Balm of Gilead

Introduction

Balsam of Gilead

• Botanical: Commiphora Opobalsamum
• Family: N.O. Burseraceae
• Description
• History
• Constituents
• Medicinal Action and Uses
• Other Species

Dosages

---Synonyms---Balsamum Meccae var. Judiacum. Balsamum Gileadense. Baume de la Mecque. Balsamodendrum Opobalsamum. Balessan. Bechan. Balsam Tree. Amyris Gileadensis. Amyris Opobalsamum. Balsumodendron Gileadensis. Protium Gileadense. Dossémo.

---Part Used---The resinous juice.

---Habitat---The countries on both sides of the Red Sea.

---Description---

This small tree, the source of the genuine Balm of Gilead around which so many mystical associations have gathered stands from 10 to 12 feet high, with wandlike, spreading branches. The bark is of a rich brown colour, the leaves, trifoliate, are small and scanty, the flowers unisexual small, and reddish in colour, while the seeds are solitary, yellow, and grooved down one side. It is both rare, and difficult to rear, and is so much valued by the Turks that its importation is prohibited. They have grown the trees in guarded gardens at Matarie, near Cairo, from the days of Prosper Alpin, who wrote the Dialogue of Balm, and the balsam is valued as a cosmetic by the royal ladies. In the Bible, and in the works of Bruce Theophrastes, Galen, and Dioscorides, it is lauded.

Balm, Baulm or Bawm, contracted from Balsam, may be derived from the Hebrew bot smin, 'chief of oils,' or bâsâm, 'balm,' and besem, 'a sweet smell.' Opobalsamum is used by Dioscorides to mean 'the juice flowing from the balsam-tree.'

Pliny states that the tree was first brought to Rome by the generals of Vespasian, while Josephus relates that it was taken from Arabia to Judea by the Queen of Sheba as a present to Solomon. There, being cultivated for its juice, particularly on Mount Gilead, it acquired its popular name. Later, it was called Opobalsamum, its dried twigs Xylobalsamum, and its dried fruit Carpobalsamum.

Its rarity, combined with the magic of its name, have caused the latter to be adopted for several other species.

Abd-Allatif, a Damascan physician of the twelfth century, noted that it had two barks the outer reddish and thin, the inner green and thick, and a very aromatic odour.

The juice exudes spontaneously during the heat of summer, in resinous drops, the process being helped by incisions in the bark. The more humid the air, the greater the quantity collected. When the oil is separated, it is prepared with great secrecy, and taken to the stores of the ruler, where it is carefully guarded. The quantity of oil obtained is roughly one-tenth the amount of juice. It is probable that an inferior kind of oil is obtained after boiling the leaves and wood with water.

The wood is found in small pieces, several kinds being known commercially, but it rapidly loses its odour.

The fruit is reddish grey, and the size of a small pea, with an agreeable and aromatic taste.

In Europe and America it is so seldom found in a pure state that its use is entirely discontinued .

---Constituents---

The liquid balm is turbid whitish, thick, grey and odorous, and becomes solid by exposure. It contains a resin soluble in alcohol, and a principle resembling Bassorin.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---

It has been used in diseases of the urinary tracts, but is said to possess no medicinal properties not found in other balsams.

• GEN 37:25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
• GEN 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
• GEN 50:2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
• GEN 50:3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
• GEN 50:26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
• JER 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
• JER 46:11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
• JER 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
• EZEK 27:17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.

-----Other Species----

Abies Balsamea, Balm of Gilead Fir, orAmerican Silver Fir. The name is applied to this Canadian species, in Europe, because of the supposed resemblance of its product, an oleoresinous fluid obtained from punctured blisters in the bark, which is really a true turpentine, known as Canada Balsam or Canada Turpentine. Its odour distinguishes it from Strassburg Turpentine, which is sometimes substituted for it. It is diuretic, and stimulates mucous tissues in small doses. In large doses it is purgative, and may cause nausea.

Populus Candicans is called Balm of Gilead in America. The buds are used, and called Balm of Gilead Buds, as are those of P. Nigra and P. balsamifera, the product of the last being imported into Europe under the name of Tacomahaca. They are covered with a fragrant, resinous matter, which may be separated in boiling water, the odour being like incense, and the taste bitter and rather unpleasant. They are stimulant, tonic, diuretic, and antiscorbutic. A tincture of them is useful for complaints of the chest, stomach, and kidneys, and for rheumatism and scurvy. With lard or oil they are useful as an external application in bruises, swellings, and some cutaneous diseases. In ointments they are a little inferior to paraffin as a preventive of rancidity.

The bark of P. balsamifera is tonic and cathartic.

---Dosages---

Of solid extract, 5 to 10 grains. Of tincture, 1 to 4 fluid drachms. Of fluid extract, 1 to 2 drachms. Of extract of the bark, 5 to 15 grains.

Dracocephalum Canariense or Cedronella Triphylla is known as a garden plant something like Salvia, and called Balm of Gilead for no better reason than that its leaves are fragrant. It is a native of America and the Canaries.

Spices

Saffron

• Crocus SP (saffron)..

Balm

• Balm of Gilead (Amyris Gileadensis).

Cassia

• Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), Heb. QeDaH (Ex.30.24, Ezk.27.19) and QeTzI´OT (Ps.45.8, Job 42.14).

Cinnamon

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Aromaticum), Heb. QiNaMON (Ex.30.23, Prov.7.17, Song.4.14, Rev.18.17).

Coriander

• Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Heb. GaD (Ex.16.31, Num.11.7).

Cumin

• Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), Heb. KaMoN (Is.28.25,27, Mt.23.23).

Frankincense

• Frankincense tree, branch (Boswellia thurifera), Heb. LeBUNaH (Ex.30.34 etc).

Galbanum

• Galbanum (Bubon galbaniferum), Heb. CheLBiNaH (Ex.30.34).

Garlic

• Garlic (Allium sativum), (Num.11.5).

Mint

• Common Mint (Mentha sativa) (Mt.23.23, Lk.11.42).

Mustard

• Mustard (Sinapis nigra), which grows very tall in Palestine. - cf Mt.13.31-32, Mk.4.30-32, Lk.13.18-19..

Myrrh

• Myrrh (Balsamodendron myrrha), Heb.MoR (Gen.37.25, Ex.30.23, Est.2.12, Ps.45.8, Prov.7.17, Song 1.13, 3.6, 4.6,14, 5.1,5,13), Gk.SMURNA , Matt.2.11, Mk.15.23, Jn.19.39.

Rue

• Rue (Ruta graveolens), a spice which Pharisees tithed (Lk 11.42).

Saffron

• Saffron (Crocus sativus), Heb. KaRKoM, a fragrance (Song 4.14).

Spikenard

• Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi), Heb. NeRD - makes the spice (Spikenard or Nard).

Stacte

• Storax (Styrax officinale), Heb. NaTtaPh - makes the spice Stacte, used in the holy incense (Ex.30.34, Job 36.27).