Myrrh
Myrrh is in the same family as frankincense, with a more bitter and thicker scent; it is frankincense's "partner" and also a heavy medicinal.
Aliases: Moya (transliteration).
Source: Resin from trees of the Burseraceae family (Commiphora), same family as frankincense but a different genus.
Origin: Somalia, Ethiopia, the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
Aroma: Bitter, earthy with a medicinal note, deeper and thicker than frankincense.
Uses: In blended incense, frankincense is added to enhance the layers; used medicinally, it disperses blood stasis, reduces swelling, and promotes tissue regeneration (together with frankincense, it is the chief ingredient of the 'Haifu San').
Frankincense and Myrrh in Mutual Reinforcement
In traditional Chinese medicine and incense formulas, 'frankincense—myrrh' are often used as a pair, one clear and one bitter, one rising and one sinking, seeIncense Materia Medica and Medical Formulas。