Commiphora species, particularly Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), have a long history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Myrrh resin has been applied topically and used internally for its purported antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. In the context of herpes, traditional use is primarily based on myrrh's general application for skin infections, sores, and ulcerations, rather than specific antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 or HSV-2).

Scientific studies directly evaluating Commiphora extracts against herpes viruses are sparse. In vitro research has demonstrated some antimicrobial and weak antiviral properties of myrrh extracts, but robust clinical evidence for efficacy in herpes infections is lacking. Most references to myrrh for herpes treatment in herbal medicine literature cite traditional usage rather than results from controlled trials or laboratory studies specifically targeting HSV.

In summary, the use of Commiphora (unspecified species) for herpes is justified by traditional medicine practices, but scientific validation is minimal or absent. The evidence rating is therefore low, reflecting the lack of direct scientific studies supporting this use.