Balm of Gilead

Scientific Names

Populus balsamifera L.
Willow family

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Populus balsamifera L.: Grows 30-100 feet. Large deciduous tree with winter buds that are large resinous and aromatic; yellowish, gummy, strongly fragrant, end buds more than 1/2 inch long. Young twigs are sparsely hairy. The alternate, broadly ovate to deltoid leaves are dark green on top and whitish underneath, sometimes hairy on the lower veins; leafstalks mostly rounded (rather than flat). The male and female flowers occur on separate, scaly catkins.

There are several trees and shrubs that have been called "Balm of Gilead":

Quaking aspen (P. tremuloides), the black poplar (P. nigra); P. fremontii; has a slightly bitter mucilage bark similar to slippery elm bark.

Commiphora opobalsamum L. is a small evergreen tree of the bursera family native to Asia and Africa.

Populus candicans L. The common names are similar to P. balsamifera: balsam poplar, American balm of Gilead, balm of Gilead buds, Mecca balsam. This balm of Gilead has a wonderful fragrance. When boiled in olive oil, cocoa fat, or some other good oil, they make an excellent salve. Similar medicinal results with P. candicans as with P. balsamifera.
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Where Found

Moist soils. Found on streambanks and planted along roadsides in the eastern United States, over much of Canada, and into Alaska.
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Medicinal Properties

Balsamic, expectorant, stimulant.
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Legends, Myths and Stories

The balm of Gilead mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 37:25 and Jeremiah 8:22) is a different plant, Comminphora meccanensis.

For wrinkles: Take barley water, strain, add a few drops of oil of balm of Gilead. Place in a bottle and let stand for 10-12 hours, shaking the bottle occasionally until the balsam is entirely mixed with the water. This mixture improves the complexion and preserves the appearance of youth. If used only once a day, it removes wrinkles and gives the skin a surprising luster. Wash the face before using this fluid.
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Uses

Buds boiled to separate resin, then dissolved in alcohol, once used as preservative in ointments. Folk remedy (balm) used for sores; tincture for toothaches, rheumatism, diarrhea, wounds; tea used as a wash for inflammation, frostbite, sprains, and muscle strain. Internally, tea is used for cough, lung ailments, expectorant. Inner bark tea is used for scurvy, also as an eye wash, blood tonic. Root tea is used as a wash for headaches. Probably contains salicin, explaining its aspirin-like qualities.

Buds can also be made into an inhalant to relieve congestion in the respiratory passages. Their salicin content make them useful for the minor pains and aches that aspirin generally relieves.
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Warning

Balm of Gilead is a confusing name. It has been freely applied to trees of the balsam family, trees of the willow family, trees of the poplar family and to at least one shrub found during research on this herb. Care should be taken when a formula or a recipe for treatment is given with an ingredient called "balm of Gilead" in the ingredients. Perhaps they are all similar in the biochemical makeup. Research further, that is what is recommended here if you have doubts as to which is being referred to in the recipe.
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Bibliography

Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

American Folk Medicine, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973

Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023, 1984

The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974