# Modern day myrrh

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [December 22, 2018, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524 "2018-12-22T10:01:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2018, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524/1 "2018-12-22T10:01:46Z")

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> [@The Perfect Master](#):
>
> Evidently, given the limited pharmacopoeia of the time, myrrh was the default answer to all problems. “So, Brutus, the differential go out? Better put some myrrh on it.”

[Cite.](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1300/why-did-the-magi-consider-frankincense-and-myrrh-such-valuable-gifts/)

When I read that, I imediately thought of this [little ditty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSReSGe200A) by Rhett & Link.

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**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524/2 "2018-12-22T15:56:39Z")

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I thought of [this old National Lampoon Radio Hour bit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMalwzjJ3vY):

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524/3 "2018-12-22T21:37:17Z")

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Everyone knows the proper answer to the question “Well, what is myrrh, anyway?” is “It is a valuable balm.”

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524/4 "2018-12-24T03:30:26Z")

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No one knows what a balm’s gonna do. They’re unpredictable.

Dennis

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**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524/5 "2018-12-24T20:39:54Z")

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I suppose it comes from balm trees.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-myrrh/826524/6 "2018-12-26T04:49:28Z")

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This is what I thought of immediately: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, “Gospel Truth”. [Gospel Truth - YouTube](https://youtu.be/0smTooIYDO0?t=486)

That’s the relevant part, but the whole thing is funny.

There’s also a longer video version, but it handles the myrrh differently, so to speak.