One of the sacred sacraments in Christianity is anointing. In ancient Israel, kings and priests were accepted for accession to the throne in this way. The sacrament symbolized their sincere service to God. It was believed that this would exclude the possibility of an impostor taking power into his own hands. Subsequently, the sacred rite was acceptable for all people who were baptized. This meant that those who were anointed entered the Bosom of Christ’s Church.
The concept of “anointing” consists of two words, the first of which means myrrh, or a special composition of fragrant substances with the help of which the sacrament of initiation is performed. In the Old Testament, the ointment was made at the behest of the Lord, who commanded Moses to use holy anointing oil. It is believed that myrrh oil from Jerusalem, otherwise known as spikenard oil, is consecrated on the Holy Sepulcher and has a healing effect on a person and his destiny.
Characteristics and properties
Varieties
There are two varieties of myrrh - bitter and sweet. Varieties differ in composition and place of growth.
Taste and color
Distilled essential oil of myra is viscous and fluid, has a tart, slightly bitter aroma with smoky notes. The color has different shades of amber color: from yellowish to brown.
Receipt method
Myrrh is made from the resin of trees of the Burzeraceae family, which grow in Africa and Arabia.
It is obtained by distillation using steam. At the same time, only 10% of the oil can be extracted from 100% of the raw materials. Another method of obtaining is extraction with carbon dioxide, but this method, according to experts, takes away some useful qualities from myrrh.
Compound:
- selinene
- bisabolene
- bourbonen
- linalool
- caryophyllene
- kadinen
- germacrene
- alpha-santalene
- humulene
- lindestren.
Beneficial features
- disinfecting effect
- expectorant
- promotes skin regeneration
- has a tonic effect on internal organs
- helps strengthen hair
Impact on the emotional sphere
Myrrh is the oil of enlightenment and renunciation of vanity. The aroma of this unique aroma oil allows you to highlight the main thing, eliminate the confusion of emotions and thoughts, and understand your own aspirations and feelings. Warming and warm, it brings meaning and spirituality, allows you to achieve psychological stability and promotes a constructive way out of psychological depression.
The smell of myrrh has a great effect on sleep, making it easy, quick and bright.
It is believed that the aroma of myrrh helps you open up to others, including your loved ones, learn to forgive and accept, and most importantly, understand the actions and mistakes of the people around you. This is an ideal oil for meditation aimed at analyzing self-esteem and self-acceptance.
Myrrh is considered an active aphrodisiac that increases sensitivity, brings a sense of sophistication and unusualness of emotions, and evokes deep mutual feelings.
Miro from Jerusalem
A common mistake is to confuse myrrh and myrrh.
Myrrh is prepared from oil with the addition of white grape wine and aromatic substances, such as incense, galangal roots, rose petals, violet petals, and aromatic oils: rose, nutmeg, lemon, clove and others. There are about 40 components in total.
The composition and quantity of oil and incense used in making myrrh is approximate. Usually those that are available at a given time and place are used.
Elei is the highest quality olive oil.
Myrrh is used in the sacred Christian ritual of anointing. That is why this ether has truly healing properties.
It is believed that every Christian should have myrrh. He will save him from illnesses and protect him from the unclean spirit. To do this, you need to lubricate the sore spot, massaging it a little, and lubricate the forehead in a cross pattern. At the same time, it is better to say words of prayer and blessing.
The magical power of spikenard flower
There is a flower whose homeland is ancient India - spikenard, the healing properties of which have been known since ancient times. It was valued as a unique skin care product and various medicines were made from it. It was used as an antifungal, warming, diuretic and drying agent. It is believed that spikenard oil helps restore the physiological balance of the skin and can be used for skin problems (rashes, allergies).
An oil of a pleasant amber hue is extracted from the flower, which helps get rid of emotional tensions and old grievances. By consuming spikenard flower oil, anxiety gradually disappears and internal tension goes away.
Gospel ointment from nard is blessed by the Church and is used for anointing sick places, as well as for the sacrament of consecration. Once upon a time, in Biblical times, it was considered a great value, which was difficult for an ordinary person to acquire at once and in large quantities. For a long time, denying themselves everything, women bought it drop by drop to save for the future.
Mary Magdalene made a great sacrifice: she took the purest ointment and gave every drop to Jesus Christ as a token of gratitude for the resurrection of her brother Lazarus. In those days, anointing a person’s head with myrrh was considered a great honor. But Mary did not raise her eyes to Jesus: bowing her head before him, she reverently poured myrrh at his feet and wiped the Savior’s feet with her hair. This event is described by several Evangelists.
