Opoponax

May 22nd, 2008

Botanical Name: Opoponax chironium
Family: N.O. Umbelliferae/Apiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Apiales
Genus: Opopanax
Synonym: Pastinaca Opoponax.Opopanax chironium, also known as “sweet myrrh” or “bisabol myrrh,”
Part Used: Concrete juice from the base of stem.
Habitat: The plant thrives in warm climates like Iran, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Somalia, but also grows in cooler climates. Some view opoponax grown in cooler climates as being of inferior quality. Levant, Persia, South France, Italy, Greece, Turkey,Somalia

Description: It is a herb that grows one to three feet high and produces a large, yellow flower. A perennial, with a thick, fleshy root. It has a branching stem growing about 1 to 3 feet high, thick and rough near the base. Leaves pinnate, with long petioles and large serrate leaflets, the terminal one cordate, the rest deficient at the base, hairy underneath. The flowers, yellowish, are in large, flat umbels at the top of the branches. The oleo resin is procured by cutting into the stem at the base. The juice that exudes, when sun-dried, forms the Opoponax of commerce. A warm climate is necessary to produce an oleo gum resin of the first quality; that from France is inferior, for this reason. In commerce it is sometimes found in tears, but usually in small, irregular pieces. Colour, reddish-yellow, with whitish specks on the outside, paler inside. Odour, peculiar, strongly unpleasant. Taste, acrid and bitter. It is inflammable, burning brightly.

Cultivation details
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any good garden soil[1]. It can tolerate considerable neglect, some plants we were growing were left to fend for themselves in very dense weed growth and survived well for 4 years before being moved to another site[K].

We are not sure how hardy this plant is, but the foliage has withstood short periods of temperatures down to -6°c with us.

A warm climate is necessary in order to produce good quality gum.

Plants seem to be very tolerant of root disturbance, specimens that had been growing for 4 years in one site grew away very well when transplanted as they came into growth in late autumn[K].
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in situ.

If seed is in short supply then it is best to sow it in a pot in the greenhouse in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer.

Constituents: Gum-resin, starch, wax, gum, lignin, volatile oil, malic acid, a slight trace of caoutchouc.

Medicinal Action and Uses:The gum (an oleo resin according to one report) that is obtained from the base of the stems is antispasmodic and deobstruent.. It is nowadays considered to be a medium of feeble powers though it was at one time widely used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, asthma, chronic visceral afflictions etcThe gum (an oleo resin according to one report) that is obtained from the base of the stems is antispasmodic and deobstruent It is nowadays considered to be a medium of feeble powers though it was at one time widely used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, asthma, chronic visceral afflictions etc

A consumable resin can be extracted from opoponax by cutting the plant at the base of a stem and sun-drying the juice that flows out. Though people often find the taste acrid and bitter, the highly flammable resin can be burned as incense to produce a scent somewhat like balsam or lavender. The resin has been used in treatment of spasms — and, before that, as an emmenagogue in treatment of asthma, chronic visceral infections, hysteria and hypochondria. Opoponax resin is most frequently sold in dried irregular pieces, though tear-shaped gems are not uncommon.

Antispasmodic, deobstruent. It is now regarded as a medium of feeble powers, but was formerly considered of service as an emmenagogue also in asthma, chronic visceral affections, hysteria and hypochondriasis. It is employed in perfumery.

Dose: 10 to 30 grains.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Other Uses:

Opoponax gum resin - Commiphora opoponax - from Somalia. Opoponax, also know as “sweet myrrh” and “bisabol myrrh”, has an earthy-sweet, balsam-like, lavender-like fragrance when used as incense.

King Solomon regarded opoponax as one of the “noblest” of all incense gums.

Various cultures used opoponax to guard against negative influences, strengthen the senses, and to increase awareness and intuition.

The gum (an oleo resin according to one report) that is obtained from the base of the stems is antispasmodic and deobstruent[4]. It is nowadays considered to be a medium of feeble powers though it was at

Opoponax is also used in the production of certain perfumes, and is the fragrance of one of the popular Diptyque candles.

Other Species: From some species of Mulinum, and Bolax Gillesii and B. clebaria (belonging to same order), a gum-resin similar to Opopanax is obtained, which is employed by the native Chilian practitioners.