Tradition and Trade
Myrrh
 Myrrh
is a yellowish-red sweet-smelling resin. It oozes from damaged bark
of certain trees in the genus Commiphora. The major commercial
source is Commiphora myrrha. The resin gums up the mouthparts
of attacking insects such as termites and its antibiotic properties
protect the trees against infection through wounds in their bark.
Ancient Egyptians used the resin to preserve mummies - its antibiotic
qualities reduced decay, it helped to prevent the tissues falling
apart, and it smelt sweet.
 Commiphora
trees are found in the bushland that covers the drier parts of tropical
Africa, Arabia, Madagascar and India. Large areas of bush have been
cleared for cultivation, firewood, building materials or animal
fodder. Without the trees, wind and rain erode the underlying soil,
producing infertile sub-desert. However, if protected, many native
plants, including myrrh, could provide valuable crops of oils, gums
and resins.
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