Combination with other aroma oils
Compatible with:
- juniper
- lavender
- cypress
- grapefruit
- incense
- nutmeg
- rose oil
- patchouli
- pine
- sandalwood
Doesn't fit:
- orange
- mandarin
- tea tree
Myrrh oil: production
In the production of oil, the main role is played by myrrh resin - gum. Incisions are specially made in the tree so that the substance flows out of the bark and hardens under the influence of oxygen. The resin is collected and processed using one of two technologies:
- Carbon dioxide extraction technology. The main advantage is that this method ensures complete extraction of substances. The volume of extract in the raw material and at the output is the same. Therefore, the resulting oil is quite aggressive and highly concentrated. It must be used with caution. The aroma is pronounced, the consistency is viscous, and the quality is the highest.
- Steam distillation technology, in which ether is released from plant cells under the action of steam. The resulting oil is viscous, but not as thick as after carbon dioxide extraction. The hue varies from pale yellow to amber.
Therefore, before using the oil, you need to read the instructions and the method of its production. Depending on the technology, the methods of using the oil will differ. Myrrh oil , obtained by carbon dioxide extraction, is used in smaller quantities or in diluted form.
Interesting! The production of myrrh oil began BC in Ancient Egypt. Until the 13th century BC, it was forbidden to be used for non-ritual purposes: only for mummification and rituals. The properties of myrrh are mentioned in the Gospel, and the Christian Church often used it together with incense.
Dosage
- Aroma lamp – 3-5 drops for every 20 square meters. m.
- Cold inhalations – 3-4 drops for 5 minutes.
- For cosmetics – add 5-7 drops per 10 ml
- Compresses – 5 drops of oil for 1 glass of water.
- In combination with other oils - 5-7 drops of myrrh oil and 3-4 drops of another oil.
- For massage - 5-6 drops of myrrh per 10 ml of base.
- Baths – 5-7 drops of myrrh and 50 ml of milk, honey and sea salt
Reviews
On the Internet you can not find many reviews about the use of myrrh essential oil. And the reason is its high cost. There are many other fragrances without smoky notes, some of them attract money, others cleanse the aura, remove negativity, and this product falls into both categories. It was not for nothing that etherol was valued for centuries, although later, with the development of French perfumery, it lost its former popularity. Anyone who has managed to purchase such a useful product undoubtedly recommends the product.
Myrrh oil: in the pharmacy
Finding myrrh oil is not an easy task. Often there are fakes at an inflated price or oils from dubious manufacturers. What to do in this case? The best option is to purchase myrrh oil from American pharmaceutical companies. They are delivered worldwide by the iHerb online store. The link to it is given below. All you need to do is select a product on the website, place an order and wait for the parcel. This is especially convenient for residents of large cities, for example, Moscow or St. Petersburg. But not only that, even in regional cities there are pick-up points.
Types of Church Oils
All fragrances from the church shop have a pleasant, persistent, but unobtrusive scent. The scents are so harmonious that they not only do not distract from important thoughts, but also do not violate someone else’s personal space.
There are fragrances with floral names, as if the manufacturers remind us of the diversity of our flora: “Lily of the valley”, “Gardenia”, “Linden blossom”. There are fragrances with the names of holy places: “Byzantium”, “Athos”, “Jerusalem”. The names of the oils also mention the church holidays “Trinity”, “Rozhdestvenskoe”, “Easter”. There are scents with “fantasy” names such as “Paradise Bouquet”, etc.
Priest Evgeny Stupitsky:
“Orthodoxy is sympathetic to the use of perfumes. It all depends on what purpose you will use this perfume for. It’s one thing to seduce and attract another person of the opposite sex, another thing to exude a subtle aroma and be pleasant for your beloved spouse. And this is your choice: to become an object of temptation using perfume or not. Become an opponent of God, or be with Him. »
“Linden blossom” exudes the honeyed scent of linden;
"Lily of the valley" - has the typical smell of the May lily of the valley. It is very similar to the famous “Silver Lily of the Valley” perfume from the Novaya Zarya factory;
“Strawberry” smells like fragrant wild berries;
“Byzantium” wraps you in warm incense smoke;
“Altai” oil with a herbal-balsamic accent;
“Hvoya” has a woody-resinous aroma.
Church incense. How to use
The following types of incense are used in temples:
Oil is oil (usually olive) for anointing during the Sacrament of Unction.
Miro is an aromatic oil with the addition of aromatic herbs.
Myrrh (myrrh) is a hardened resin from the bark of a tree of the Burzer family.
Frankincense is the hardened resin of the Boswellia tree.
There is a separate article about incense: How to choose and light incense. This article will focus on aromatic oils.
