Individual Herbs Notebook

Mo Yao

Pharmaceutical: Resina Commiphorae
Taxonomy: Commiphora mukul

Other names: Myrrh / Guggul गुग्गुल / Muqil مقل

Category: Herbs that Regulate the Blood



Properties: Pungent, Bitter, Neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart, Liver and Spleen


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, alleviates pain and reduces swelling
    Blood Stasis with pain from trauma, sores, carbuncles, swellings, fixed abdominal masses, painful obstruction, chest pain, abdominal pain and amenorrhea
  2. Generates flesh and promotes healing
    Chronic non-healing sores

Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-10g in decocotion.


Cautions: Like Ru Xiang this herb is drastically pungent with strong stimulation to stomach and easily causes nausea and vomiting. It should not be taken by large dose or for a long time. Use with cautions for patients with weak stomach; prohibited for pregnant women.


Notes:

Myrrh has powerful associations in the western religious traditions, being associated with the birth and death of Jesus and much catholic ritual; Jewish ritual and magic (see the Sepher Ha-Razim for several examples of using myrrh in angelic magic); Islamic hadith and medicine; and in Egyptian fumigation, medicine and embalming rituals. In most of these instances it has a purifying and sanctifying property.


Appears in 40 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)