Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Saturday 16 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– Mo Yao (Myrrh)

Chinese medicine Mo Yao
Mo Yao is also known as Myrrh, It is exuded from the bark of a shrub of Abyssinia and Arabia, species Commiphora Myrrha, belonging the family Burseraceae. The bitter and neutral herb has been used in TCM as an antibiotic and to inhibits pain, reduces swelling and heal wound due to injuries, bruises, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors in the uterus, hemorrhoid by moving blood, relieving pain and promoting tissue regeneration as it enhances the function of liver, spleen, heart channels.
Ingredients
1. Commiphorinic acid
2. Heeraboresene
3. Pine-ne
4. Commiferin
5. Myrrholic acid
6. Methanoic acid (formic acid)
7. Acetic acid
8. Oxidase
9. Eugenol
10. Cumin aldehyde
11. Limonene
12. Cinnamic aldehyde
13. Heerabolene
14. Cuminaldehyde
15. Cinnamaldehyde
16. Myrrhin
17. Etc.
Health benefits
1. Volatile oils
Since it is contains 3% -9% of volatile oils, such as heerabolene, acadinene, elemol, eugenol, cuminaldehyde, etc. it tends to have a strong smell and properties of antimicrobial agents and reduce congestion.
2. Steroids
Since Mo Yao contains high amount of sterols, a steroids, it enhances the immune function in fight against inflammation caused by virus, bacteria and irregular cells growth.
3. Resins
Mo Yao contains 55% to 65% resins, a hydrocarbon secretion, such as alpha-, beta-, and gamma-commiphoric acids, it helps to treat rheumatism due to its anti-inflammatory properties by restoring movement and alleviating pain.
4. Tanins
High amount of tanins in Mo Yao is used effectively as antidysenteric to relieve or prevent dysentery; antimutagenic to inhibits improper mutations of cells and antiviral to treat influenza, etc.
5. Antioxidants
Myrrha also contains high amount of antioxidants such as tanins that help to prevent the oxidation of cells, causing all kinds of chronic illness and aging.
6. Sesquiterpenes
Sesquiterpenes, found in large amount in the plant stimulate the function of liver and glands in treating bacteria and fungus overgrowth, autoimmune overreaction to allergen and cramps and pain. Sesquiterpenes is also found exhibit cytotoxic activity that fight against the breast tumor cell and enhance function of the hypothalamus, pituitary glands in treating Amenorrhea.
7. Diabetes
Extracts of Mao Yao and aloe gums have shown the activity of increased glucose tolerance in both normal and diabetic rats, according to the study of “Studies on the activity of individual plants of an antidiabetic plant mixture” by Al-Awadi FM, Gumaa KA., posted in PubMed (1)
8. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent.
Mo Yao may be used to treat sepsis as it has shown the property inhibition of LPS-induced productions of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin E(2), and tumor necrosis factor-α by decreased infiltration of leukocytes and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase level, according to the study of “Myrrh inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory response and protects from cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis” by Kim MS, Bae GS, Park KC, Koo BS, Kim BJ, Lee HJ, Seo SW, Shin YK, Jung WS, Cho JH, Kim YC, Kim TH, Song HJ, Park SJ., Posted in PubMed(2)
9. Liver Cancer
Mo Yao may be used in prevting and treating liver cancer due to the effectiveness of certain chemical compound, but with care due to potential hepatotoxicity, according to the study of “Potential chemoprevention of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats: Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) vs. turmeric (Curcuma longa)” by El-Shahat M, El-Abd S, Alkafafy M, El-Khatib G., posted in PubMed(3)
10. Prostate cancer
Belive or not, Mo Yao has shown anti-proliferative activity in prostate cancer cells inhibit androgen receptor due to the chemical compound Sesquiterpenoids, in somedays, it may be used to prevent and treat prostate cancer, according to the study of “Sesquiterpenoids from myrrh inhibit androgen receptor expression and function in human prostate cancer cells” by Wang XL, Kong F, Shen T, Young CY, Lou HX, Yuan HQ., posted in PubMed(4)
11. Huoxuezhitong recipe
Huoxuezhitong recipe or formula containing Mo Yao or has been used effectively for the proliferation and conglutination of epidural scar tissue by influencing the pathway of mitochondrial apoptosis and the expression of related gene (Caspase-3, -9, Bax, Bcl-2) , according to the study of “[Effects of Huoxuezhitong recipe on the pathway of mitochondrial apoptosis and the expression of related gene in epidural scar tissue]. [Article in Chinese]” by Fan XL, Zhou H, Xia ZM, Niu HX, Luo JJ., posted in PubMed(5)
12. Anti-parasites
Schistosoma mansoni is a significant parasite of humans caused by intestinal schistosomiasis. Mao Yao extract has shown a promising result in some study in treating different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni in mices, according to the study of “Evaluation of “Myrrh extract” against Schistosoma mansoni: a histological study” Massoud AM, El Ebiary FH, Ibrahim SH, Saleh HA, Khalil HH., posted in PubMed(6)

Cautious

1. Since Myrrh is an uterine stimulant, it may cause miscarriage in pregnant women
2. People who suffer from kidney disease should not take it, due to property which facilitates drainage.
3. Etc.