When was myrrh used

According to Simon Cotton for Chemistry World , frankincense and myrrh are sap, drawn from the Boswellia sacra and Commiphora trees, respectively. 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. Not you? Sign in with a different account. Need Help? Membership Categories. Regular or Affiliate Member. Graduate Student Member. Undergraduate Student Member. Benefits Enjoy these benefits no matter which membership you pick. Thank you! Culture and chemistry meet in fragrant plant-based incense by Carmen Drahl December 22, A version of this story appeared in Volume 86, Issue Credit: Shutterstock.

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Title: What are frankincense and myrrh and why is their smell so mystical? Submit Sending The trees grow in arid and semi-arid areas of northern Kenya, Somalia and parts of Ethiopia.

The harsher the conditions, the finer the oil that comes out of these plants," says Ms Haq. The oil is extracted through a process of distillation. Once the gum has been sorted, it is boiled and the vapour - a mixture of water and oil, taken through a condensation compartment. At that point the oil and water separate. The clear golden oil is then packaged for sale.

She says most of her customers use the product to treat various ailments and its medicinal properties are being reseached in the US. It's clear the three wise men of two millennia ago found the perfect gifts to give to a baby - frankincense and myrrh for the family's health and gold for wealth.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Both frankincense and myrrh are farmed in Kenya. Both have religious value; they were melted to honor the gods and ward off evil spirits. But, Daly says, they also have deeply practical uses, even today. Mixed with other compounds, the resin can even seal the broken hull of a boat.

Today, gold, frankincense, and myrrh seem like unequal gifts. But in ancient times, the botanical extracts were worth the same, or even more. In the 1st century A. Daly likens frankincense fever to the oil wars fought in modern times.