# What IS Myrrh anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582 "2002-12-18T16:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/1 "2002-12-18T16:45:35Z")
There is a Starbucks in my store (Barnes and Noble) and this question is written on a cup-warmer thingie that they place around all the cups. So it got me to thinking and I thought I’d turn to my ever-faithful Doper buddies to answer that question. What _IS_ myrrh anyway? A spice? IDBB ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/2 "2002-12-18T16:55:05Z")
Dried tree sap from the myrrh bush used as incense, perfume, astringents, mouthwash, etc. All you wanted to know about it is at [http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question283.htm&url=http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/myrrh-66.html](http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question283.htm&url=http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/myrrh-66.html) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/3 "2002-12-18T16:58:16Z")
Here is a link with information: [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/myrrh-66.html](http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/myrrh-66.html) Yes, it is a spice. It is also one of the three gifts given by the Magi to Jesus. Perhaps the question was wondering in the philosophical/spiritual significance of myrrh? ---
**Author:** ![mrcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/4 "2002-12-18T17:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\*Here is a link with information: > > [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/myrrh-66.html](http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/myrrh-66.html) > > Yes, it is a spice. It is also one of the three gifts given by the Magi to Jesus. Perhaps the question was wondering in the philosophical/spiritual significance of myrrh? \*\* it was used for embalming the ‘gift’ signifies Jesus significant death. nard is another spice used to perfume the body remember it was used to anoint Jesus by magdala and protestations by judas as to its waste on Him He was being prepared for this death people dont seem to understand gold=divinity kingship frankinsence=the showbread=worship myhrrh=embalment=preparation for an afterlife. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/5 "2002-12-18T17:03:36Z")
It’s a perfumey substance that, I understand, was commonly used to anoint the dead. See, for example, the fourth (little-sung) verse of the song “We Three Kings”: > [@](#): > > Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume > Breathes a life of gathering gloom > Sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying > Sealed in the stone-cold tomb ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/6 "2002-12-18T17:05:12Z")
[Monty Python] It is an ointment. [/MP] Truly, though–it is. Excellent for rashes as well as everything others have said. ---
**Author:** ![mrcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/7 "2002-12-18T17:05:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > \*\*It’s a perfumey substance that, I understand, was commonly used to anoint the dead. See, for example, the fourth (little-sung) verse of the song “We Three Kings”: \*\* there may have been 12 kings…3 is not confirmed there’s a good video called the 4th king…its a christian one and quite prophetic ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/8 "2002-12-19T14:28:13Z")
Thank you.🙂 IDBB ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/9 "2002-12-19T18:39:34Z")
You can buy it here all over, especially in the spice souk. It smells like a darker, mustier(?) or more bitter version of frankincense. (Which smells like the inside of a Catholic church, or high Anglican church). You release its smell by letting it melt and bubble and steam on a hot piece of charcoal. Tincture of myrrh is supposed to be a herbal cure for urinary disorders (or a urinary tract cleanser or something). It tastes vile, even in huge dilution, a thousand times worse than echinacea. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-myrrh-anyway/143582/10 "2002-12-19T20:29:40Z")
[mp]It’s a dangerous animal. Quick, throw it in the trough.[/mp]