Balm is a very famous type of plant known for millennia, even cited in passages of the Bible. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family, being herbaceous with succulent leaves and yellow flowers. It can reach a height of 30 to 50 centimeters. The plant is native to South Africa and Asia, and is also known by names such as balm wood, white balm, red wood, balso, cabraiba, red oil, and cabureiba.
Benefits of Balm
Balm is known for providing fantastic benefits for the skin as well as for the internal body. In fact, in Portuguese, “bálsamo” is used in various expressions and generally refers to succulent and fleshy plants that preserve the skin. Therefore, balm has been studied throughout history and many of its benefits have already been scientifically proven.
Indications for Balm
Balm is highly recommended for skin lesions and internal organs. Its benefits can be seen after regular use of the plant in the treatment of wounds in general, injuries with gangrene, ulcers, burns, and chilblains. It is also believed to have healing powers for diabetes, epilepsy, and bronchitis.
Its components give it digestive action when consumed, or, externally, as a healing agent and emollient. For these reasons, it can be used to treat gastrointestinal inflammations or inflammations and sprains of the skin, such as bruises, and even for conditions of the respiratory and urinary systems.
Research on Balm
It is important not to self-medicate using only balm, which is a natural remedy, but also to consult doctors and health professionals who can approve or not the treatment as an adjunct before you start using the plant in your daily routine.
The first research with results on balm dates back to 2005, with the species Sedum dendroideum. It was shown that the active compound Kaempferol, commonly found in the plant’s leaves, was able to protect the stomach membranes of rats from inflammation, thus demonstrating its anti-inflammatory power and possible cure for gastritis.
In 2014, another study was conducted with rats, showing that the flavonoid kaempferitrin present in balm stimulated the enzyme phosphofructokinase (PFK), increasing the sensitivity of liver cells to the use of glucose, and thus helping to control blood glucose. This opens the way for balm to be associated with benefits for diabetics.
And yet another recent study has confirmed that balm prevents ulcers induced by alcohol and anti-inflammatory medications, in this case indomethacin, in rats.
How to Use Balm
Balm can be used in two ways: for external application or for consumption. It depends on the condition for which the medicinal plant is indicated. The correct way to use balm can be seen below.
External Use: Balm Ointment
To take full advantage of balm’s benefits for the skin, the best solution is to prepare a homemade ointment or cream. This can be either a compound of balm and other plants with antibiotic properties, such as garlic, or one made with only balm as the main ingredient.
To prepare the ointment, use about 3 or 4 dried balm leaves in a small container for mashing, ideally a disinfected mortar. Next, the leaves are crushed firmly with the pestle until they begin to form a paste, as they are very succulent. Done, the ointment or cream is now ready!
It is recommended to apply enough ointment to cover the lesion, such as a burn, wounds with gangrene, etc., once a day after bathing and then lying down – for this reason, it is preferable to use it at night.
Balm Oil
There are also industrial products with oil extracted from the balm stem, which has moisturizing properties excellent for cosmetics, helping to nourish and repair the skin. Balm can promote cell renewal and skin regeneration, ideal for those with dry skin, blemishes, or who want to cosmetically soften fine expression lines or reduce skin sagging.
The pure oil is also effective for hydrating and reducing inflammation of burns, diaper rash, allergies, insect bites, chilblains, calluses, scratches, and even for otitis, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, and toothache. It is also found in products such as aftershave lotions, creams for dry hair ends, and makeup remover.
Important: Be sure to consult a nutrition professional before adding balm to your diet.
Balm Salad or Tea
For internal use, that is, for consumption, balm can be eaten as food or liquid. The simplest way is to use it raw, as a salad, with its well-washed leaves mixed into any meal you wish. But to enhance its therapeutic effects, it can be eaten alone when breaking a fast or about an hour before bedtime.
Balm tea is another way to use it internally, also made from its leaves, preferably dried, using 3 to 4 leaves to infuse in boiling water for 5 minutes, then cover the tea and let it cool for another 5 minutes. It is recommended to drink the tea at least twice a day.
Both the salad and the balm tea maintain their properties and benefits to help in the treatment of ulcers, as well as respiratory issues such as bronchitis and urinary tract issues, although the latter are not scientifically proven. Balm, consumed as salad or tea, can also be tried by diabetics or pre-diabetics for blood glucose control.
See Also: Mistletow Herb
Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler
