Myrrh extract – What are the health benefits? A supplement that contains Guggul is most important. It is extracted from the Commiphora mukul or Indian myrrh tree.
Myrrh is most commonly used as incense that is made from the dried sap of a number of different trees. Some of types are beneficial to the health, others are not. Only the ones that contain Guggul have medicinal activity.
The myrrh extract benefits have been valued since Ancient times. It was a staple of Ayurvedic medicine, which is still widely practiced throughout India, today. Only in recent years has the active component (Guggul) been identified. Many of our ancient remedies have been evaluated by modern scientists. The thought that folk remedies were less beneficial to our health than modern-day drugs is slowly changing.
Health Benefitt::Anti-Inflammatory
Many of the chronic and life threatening health problems that people develop as they get older are due to chronic inflammation, free radical damage and oxidative stress. Prescription drugs that treat inflammation have little or no infect on chronic inflammation and they cannot prevent free radical damage or oxidative stress. But, natural anti-inflammatories, most of which are antioxidants, are highly beneficial for reducing our risk of diseases caused by chronic inflammation and free radical damage.
Health Benefit::Prevents Oxidation of Fats (Cholesterol)
Cancer and heart disease are out two biggest killers. Chronic inflammation plays a role in both of them. So does oxidation. One of the myrrh extract benefits is to prevent the oxidation of fats. Fat oxidation is what causes the plaque buildup that is seen in the arteries of people with atherosclerosis and other types of heart disease.
Health Benefit::Stronger Heart
Preliminary tests indicate that Guggul can help prevent death of the heart muscle. Other plant extracts, such as resveratrol derived from red grape skins, have been shown to prolong the life of the cells of the heart. It may be possible for people to live longer and have stronger hearts, if they simply take the right combination of supplements.
Health Benefit::Weight Loss
Other myrrh extract benefits include stimulation of the thyroid gland, which would be highly beneficial for people suffering from hypothyroidism. It could also be beneficial for other metabolic disorders and may help people lose weight. It has been shown to inhibit the production of cholesterol in the liver, similar to some of the popular weight loss aids.
Health Benefit::Acne
Because of its anti-inflammatory activity, Guggul can provide relief for arthritis sufferers and other painful conditions. This was one of its ancient uses. It was also used in a variety of skin diseases. Modern researchers have suggested that it could be beneficial for people that suffer from acne, because it seems to inhibit sebum production and bacterial growth in the pores.
Sebum is the oil produced by the glands within the skin. Bacteria, normally present on the skin, multiply in acne and cause these minor infections that we commonly refer to as pimples. Prescription drugs are largely ineffective against acne and are accompanied by numerous side effects. Treating acne is only one of the myrrh extract benefits, but it is of interest to many people.
More Health Benefits of Myrrh Extract
There are many other positive health benefits of Myrrh. For more complete details on the benefits of Myrrh Extract and other herbal extracts, please see my website listed below. -Larry L. Taylor