Balm of Gilead is smelly!

So tonight’s blog is in honor of a coworker who is heading out to Yellowstone to work the summer. He is a true blue Yooper, just give him a couple of beers and listen to how he says “boot, boat, or suit” (Boooot).

Last summer we were all working together and living in the same housing unit, fondly called “The House”. Girls on the right side and boys on the left.

I had spent much of my winter before looking through books and excitedly waiting for plants to return to life to continue practicing my herbal skills on them. And the newest plant I wanted to acquaint myself with was Balsam Poplar. Specifically their buds, which held much of their healing.

Balsam Poplar buds are reddish brown and are over ½ inch long. They are sticky and pungent. Last year I dyed my fingertips red collecting them. In the spitting rain and cold biting wind, it didn’t matter. The herbs were back and I was happy!

Excited to be back in the saddle after months of no gathering, drying, or tincturing, only dreaming. I excitedly started making the newly collected buds into a salve.

Now I was more concerned with following the instructions the right way, and gently reintroducing warm blood back into my extremities. I didn’t realize that the buds were causing a smell. Quite a strong smell, actually.

Until my co-worker, whom this blog is fondly dedicated to, loudly exclaimed in the hallway right outside my kitchen door.

“EWWW, WHAT IS THAT SMELL?”

To which my best reply was... “Shut up!”

I should disclaimer that it’s not normal to use strong language with coworkers. But living together and the culture of that job creates a crazy family dynamic. So it’s ok to say that to your brother… who you also happen to work with.

I finished making my salve, which came out a pretty brown red color. Had a good lotion-like consistency. And, of course, smelled like balsam.

He teased me about smelling up half the house. And asked what the heck it was. When I told him it was nature’s version of icy hot for deep muscle relaxing. His eyes lit up. His knees had taken a beating from years of hockey, both playing and refereeing. He asked if he could have some.

I said sure.

Then his nose wrinkled and he asked if I could make it smell differently.

Sure, I’ll just waive my magic wand. If I could do that, I’d also make the boys side of the house not smell like unwashed socks.

Instead I mixed peppermint extract in with it. So it really did smell more like icy hot. Within a half hour of putting it on. He burst onto the porch where many people were sitting and chatting and gave me a big, teddy bear hug, saying his knees felt great.

Another convert to herbs!

Balsam Poplar has an interesting history. The term, Balm of Gilead is in reference to this plant.

It is part of the willow family, so it naturally has that pain-relieving quality that we find in aspirin.  The buds boiled then put in alcohol is actually a preservative that can be used in with other herbs. It’s similar to the stuff you can buy in stores called tincture of benzoin.

Hey, maybe that’ll be my next project, since the buds are out! Balsam preserve. It’s used in some make-up proucts to prevent them from getting rancid.

Used externally, a tea of balsam is used for things as extreme as frostbite, to sunburn, to sores. It’s even said to be effective in arthritis and rheumatism.

Inside, the bud tea is used for coughs and lung ailments, and kidney issues.

The inner bark was used to cure scurvy (so it’s high in vitamin C), as well as an effective eyewash. It’s been even used a quinine substitute for all you malaria infested people. 

Root teas are used for headaches, probably because of that natural aspirin quality.

Even the smell helps to clear the nostrils, somewhat like menthol, the stuff in Vick’s vapor rub.

Now if you wish to collect this wonderful herb yourself, you must first understand that Poplars, Cottonwoods, and Aspens are all closely related, and are all in the Willow family (so they all have that cool aspirin thing going on!)

Please note that yellow poplar and tulip poplar are not actually poplar trees. They are adopted and don’t have the family blood ties to the Willow and its aspirin qualities.

Yes, that’s right, even trees have red-headed stepchildren.

The first place I read about Balsam Poplars was in conjunction with Aspen trees, which resulted in me walking around staring at random tree branches asking the air if this was red enough, which meant it was a Balsam Poplar, or if it was more yellow and long, which would make it an Aspen.

Balsam poplar is accepted as a mainstream treatment in Germany. There is no connectable negative side effects or toxic interaction with Balsam buds or any other part of the plant. Although, I should warn that those of us who have allergies may be allergic to them.

Other uses for the plant include as wood pulp, although they are a soft wood, and therefore thought to be of low quality. I don’t know if balsam wood that you can buy at hobby shops are made from the same tree.

It is not part of balsamic vinegar, the “Balm” in balsamic is in reference to it being restorative and curative. Thanks Wikipedia!

Until we meet again, may you take care of yourself happily.