Latin (Botanical) Name: Myrtus communis
Plant Family: Myrtaceae
Common Extraction Method: Steam distillation
Typically Used Plant Part: Leaf
Color: Pale yellow
Aromatic Characteristic: Sweet, fresh, slightly camphor aroma 
The myrtle plant was sacred to the goddesses Aphrodite and Demeter in Greek mythology and ritual. It was used as an emblem of love in wreaths and other decorations.
Aeneis is an epic of 12 books and 10 thousand lines written by the Latin poet Virgil between 20-19 BC. It is about the journey of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who is accepted as his Roman ancestor, to Italy, the work was left unfinished with the death of the poet. In the epic, Polydoros is the youngest son of Priam and Hecuba in the mythology of the Trojan War. He is killed in Thrace. The spears that pierce him magically transform into the myrtle tree marking his grave. Aeneas' attempts to uproot the bush cause the ground to bleed, and the voice of the dead Polydorus warns him to leave.
Victoria is Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India. She reigned for 63 years in the 19th century, she. The story goes that a myrtle stem from her wedding bouquet was replanted, and new branches from it were continually incorporated into royal wedding bouquets.
It was used in ancient medicine to treat many common diseases, including gastrointestinal, urinary and skin disorders.
Myrtle plant is usually short, sometimes 1-3 m. It can be a tree. It occurs naturally in the Mediterranean region, the temperate regions of the Middle East and North America, and in Australia. They are evergreen shrubs that produce fragrant pink and white flowers. It has sharp, pointed leaves and reddish-brown bark. It likes wetlands. Since the roots of the plant go deep into the soil and disperse close to the surface of the soil, it is effectively used to prevent erosion where it is found.
Edible myrtle berries have a pleasant, spicy taste and aromatic odour. The branches of the myrtle plant with fresh shoots are also planted in the graves because it smells good during visits.
Myrtle essential oil is obtained from the leaves of the myrtle plant by steam distillation. It is very rich in biologically active compounds such as phospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds [1], thus offering many benefits.
KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
BENEFITS
It helps beautify and heal the skin by tightening the skin and helping to reduce fine lines.
Studies have shown that myrtle leaf oil helps to calm the mind, reduce fatigue and anxiety, and prolong sleep times [6] [7] [8].
Studies have shown that myrtle leaf oil helps to relax muscle and reduce pain [6] [9].
It helps to dry the inflammations.
It helps prevent harmful bacteria and germs and support immunity [2] [3] [4] [11] [12].
It helps in the treatment of digestive system diseases such as diarrhea [1] [13].
WARNINGS
ACADEMIC STUDIES
[1] Jabri, M. A., Marzouki, L., & Sebai, H. (2018a). Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and therapeutic effects of Myrtus communis L. berries seeds on gastrointestinal tract diseases: A review. Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 124(5), 390–396.
[2] V. Aleksi, P. Knezevi (2014). Antimicrobial and antioxidative activity of extracts and essential oils of Myrtus communis L. Microbiological Research, Volume 169, Issue 4, April 2014, Pages 240-254
[3] F. K. Karademir, S. Avunduk (2015). Marmaris’te yabani olarak yetişen Myrtus communis L. nin antibakteriyal ve antioksidan aktivitesi. Dergi Park, Gıda Arşiv, Cilt 40, Sayı 4
[4] F. Giampieri, D. Cianciosi, T. Y. Forbes-Hernández (2020). Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) berries, seeds, leaves, and essential oils: New undiscovered sources of natural compounds with promising health benefits. Food Frontiers. 2020;1–20.
[5] Mimika-Ducic N., Bugarin D., Grebovi S., Mitia-Eulafie D., Vukovie-Gaeie D., Jovin E., Couladis M. (2010). Essential Oil of Myrtus communis L. as A Potential Antioxidant And Antimutagenic Agents. Molecules. 15: 2759-2770.
[6] M. Sisay, T. Gashaw (2017). Ethnobotanical, Ethnopharmacological, and Phytochemical Studies of Myrtus communis Linn: A Popular Herb in Unani System of Medicine. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 2017, Vol. 22(4) 1035-1043.
[7] E. Hailu, E. Engidawork, K. Asres (2011). The Essential Oil of Myrtus communis L. Produces a Non-Sedating Anxiolytic Effect in Mice Models of Anxiety. Ethiop. Pharm. J. 29, 1-12 (2011).
[8] Hajiaghaee R, Faizi M, Shahmohammadi Z, et al. Hydroalcoholic extract of Myrtus communis can alter anxiety and sleep parameters: a behavioural and EEG sleep pattern study in mice and rats. Pharm Biol. 2016;54:2141-2148. doi:10.3109/13880209. 2016.1148175.
[9] Twaij H, El-Jalil HA. Evaluation of narcotic (opioid like) analgesic activities of medicinal plants. Eur J Sci Res. 2009;33:179-182
[10] M. Touaibia (2017). Composition and anti-inflammatory effect of the common myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) essential oil growing wild in Algeria. Aromathérapie Expérimentale, 24 February 2017.
[11] Dülger, B. and A. Gönüz, 2004. Antimicrobial Activity of Certain Plant Used in Turkish Traditional Medicine. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 3(1):104–107.
[12] Bonjar G.,H. “Antibacterial Activity Of Plants Used In Iranian Herbal-Medicine” Fitoterapia, 75,231-235 (2004).
[13] Jabri, M. A., Rtibi, K., Sakly, M., Marzouki, L., & Sebai, H. (2016). Role of gastrointestinal motility inhibition and antioxidant properties of myrtle berries (Myrtus communis L.) juice in diarrhea treatment. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 84, 1937–1944.
