(Myrtus communis) Traditionally used to support healthy breathing, thyroid and hormonal balance and prostate function, to ease muscle spasms and soothe minor skin irritations and wounds.
"In addition to regular myrtle oil, 'green' and 'red' myrtle oils are available. Green Myrtle is high in myrtenyl acetate/linalool, and is produced in Corsica, and red myrtle refers to the cineole-rich type available from Morocco." - Robert Tisserand
Topical: Dilute with a carrier oil, unscented lotion or unscented cream and apply on area of concern or as desired. Consider using a roll-on applicator for ease of application of prediluted oil. The maximum dermal use level should be 1.9% (Tisserand/Young). Myrtle is suitable to be used for massage, with a compress, in the bath, sitz bath, douche, ointments and skin care lotions.
Kurt Schnaubelt notes that one might consider using 4 drops essential oil per 10mL base oil for nose drops. This may be too strong for some, so if you feel to try drops, we'd suggest that you start with 1 drop and add more up to 4 drops until you are comfortable.
Inhalation: Diffuse or use a personal Nasal Inhaler Internal: Oral Caution: Diabetes medication The quality of Myrtle is suitable for internal use within safe parameters, if such use is deemed appropriate. We feel that internal use is rarely *needed* and should only be used with respect for how concentrated the oils are. HEO does not advocate internal use of essential oils without appropriate knowledge and understanding of how to administer, for what purpose, how much, which essential oils, safety concerns and so on. In our experience, essential oils are generally more effective used topically with proper dilution or inhaled. Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D. notes that "French aromatherapy literature contains many references to using oils orally." He goes on to note that "generally 1 drop is always enough when ingesting essential oils." A potential toxicity hazard could occur when untrained people use essential oils orally and ingest too much. Keep in mind that while medical doctors or health care practitioners may prescribe essential oils for internal use, they are trained and experienced in the safe application of essential oils. It is not a matter of using "French aromatherapy" or "British" methods, it's a matter of experience and appropriate application.
Click here for more information about Internal Usage. A drop in a glass of water can be used as a gargle for oral and pharyngeal mucus.
The maximum daily oral dose is about 0.06 ml. (Tisserand/Young).
3. Thank you so much for all you have done to help us get our child with Reactive Airway Disease (asthma) off all of her medications. In only two months after using Myrtle, we are medication free! Your suggestions of what oils to use and how have helped us to remove her completely off meds and that hasn't happened since she was 6 months old (she is now almost 6). What a blessing! I thank God for all that you do and the knowledge He has given you with oils. Thanks so much for sharing that knowledge with all of us! - A.K. 4. My 3-month-old son woke up congested. He was hardly able to nurse because he couldn't breathe. Our normally happy guy was very fussy. I ordered Myrtle so I could swab his nostrils. After swabbing, I nursed him, and after 3 days of not nursing well and being fussy, he is content. I am so amazed by God's incredible design, and as I learn more, my heart overflows with praise to Him! - R.S. 5. For sinus issues, I apply diluted Myrtle around our little one's nostrils. I tried this on myself first so I could be sure that this would not be irritating, and it was very pleasant. A drop of Myrtle on a cotton swab can be used to gently swab the nostrils to help eradicate or prevent sinus infection. When I first did this with our little one, I sat in front of her and showed her what I was going to do. I took a cotton swab, put a drop of Myrtle on the end, and then I swabbed MY nostril. I smiled and made very positive comments on how nice it was and how much better I could breathe. I did my other nostril, and then I asked her if she'd like for me to let her do it. By this point, she was excited to do what Mommy seemed to enjoy so much. She let me do it for her the first few times, but very quickly she graduated to being able to do this for herself. We dilute with Comfrey/Calendula salve. - Linda 6. Thanks to Essential Oils, it has been over year with no antibiotics for my daughter. I think that is a record, and considering we flew around the world and moved to a new country, it's remarkable. She has Down Syndrome, and a simple cold would become a sinus infection. I am thankful for HEO. We use Myrtle in the nostril. When she has been with other kids (co-op, AWANA) or starts to sound like she is getting something, we put Plague Defense on her feet. If her chest sounds congested we use Lung Support. I am not super