTY; my daughter didn’t think it was THAT bad. Just depends I suppose. Me, I think it tastes rather vile. However, I haven’t found anything to beat it, including Tea-Tree.

Okay, how did you do on your dosage guess. If I tell you that Myrrh is a gum resin, will that make any difference in your opinion?

In 15 mls of a carrier oil 3 drops max. Not a whole lot is it? But then, it doesn’t take a whole lot of our lovely Essential Oils for them to be effective.

Always remember, when mixing up a potion, if you cannot remember how much to use, LESS IS BEST. It is ALWAYS better to go with a lower amount than to go high.

I suppose next week is Bergamots turn. Not one of my favorites, but still, is used a LOT in Aromatherapy.

Your side note for this week: ventilation. Having good ventilation when working with Essential Oils is extremely important. Remember that when you are mixing oils, if you don’t have good ventilation, you are rising over dosing yourself. The first sign of this is the "Overdose Headache." Yes, I have gotten them and they are nasty. So try and have a good fan, windows open, the whole bit.

And that’s your lesson for this week. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Final exam question: What is an Aromatherapist? Easy Question? We'll see. Remember, I would like to see your answer at the END of the course.

Sources of Information: Besides my own course notes, and things I’ve learned along the way, for this course I also use:

The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual By Sylla Sheppard-Hangar

Plant Aromatics A Data & Reference Manual on Essential Oils and Aromatic Plant Extracts By
Martin Watt

Advanced Aromatherapy by Kurt Schnaublet

The Aromatherapy Work Book by Shirley Price

Aromatherapy for Health Professionals by Shirley Price and Len Price.