Balsam
Encyclopedia
Balsam is a term used for various pleasantly scented plant
products, and the plants which produce them. Balsams are oily or gummy oleoresins, usually containing benzoic acid
or cinnamic acid
, obtained from the exudates of various trees and shrubs and used as a base for some botanical medicines. They may be obtained from:
Balsam may also refer to:
People
Places
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
products, and the plants which produce them. Balsams are oily or gummy oleoresins, usually containing benzoic acid
Benzoic acid
Benzoic acid , C7H6O2 , is a colorless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The name derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time the only source for benzoic acid. Its salts are used as a food preservative and benzoic acid is an important precursor for the synthesis...
or cinnamic acid
Cinnamic acid
Cinnamic acid is a white crystalline organic acid, which is slightly soluble in water.It is obtained from oil of cinnamon, or from balsams such as storax. It is also found in shea butter and is the best indication of its environmental history and post-extraction conditions...
, obtained from the exudates of various trees and shrubs and used as a base for some botanical medicines. They may be obtained from:
- Balsam firBalsam FirThe balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States .-Growth:It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically tall, rarely to tall, with a narrow conic crown...
(Abies balsamea), producing Canada balsamCanada balsamCanada balsam, also called Canada turpentine or balsam of fir, is a turpentine which is made from the resin of the balsam fir tree of boreal North America... - Balsam poplarBalsam poplarThe balsam poplars — also known as Populus sect. Tacamahaca — are a group of about 10 species of poplars, indigenous to North America and eastern Asia, distinguished by the balsam scent of their buds, the whitish undersides of their leaves, and the leaf petiole being round in cross-section...
s (Populus section Tacamahaca), producing Balm of GileadBalm of GileadBalm of Gilead is a balm made from the resinous gum of the North American Balm of Gilead tree or from related species such as the balsam poplar , which is also sometimes called Balm of Gilead.... - Commiphora gileadensis, producing Balsam of MeccaBalsam of MeccaBalsam of Mecca is a resinous gum of the tree Commiphora gileadensis , native to southern Arabia and also naturalized, in ancient and again in modern times, in ancient Judea/Palestine/Israel. The most famous site of balsam production in the region was the Jewish town of Ein Gedi...
- MyroxylonMyroxylonMyroxylon J.R.Forst. & G.Forst is a synonym of Xylosma.Myroxylon is a genus of two species of Central American and South American trees in the Fabaceae . The tree is well known in the western world as the source for Peru balsam and Tolu balsam. The tree is often called Quina or Balsamo...
, producing Tolu balsam and Peru balsam - Copaifera langsdorfii, producing copaiba balsam
Balsam may also refer to:
- the balsam family of flowering plants, BalsaminaceaeBalsaminaceaeBalsaminaceae are a family of dicotyledonous plants, comprising two genera and 850+ species, all but one of which belong to the genus Impatiens...
- the plant genus ImpatiensImpatiensImpatiens is a genus of about 850–1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and tropics. Together with the puzzling Hydrocera triflora, this genus makes up the family Balsaminaceae...
- Balsam (drink)Balsam (drink)Balsam is a term used to describe a variety of traditional Eastern European herbal, high alcohol content liqueurs originally used for medicinal purposes.-Examples:* Riga Black Balsam* Ukrainian Balsam* Krasnaya Polyana Balsam* Karelian Balsam...
, an herbal liqueur - Riga Black Balsam (Rīgas Melnais balzams), a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur
- Friar's balsam, or Tincture of benzoinTincture of benzoinTincture of benzoin is a pungent solution of benzoin resin in alcohol. A similar preparation called Friar's Balsam or Compound Benzoin Tincture contains, in addition, Cape aloes and storax .-Medical uses:Tincture of benzoin has two main medical uses: as a treatment for damaged skin in the...
People
- Arthur BalsamArthur BalsamArtur Balsam was a Polish-born American classical pianist and pedagogue.-Biography:...
(1906–1994), pianist - Isaac BalsamIsaac BalsamIsaac Balsam started the first Chalav Yisrael dairy farm on the East Coast, and possibly in the United States. Balsam was born in Mielec , Poland, and was a Melitzer Chassid. He emigrated to the United States in 1898, lived initially with his uncle, Meyer Emmer, and worked on Emmer's dairy farm...
(1880–1945), founder of the Balsam Dairy Farm - Martin BalsamMartin BalsamMartin Henry Balsam was an American actor. He is known for his Oscar-winning role as "Arnold Burns" in A Thousand Clowns and his role as "Detective Milton Arbogast" in Psycho.- Early life :...
(1919–1996), actor - Paul BalsamPaul BalsamPaul Balsam was a justice on the New York State Supreme Court from January 1, 1965 until his death in 1972. He was born, and lived throughout his life, in Ozone Park, Queens...
(1905–1972), New York Supreme Court Justice - Talia BalsamTalia BalsamTalia Balsam is an American actress.-Early life:Balsam was born in New York City to actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten.-Career:...
(born 1959), American actress
Places
- The Balsams Grand Resort HotelThe Balsams Grand Resort HotelThe Balsams Grand Resort Hotel is a grand hotel and ski resort located in Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, United States. The hotel covers and features 95 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, an alpine ski area with 16 trails, five glade areas and a terrain park...
in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire - Balsam, North CarolinaBalsam, North CarolinaBalsam is an unincorporated community located in the Scott Creek township of Jackson County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 49. There is one United States Post Office in the town...
, a town in the United States - Great Balsam MountainsGreat Balsam MountainsThe Great Balsam Mountains, or Balsam Mountains, are in the mountain region of western North Carolina, United States. The Great Balsams are a subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which in turn are a part of the Appalachian Mountains...
of North Carolina - Balsam Lake (Wisconsin)Balsam Lake (Wisconsin)Balsam Lake covers over 65 mi of shoreline and covering a surface area of 2,054 acre and is the biggest lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. Public access to the lake by boat ramps are on the northwest, southwest and East Balsam. It is fed by natural springs and seepage from...
, a lake in Wisconsin
See also
- BasamumBasamumBasamum was the god of healing in pre-Islamic South Arabia. His name may be derived from the proto-Arabic basam, or balsam, a plant that was used in ancient medicines....
- Balm of GileadBalm of GileadBalm of Gilead is a balm made from the resinous gum of the North American Balm of Gilead tree or from related species such as the balsam poplar , which is also sometimes called Balm of Gilead....
- Balsamic vinegarBalsamic vinegarBalsamic vinegar is a condiment originating from Italy.The original traditional product , made from a reduction of cooked white Trebbiano grape juice and not a vinegar in the usual sense, has been made in Modena and Reggio Emilia since the Middle Ages: the production of the balsamic vinegar is...
- Balsam pear (disambiguation)
- Balsam apple (disambiguation)