Balsam

For other uses, see Balsam (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Balsa.

Balsam is the resinous exudate (or sap) which forms on certain kinds of trees and shrubs. Balsam (from Latin balsamum "gum of the balsam tree," ultimately from a Semitic source such as Hebrew: בֹּשֶׂם, romanized: bośem, lit. 'spice, perfume') owes its name to the biblical Balm of Gilead.

Balsamum tolutanum, Myroxylon balsamum

Myroxylon, the source of Balsam of Peru and Balsam of Tolu, is a genus of tree grown in Central America and South America. Pictured is Myroxylon peruiferum.

Chemistry

Balsam is a solution of plant-specific resins in plant-specific solvents (essential oils). Such resins can include resin acids, esters, or alcohols. The exudate is a mobile to highly viscous liquid often containing crystallized resin particles. Over time, and as a result of other influences, the exudate loses its liquidizing components or gets chemically converted into a solid material (i.e. by autoxidation).^[1]

Balsams often contain benzoic or cinnamic acid or their esters.^[2][3] Plant resins are sometimes classified according to other plant constituents in the mixture, for example as:^[2]

• pure resins (guaiac, hashish),
• gum-resins (containing gums/polysaccharides),
• oleo-gum-resins (a mixture of gums, resins and essential oils),
• oleo-resins (a mixture of resins and essential oils, e. g. capsicum, ginger and aspidinol),
• balsams (resinous mixtures that contain cinnamic and/or benzoic acid or their esters),
• glycoresins (podophyllin, jalap, kava kava),
• fossil resins (amber, asphaltite, Utah resin).

Usually, animal secretions (musk, shellac, beeswax) are excluded from this definition.

The Balsam of Matariyya

The Balsam of Matariyya was a substance famous as a panacea among physicians in the Middle East and Europe during the Antique and Medieval periods. The substance has long been used as a medicine, with early references to the substance recorded as far back as 285 BC. The Balsam of Matariyya was said to be derived from an Egyptian plant and is sometimes also referred to as the balm of Gilead or the balm of Mecca.^[4]

List of balsams

• Acaroid resin (Xanthorrhoea spp.)
• Acouchi balsam (Protium spp.)
• Ammoniacum
• Asafoetida (Laser)
• Balm of Gilead
• Balm of Mecca
• Balsam fir - (Abies balsamea)
• Balsam of Peru
• Balsam of Tolu
• Balsam poplars - (Populus sect. Tacamahaca)
• Bisabol
• Bdellium
• Benzoin resin
• Bukhoor
• Cabreuva balsam (Myrocarpus frondosus, Myrocarpus fastigatus)
• Camphor
• Canada balsam
• Chinese lacquer (Toxicodendron vernicifluum)
• Copaiba balsam (Copaifera spp.)
• Copal
• Corneiba balsam (Schinus terebinthifolius or Lithraea brasiliensis)
• Damar
• Dragon's blood (Calamus draco)
• Elemi
• Frankincense (Olibanum)
• Galbanum
• Guaiacum officinale
• Guggul
• Gurjun balsam
• Imbauba balsam (Cecropia adenopus)
• Labdanum
• Mastic
• Myrrh
• Obira balsam (Apocynaceae)
• Opopanax
• Umiri balsam (Humiria floribunda)
• Rosin (Colophony)
• Sagapenum
• Sandarac
• Sarcocolla
• Storax balsam
• Turpentine
• Venice turpentine (Larch turpentine) (Larix occidentalis)
• Wallaba balsam (Eperua spp.)

Safety

Some balsams, such as Balsam of Peru, may be associated with allergies. In particular, Euphorbia latex ("wolf's milk") is strongly irritant and is cytotoxic.

See also

• Basamum