Myrrh

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/myrrh

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical composition?Contains volatile oils (terpenes, sesquiterpenes), resinous acids, and polysaccharides
2. What is the reported pharmacological actions?Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, antioxidant, and mood-enhancing properties
3. What is myrrh and where does it come from?Myrrh is a sticky sap that comes from small thorny trees called Commiphora that grow in hot places like the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa. It is made when the tree’s bark is cut and the sap flows out to protect the tree.
4. Why do people use myrrh for smelling nice and healing?People use myrrh because it smells nice and has natural medicine inside it. It can help heal cuts, soothe sore throats, and make perfumes and incense.

Gum-resin: A viscous, aromatic exudate from plants, typically a mixture of gums and resins, used in perfumery and medicine.
Phytotherapy: The use of plants or plant extracts for medicinal purposes.
Antioxidant: A substance that inhibits oxidation, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Astringent: A substance that causes tissues to contract, often used to reduce bleeding or inflammation.