Balm of Gilead Populus spp

Poplar Buds

Common Names
Balm of Gilead , Poplar Buds
Botanical Name
Populus spp
Family
SALICACEAE

Medicinal Uses & Benefits of Balm Of Gilead

How to Use| Side Effects | Plant & Garden|

Medicinal Uses: * Burns * Cuts & Wounds * Rheumatoid_arthritis
Properties: * Analgesic * Anodyne * Anti-inflammatory * Antibacterial * Antirheumatic * Astringent * Depurative
Parts Used: Leaf buds
Constituents: volatile oil, up to 2% (including cineole, bisabolene, bisabolol and humulene), resins, palicin and populin, phenolic acids.

How to Use: Balm of Gilead

Use poplar buds in balms
and pain relieving creams

The sticky resin of poplar buds contain salicin which your body converts to aspirin. The biblical reference is to the Balm of Gilead, or Mecca balsam, the source of healing balsamic oils in the old world. The popular trees here in North America have the same healing properties. Buds from Populus nigra, P. canadensis, and P. tacamahaca are the most common ones used therapeutically. Poplar buds infused in oil make a healing remedy for muscle soreness and headaches. Poplar is approved by Commission E for the topical treatment of minor cuts and abrasions, hemorrhoids, sunburns , frostbite, and other skin care needs.

Preparation Methods & Dosage : Infuse poplar buds in oil to make a naturally antibiotic and anti-inflammatory healing oil for arthritis pain. Poplar bud oil can be used as a base for salves and ointments for troubled skin.

Balm of Gilead Remedies

Balm of Gilead Side Effects: If you are sensitive to aspirin, you should not use Balm of Gilead.Recommended for external use only.

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Plant Description

Populus balsamifera bud: rights reserved by Matt Lavin

This is a large tree reaching a height of 100 feet with a maximum trunk diameter of about 6 1/2 feet with spreading branches, the young twigs slightly hairy, and with very resinous, fragrant buds. The broad, pointed leaves, 2 1/2 to 6 inches long, are somewhat heart-shaped at the base, fine toothed, dark green above, pale beneath, and hairy when young. The male and female flowers are borne in separate catkins 6 inches or less in length, which appear before the leaves. ²

History and Traditions & Folklore

Gilead is a common name for several plants belonging to different taxonomic families. The American balm of Gilead is a species of poplar (Populus candicans) of the family Salicaceae (willow family) which has large balsamic and fragrant buds. The poplar is closely related to, and sometimes considered a variety of, the balsam poplar (P. tacamahaca), which has also been called balm of Gilead and tacamahac. The name balm of Gilead has also been used for the balsam fir. The historic Old World balm of Gilead, or Mecca balsam, is a small evergreen tree (Commiphora gileadensis, also once called C. opobalsamum) of the family Burseraceae (incense-tree family) native to Africa and Asia, it is referred to in the Bible in Jer. 8.22. The Ishmaelites from Gilead were bearing balm when they bought Joseph from his brothers. ²

References:

Works Cited

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition(2001)Ret (07-14-2008)
Sievers, A.F. 1930.The Herb Hunters Guide. Misc. Publ. No. 77. USDA, Washington DC

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