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Myrrh oil: for body skin (for radiance)
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Myrrh oil nourishes the skin of the body, thanks to which it acquires a natural radiance and shine. Dry areas do not flake, but, on the contrary, look healthy and smooth. This is an important property that allows myrrh oil to lotions, tonics and creams.
Ether can be used in its pure form. List of the most popular procedures and body products:
- Mix massage oil (15 ml) and myrrh oil (2 drops). Perform a massage, paying special attention to problem areas (hips, buttocks, abdomen). Regular procedures improve blood circulation, make the skin soft and help get rid of cellulite.
- Add 10 drops of oil to store-bought body lotion. Shake the contents thoroughly. Apply daily to skin after shower for radiant and nourished skin.
- Draw a bath and add up to 10 drops of oil to the water. Take a bath for 20 minutes, which will help you relax and improve skin tone.
In addition, myrrh oil effectively heals the skin. Scratches and scars may appear on the body, so the main thing is to prevent them from becoming infected and speed up regeneration. This ester, like lavender, rose and sandalwood oil, restores the epidermis after damage.
Myrrh oil: price
Real myrrh oil differs significantly in price from fakes. Moreover, the cost also depends on the supplier and seller. You can buy highly concentrated oil from American manufacturers on the website, the link to which is provided below. You can also apply iHerb promotions - they allow each buyer to receive a discount on their first and future orders.
In the catalog, dietary supplements are 1.5-3 times cheaper than on other sites. Coenzyme Q10, retinol, black soap, medium chain triglyceride oil - all supplements are available to every buyer. Trust your health to iHerb.
Myrrh oil: composition
The properties of myrrh oil are determined by its chemical composition. Most of the components are complex terpenes and their derivatives, terpenoids:
- pinene,
- limonene,
- selinene,
- linalool,
- caryophyllene,
- bisabolene,
- germakren,
- codeine, etc.
Also contains other substances:
- phenols (eugenol);
- acetic and myrroleic acid.
Important! One of the most valuable components of myrrh oil is codeine. This substance is included in most medications against fever and cough. Due to its analgesic properties, it is used for mild to moderate pain.
Application
Like perfume on the skin
If you use incense as a perfume, then apply it to the “pulse points” - behind the ears, neck, wrists. It should be remembered that the oil is consecrated and therefore cannot be used for worldly purposes.
It is not recommended to apply incense to clothes, so as not to leave stains on it that you are unlikely to be able to wash off. And the oil most likely will not be fragrant on fabric - it needs to “feel” the skin in order to reveal its aroma.
Fortunately, the clergy are tolerant of fragrances on parishioners.
“The Holy Scripture says, “The Sabbath is made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” So the rules are for man, not man for the rules. As for perfumes, you shouldn’t get hung up on the fact that this is such a terrible sin. Even in the Holy Scriptures it is written “that if we fast, we do not seem to be fasting; on the contrary, anoint your body” so that you do not feel that you are in such despondency.
In lamp oil or on icons
In church candle shops they also mention such a method as sprinkling icons with this fragrant oil, as well as adding it to lamp oil to aromatize the premises.
How to choose and light a lamp, read the article Lamp for the home.
With prayer for sore spots
Churched old women recommend lubricating sore spots with obligatory reverence and prayer.
Some grandmothers add oil to holy water, but most likely this is not recommended, since the oil, although natural, is still not a medicine for oral administration.
As oil
Olive oil is called oil, and now any vegetable oil that is used in Orthodox church life. Priests anoint church parishioners with it at morning and evening services.
It is possible to use church incense at home during prayer to prepare your thoughts and feelings for turning to God. If church oil is used as oil, then it should be applied to the body in a cross shape with reverence and prayer (preferably: “Our Father...”). The oil must be applied with clean hands or using a cotton swab.
Some recommend buying a special glass rod at the pharmacy, which is commonly used for ointments and liniments.
In aroma lamps
Many people use oils in aroma lamps to create an aroma of “comfort and warmth” at home.
“The Church has not usurped the right to own certain smells. People can light lamps, burn incense in their homes, so that the whole family can tune in to prayer, because a family is a small Church. And if one of the perfumers uses in their works the smells of incense and other aromas that we hear in the Church, then there is nothing wrong with that. It is not the smells themselves that are endowed with sacred meaning, but the conditions under which they are used and for what purpose...”
Myrrh oil: smell
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The smell of myrrh oil is valued as much as the properties of the ether itself. It is pronounced and has woody notes due to the gum. Myrrh is considered a natural aphrodisiac that can relax the body and mind, imparting relaxation and calm. Also, the smell has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state. After aromatherapy, sleep is normalized, headaches are less bothersome, and it is easier to fight depression. How to properly and safely carry out aromatherapy procedures, read in the section “Myrrh oil: how to use.”
