Have you ever heard of Balm of Gilead? It's a medicinal balm made with cottonwood tree buds that form in spring. This balm goes back to Bible times and is known for its healing properties. If you enjoy making this balm, try making dandelion salve and St. John's wort oil too!
In the last few springs, I've wanted to make Balm of Gilead, but I missed the opportunity to collect the cottonwood buds before they open up to reveal the new leaves inside. Last year, we rode the quad down to the cottonwoods near our property and collected enough buds to make some balm, finally!
If you're lucky enough to find a downed branch, it makes for easy picking, and you don't have to worry about over-harvesting from a single tree.
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What Is Balm of Gilead?
Balm of Gilead is a healing salve mentioned in a few verses in the Bible, but the verse highlighted below is my favorite. So much so that come spring, I walk around the house asking out loud, "Is there no balm of Gilead? Is there no physician here?" No one ever seems to answer me. I know I'm weird.
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
—Jeremiah 8:22
Gilead was an actual place (situated in modern-day Jordan). It was the home of the prophet Elijah. Additionally, the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III established the Assyrian province of Galʿazu (Gilead) in about 733 BCE (Britannica.com).
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There's always an Assyrian connection; sometimes, you just have to dig a little deeper! 😏 Gilead was also known for its wonderful variety of spices and healing ointments.
This medicinal balm was prepared from the resin of a local plant; some suggest a Pistacia Lentiscus (mastic tree), while other sources say it could have been Commiphora Gileadensis (Arabian balsam tree). Both produce a medicinal resin, similar to Myrrh, which is a gum resin extracted from Commiphora Myrrha trees. Myrrh has been used throughout history to make medicine, incense, and perfume.
These days, it's prepared by infusing poplar tree leaf buds in oil for an extended time, usually 6 to 8 weeks. The buds' sticky red resin is expelled into the carrier oil, giving the oil a gorgeous red tint and a unique scent that's hard to describe. The closest comparison would be fresh pine, but not exactly.
As the infusion takes place, the medicinal properties in the resin are transferred into the oil. This oil can be used as-is or mixed with beeswax to make the balm.
According to the Lost Book of Herbal Remedies by Dr. Apelian, cottonwood bud balm has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. It can be used to relieve skin conditions like rashes, eczema, sunburn, cracked skin, and psoriasis. It is also said to relieve arthritis and inflammation and to help soothe minor aches and pains.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Cottonwood Buds: Fresh, unopened (if possible), sticky cottonwood buds. The amount you collect will determine how much oil and beeswax you will need. For every cup of buds, I use 2 cups of oil.
- Carrier Oils: I chose grapeseed oil, which is low on the comedogenic scale. Safflower oil, argan oil, hemp seed oil, or sweet almond oil are all great options! They are all low on the comedogenic {kämədəˈjenik} scale (a rating from 0-5), with 0 being the least comedogenic (less likely to clog your pores) and 5 being the most comedogenic (most likely to clog pores and cause acne and blackheads).
- Beeswax: Beeswax is needed to thicken the infused oil into a balm.
- Optional: A small amount of shea butter can be added to give the balm a luxurious feel, vitamin E oil (great for the skin), or essential oils can also be added.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Disclaimer
Because some species of poplars and willows contain salicin in their bark, you may want to avoid them if you are allergic to aspirin. I recommend testing the balm on a small area first, especially if you have sensitive skin.
How to Make Balm of Gilead
You can make this balm by infusing the oil with the cottonwood buds over an extended period of time. This is known as the "cold infusion method." Another option is the "hot infusion method." This is accomplished by heating the oil and buds over very low heat for 4+ hours. I'll show you how to do both!
Cold Infusion Method
- Place cottonwood buds in a quart-sized mason jar and cover with oil. Make sure buds are fully submerged.
- Cap the jar and place in a sunny window to allow the resin in the buds to infuse the oil over 6-8 weeks. Shake the bottle daily, or when you remember to extract resin from the buds.