consistent, but I use the oils when her nose is runny or her chest sounds congested or when she might be exposed to illness. If she gets something, I will switch between Warrior and Plague Defense. - Beth 7. Myrtle is an adaptogen and can be beneficial in balancing a hyperthyroid. I have extreme thyroid issues (as in, no thyroid at all), and my levels generally fluctuate between hypo and hyper. I have found the Myrtle oil to be very helpful in assisting my body in its absorption and use of my thyroid hormone replacement medication. I truly feel a difference when I use it. I dilute it in a carrier (whatever I have on hand) and apply it topically to my neck and to my back. Yes, I realize that Myrtle cannot help a thyroid that doesn't exist when I apply it to my neck (haha!), but it seems to help out my parathyroids. I apply it to my back because it helps with my adrenal fatigue. Using Myrtle EO has been a HUGE blessing to me. I feel better than I have in over a decade. - Rachelle 8. I have been using Myrtle neat in my nose with a Q-tip to try to get rid of my sinus headaches. It seems to work well. Most of the time, I have been able to avoid taking Advil and Sudafed, which is what I would have done before. Sometimes I will smell Peppermint too, but the myrtle is now what I try first. I am not crazy about the Myrtle smell, but I really picky about smells, especially with a headache. Within 10 minutes I am feeling better though. Sometimes I will reapply a few times. - Leslie 9. All day Friday I had what felt like a bad cold or allergy symptoms. Congestion, watery eyes, runny nose. I remembered reading a testimony about using Myrtle oil ( swabbed neat inside both nostrils). I did that a couple of times Friday and diffused Eucalyptus oil that night. Saturday I got up and took my kids to an amusement park! Started feeling bad again Saturday night (after all day in the sun), swabbed with Myrtle, diffused eucalyptus and got up this morning, went to church, came home and cleaned house all day. No more symptoms!! It also worked on my 9 year old with same symptoms. Lord willing, I won't ever be without those 2 oils again! Thank you HEO!!! - Mitzi 10. I just recently got Myrtle, and I've already had a few nights where I felt stuffiness coming on. I swabbed my nostrils and could breathe fine when I went to bed. I think it helped to ward off a cold that was trying to attack. I'm very happy with the results! - Kelly 11. I have ordered Myrtle oil recently for my 8-year-old daughter. She had bad allergies and stuffiness all the time. After using Myrtle oil, she feels much better and can breath easily. She uses it neat inside her nose once a day before she goes to bed. It is very gentle oil. I tried it before her. I would like to thank Linda and her team for these amazing oils. - Anju [HEO's comment: Although neat use doesn't seem to irritate, regular use like this will likely dry the sinuses. We stongly suggest that one dilute or use a salve after swabbing with Myrtle.]
12. Myrtle is great! We use it at the first sign of anything respiratory. We just put it on a Q-tip and swab it just inside the nose. We don't usually have any problems with using oils neat, but you should dilute it just in case. - Sheryl 13. Myrtle is the best for resp/sinus issues!! - Mitzi 14. Myrtle swabbed in the nostrils rocks! - Dana 15. My husband loves to swab his nostrils with Myrtle. - Norma 16. Myrtle neat in the nose is great. I've been doing that at bedtime and when I get up all week. It sure helps me breathe! - Laura [HEO's comment: Dilute or follow with a salve to avoid drying out the nasal passages.] 17. For the last week I've been suffering from an upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and extreme chronic negative pressure in one ear. It's been a challenging week to teach 6th grade!. I've been swabbing Myrtle (a family FAVE...my 4yo often asks for it by name) in my nose for my sinuses. I borrowed the diffuser from my toddler's room and started diffusing Lung Support at night as I sleep. As soon as I turned it on, within MINUTES, I had a productive cough, actually getting some stuff loosened and up. Also, Ear-B Well blend, diluted, on the back of my ear and on a cotton ball stuck in my ear is the only thing giving me relief there. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! - Liz
18. I love Myrtle for opening up sinuses. - Tzadi
19. After reading the testimonials on Myrtle, I was so excited to find it worked just as well for me. I have chronic sinus problems and Myrtle was such a blessing, clearing some stuffiness when I used it around my nostrils every night. However, I'm really sad to share (that even though I knew better), I was so happy to have found something so effective, I completely forgot about potential sensitization with repeated use. After a year plus of nightly use of diluted myrtle, I now have itching, irritation and peeling of the skin around my nose. I just wanted to share my experience by way of reminder that sensitization does happen even with gentle oils. Use wisely. - Jana 20. I’ve heard that nasal polyps are caused by acid. I started drinking apple cider vinegar tonic daily to deal with the acidity and swabbed my nostrils with diluted Myrtle and they disappeared. Tonic: 1 TB ACV (raw, organic, unfiltered by Bragg) 1 TB raw honey Mix well together and add a cup of water
21. My daughter was diagnosed with RAD (Reactive Airway Disease) when she was 6 months old. From the time of her diagnosis until she was about 5, our daughter was on oral steroids an average of at least once a month and was taking three different maintenance meds. We noticed her behavior started to change from our always happy, easy-going child to a very emotional and high strung child. The meds were definitely playing a part on her behavior and not even helping with her RAD. We could really tell no change in her since starting the meds. We also changed the meds up several times trying to find the right "combination" for her but still had no results. I contacted Hopewell Essential Oils because I met a woman using No Bites! for her children outside our dance studio. The mosquitoes were so bad there and the typical bug spray wasn't cutting it, but her kids were untouched by the mosquitoes. I immediately ordered some No Bites! and started looking on the HEO website for help with my daughter's RAD. I emailed Hopewell and asked for suggestions because I felt so defeated by all the natural things and medical things we had tried. We had tried so many things that all the oils just seemed like another time waster for me, but I was desperate. I am so glad we tried what Linda with HEO suggested. She suggested oils/blends for us to prayerfully consider, and we started our daughter on Myrtle swabbed in each nostril twice a day. [HEO's suggestion is to dilute and/or follow with a salve such as Comfrey/Calendula Salve.] We would also put Respiratory Relief in her room diffuser when she would sleep. That was it! We saw immediate results within a few weeks! Within a month, I was able to take my daughter off not one but ALL of her maintenance meds. We had such great results that I started experimenting with oils for her focusing. I started using Dr. Hull's Mental Blend to help with her focus! We put some on the base of her neck once a day in the morning before we started homeschool. It was such an immediate difference in her focus! When our daughter would ever have the beginning signs of a cold or sinus infection coming on, we would rub the soles of her feet with Warrior, Top Gun, Respiratory Relief and Plague Defense as much as we could during the day. We would also put Mother's Remedy and Respiratory Relief in her room diffuser. This routine would either fight it off completely or make it mush less than what it would have normally been. The first year of using nothing but oils, she has only been on steroids once! After about a year of doing Myrtle twice daily, our daughter's nose started getting irritated after using it. We decided this was a way that her body was telling us that it no longer needed it. - Amy UPDATE-We are now 2 years since using Myrtle and have not been on ANY maintenance meds, nor have we had to use steroids even once since stopping the Myrtle! Praise the Lord for His healing hand in the oils! - Amy 22. My husband has had horrible allergies for years! We've tried every medication known to mankind, adding food changes and injections! Nothing worked! I found Hopewell Essential Oils thanks to my daughter. We tried several oils/blends including Myrtle, Allergy Relief and Lung Support. All brought a measure of help, but the thing that he finally did, and which has been an almost miraculous healing of allergies for him, was to swab the inside of his nostrils with Hopewell Oils' Eucalyptus radiata. He does this morning and night, and if he has an attack in between. Since he's started this regimen, he seldom ever has problems anymore! After 30 years of daily suffering, God has used His oils and His servants at Heritage Oils to heal my husband. I am ever so thankful! - Susan
Children Caution: Tisserand notes that "any oil with 40% or more 1,8-cineole should not be applied to the face of infants or children or otherwise inhaled by them" (page 109).
Avoid contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas. Essential oils are both lipophilic and hydrophobic. Lipophilic means they are attracted to fat—like the membranes of your eyes and skin. They are also hydrophobic, meaning they do not like water. Flushing with water will only send the essential oil back to the eye's membranes. Applying a carrier oil will create another fat for the essential oil to be attracted to other than the membranes of the eyes or skin. We’ve not known this to cause permanent injury or long-term discomfort, but if you feel concerned, please call your health care provider.
