The Essential Oil of Idaho Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
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By Linda Lee Smith
This particular balsam fir comes from up on the Canadian border from Christmas tree farms that became overgrown. Idaho Balsam Fir is in the pine family (Pinaceae).There is some evidence now that the “liquid gold” referred to in the Bible was none other than Balsam, an oil fit for kings and royalty. It was one of the three oils found in King Tutankhamun’s grave in 1922 and it is now thought that balsam was the “Balm of Gilead.” Balsam has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal oil for respiratory and muscular and rheumatic pain. Balsam Fir is mentioned 18 times in the Bible in 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, the Psalms, the Song of Solomon, and in the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Nahum and Zechariah.
Traditional Use: Balsam fir has been used for respiratory and muscular system ailments. Hildegard of Bingen referred to balsam and said it was of royal nature and advised that it ought to be used as a medicine with great caution because it was so powerful. She used it for fevers, for paralysis, and for someone who was insane by making an ointment with it and rubbing it on their temples and around the head to restore their mind and good health.
Modern Use: Balsam fir has proved to be an anticoagulant and an anti-inflammatory. It is used by many massage therapists because it is a relaxant to the nervous system and to muscle spasms. Balsam can lower cortisol levels. Studies have shown that balsam will inhibit MCF7- (Aggressive Breast Cancer cells). Idaho Balsam Fir and Frankincense work great together inhibiting cancers in seven different cancer lines. Balsam is used for throat, lung, sinus infections, for fatigue, arthritis and rheumatism. It is also good for urinary tract infections, for scoliosis, lumbago and sciatica.
Main Effects: Idaho Balsam fir is anti-inflammatory.
Applications: This oil can be inhaled, applied neat(undiluted) on the body or diluted 1 part Idaho Balsam Fir to 1 part mixing oil. It can be diffused or taken as a dietary supplement and can be applied on location for muscle spasms.
Safety Data: Idaho Balsam fir is non-toxic.
About the Author
For more information on how this ancient oil has modern day applications, you may wish to attend an aromatherapy program that discusses the Biblical oils.
Check this out for more information on learning to heal through the art of aromatherapy as a clinical aromatherapist. http://www.ISHAaromatherapy.com
You can also read more about aromatherapy and about Idaho Balsam Fir oil in my book Healing Oils Healing Hands, Discovering the Power of Prayer, Hands On Healing and Anointing. You can find it on my web site at http://www.ISHAhealing.com/HealingStore/tabid/348/Default.aspx
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Lee_Smith
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the dept of forestry says there is no balsam fir in idaho naturally.
are they cultivating it?
young living customer service says the oil they market as abies balsamea is in fact abies grandis, a totally different tree. although still a pine.
Oh, this is interesting. Thank you for your input, Brer.
I will contact the author and post her response on the blog here. Give me a little time to find out.
Well, here is the answer by Linda Lee Smith:
Dear Astrid,
Thank you for writing. The trees are actually in Idaho about 35 miles from the Canadian border near the town of Bonner’s Ferry. The forest service originally owned the land where the balsam trees grew and Young Living acquired it at an auction.
This was a 60 acre Christmas tree farm that had never been cut and had grown too large for commercial purposes. Young Living did their investigating and agreed to take only 5 acres to begin with until they had time to do their testing—GC and Mass Spec plus using it on their clients in their clinic.
What they found was that this oil was 98% monoterpenes. It was shown to have anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties and it drops cortisol levels as proven by lab tests on clients at their clinic. They were using this Idaho balsam fir not only through diffusing but also through ingestion. Their research also showed a 80% decrease in MCF7 aggressive breast cancer cells and substantiated by studies done in Japan and Europe.
YL is not raping a forest in Idaho—they are re-foresting after they cut and clear the land, planting new trees that are better spaced than the ones they are cutting down. These trees are too old for balsams and are dying. They have found that there is as much oil in the heartwood asthere is in the green needles which is unusual for conifers trees where the oil is primarily in the needles and branches and very little in the bark and heartwood. Their tests this week shows that the oil from the heartwood is just as potent as the oil from the needles which surprised all of the distillers.
The best time of the year to cut balsam is actually winter and so YL is at this very moment doing a harvest at Bonner’s Ferry. There are many volunteers joining Gary Young right now for the harvest. Gary is having a conference call with hundreds of people all across the country so that is why I am able to tell you all this information.
Linda Smith
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Wow, LInda. Thank you so much for your swift and thorough reply. I hope this answers Brer’s questions. ~ A. Lee