Balsam is the 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 ) owes its name to the biblical Balm of Gilead.
Chemistry
Balsam is a solution of plant-specific
resins in plant-specific
(
). Such resins can include resin
,
, 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).
Balsams often contain benzoic acid or cinnamic acid or their esters.
″such as frankincense, myrrh, copal, and guggul are sourced from the exudates of trees belonging to genera like Boswellia, Commiphora, and others, predominantly found in regions of Africa, the Middle East, and India.″
-
(a mixture of resins and volatile essential oils, e. g. Turpentine , capsicum, ginger ,Clove Bud oleoresin
-
balsams (resinous mixtures that contain cinnamic acid 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.
List of balsams
Safety
Some balsams, such as Balsam of Peru, may be associated with
Allergy. In particular,
Euphorbia latex ("wolf's milk") is strongly irritant and is
cytotoxic.
See also