Pro Tip: If you lack patience, like me, you can use some of the oil as needed while allowing the rest to infuse longer.
Hot Infusion Method (for those who don't like to wait)
- Add 1 cup of cottonwood buds to a small crockpot and cover with 2 cups of carrier oil. Heat the oil over the lowest setting (warm) anywhere from 4 hours to a few days. If the oil gets too hot, turn it off until it cools down, then turn it back on.
- Melt the wax into the oil over very low heat. Stir to incorporate, then pour a small amount into the measuring cup or another container to determine consistency once it hardens.
- If you prefer a thicker texture, add more beeswax to the ibrik. If you want a softer texture, add more oil. Once satisfied with the consistency, pour into canisters and allow to harden before screwing on the caps.
Pro Tip: You can also add ½ ounce of shea butter and a few teaspoons of vitamin E oil or essential oils during step 3.
Tree Identification & Harvesting Cottonwood Buds
Cottonwoods love water and are commonly found growing along rivers and streams. They are enormous and can reach up to 200 feet in height!
One of the ways to identify cottonwoods is by their bark, which is mostly gray and deeply furrowed. Before the brown, pointy buds form in spring, the tree loses all of its leaves, leaving it bare.
It is generally recommended to collect the leaf buds before they open, but if they have recently started to open, they can still contain plenty of resin, making them still usable.
Speaking of resin, you will want to wear a pair of disposable gloves because the juicy buds are quite sticky and their resin will get all over your hands. Once picked, toss them into a ziplock bag until you are ready to use them.
Equipment
You will need a few quart-sized mason jars and a fine mesh strainer. To heat the oil and melt the wax, I like this wax melting pot - it's got a spout for easy and precise pouring, and it's easy to clean!
A kitchen scale is also essential for weighing your ingredients. You will also need tins to store the salve. I prefer 1-ounce tins, but you can use 2-ounce tins if you prefer. If you plan on making labels for your salve, a label maker and round labels come in handy.
Storage
Store the balm canisters in a cool, dark location, away from direct sunlight, for up to one year. You'll know it's time to discard the balm if it smells off or rancid.
Pro Tips
- If you have extra oil, it can be stored in these little bottles and used in the same way you'd use the balm.
- 1 cup of infused oil mixed with ⅓ cup of beeswax makes approximately ten 1-ounce canisters of salve.
- I like to use these glossy labels with the 2" wide canisters.
FAQ
The time to pick the buds will depend on the area where you live, but mid to late April seems like the right time for Northwest Montana. If spring comes earlier where you live, start checking as early as March.
No one knows exactly which trees were used to make this healing balm, but some sources suggest it was the resin from a mastic tree. Nowadays, the balm is prepared using the unopened fresh buds from cottonwood trees, which are a part of the Salicaceae/willow family.
Jesus is the ultimate physician. He is known for performing miracles and healing the sick in body and in spirit. Therefore, Jesus is sometimes referred to as the Balm of Gilead. He is capable of healing all of our wounds.
More Foraging Posts
How to Make Balm of Gilead
Equipment
- 1 pair disposable gloves
- 1 gallon-sized ziplock bag
- 1 small saucepan (or a small crockpot)
- 20 1-ounce tins
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottonwood buds
- 2 cups grapeseed oil
- ⅔ cup beeswax pellets
- shea butter (optional)
- vitamin E oil (optional)
Instructions
Cold Fusion Method
- Place cottonwood buds in a quart-sized mason jar and cover with oil. Make sure buds are fully submerged.
- Cap the jar and place in a sunny window to allow the resin in the buds to infuse the oil over 6-8 weeks. Shake the bottle daily, or when you remember to extract resin from the buds.
Hot Infusion Method (for those who don't like to wait)
- Add 1 cup of cottonwood buds to a small crockpot and cover with 2 cups of carrier oil. Heat the oil over the lowest setting (warm) anywhere from 4 hours to a few days. If the oil gets too hot, turn it off until it cools down, then turn it back on.
- When the oil is infused, strain using a fine mesh strainer or a soup bag. