Easing Painful Menstrual Cramps Using the Chinese Herbs Frankincense and Myrrh

Frankincense and myrrh are two herbs mentioned repeatedly in the bible.  I find it fascinating that Egyptians used myrrh for embalming the bodies of Pharaohs while frankincense was used in India as incense for worship during biblical times.  These shrubs, or small trees, of the family Burseraceae produce a liquid when the bark is punctured.  That liquid or resin is then dried and cooked with vinegar or honey for medicinal uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  While both trees originated in the Arabian peninsula, we know they arrived in China by 400 AD, where the exploration of their medicinal properties was noted.

What’s incredible is that the resin from both of these trees is used in TCM combinations or herb formulas mainly to unblock the flow of blood, treat traumatic injury and stop pain. They are excellent for abdominal pain during menstruation and for irregular menstruation .  These herbal resins can also be used in combination to help treat amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation).  Furthermore, both can be used externally.  Frankincense is known to ease the tendons and muscles while myrrh is used for non-healing sores such as bed sores.

Dietary supplements are produced from the active substance of frankincense, known as Boswellic acid.  Researchers have identified Boswellic acid as a potent anti-inflammatory agent .  This acid inhibits the 5-LOX (lipoxygenase) system, which is involved with enzymatic pathways that produce leukotrienes and thrombaxanes (inflammatory molecules) from fatty acids.  Drugs that inhibit this pathway are normally used to treat arthritis, asthma and ulcerative colitis.  Unlike conventional NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, the accepted treatments for pain and inflammation, prepared boswellia doesn't seem to cause stomach irritation in small doses and it does not cause liver damage like acetaminophen.  The anti-inflammatory properties of Boswellic acid  are also effective  in reducing the aching and stiffness associated with back pain.

Myrrh resin contains guggulsterone.  Research has revealed that guggulsterone, also known as Guggul, has cholesterol-lowering properties.1 By inhibiting the FXR gene in the nucleus of liver cells, this leads to the more efficient excretion of cholesterol in the liver, thus lowering serum cholesterol levels.  Amazing what comes from a scrubby desert tree.

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes frankincense and myrrh as blood regulating herbs that complement each other. They invigorate the blood, dispel blood stasis and reduce swelling, relieve pain and promote healing.  It is more than coincidence that myrrh is commonly used in TCM for menstrual irregularities and Western medicine research  substantiates guggul’s ability to improve liver functions.  TCM theory emphasizes the importance of liver blood for regular and healthy menstrual function and recognizes stagnate liver blood as a cause of painful periods.

Given the compelling scientific evidence regarding the chemicals in these two herbal resins and the history of frankincense and myrrh, we can be certain of their potent medicinal properties.  It certainly is amazing that nature has given us such powerful medicines for menstrual cramps, arthritis, cholesterol and for pain.  Nature sure has had a remarkable way of providing for our needs, today and in ancient times.

1.(Tripathi YB, et all Thyroid stimulating actions of z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora mukul. Planta Med 1984;1:78).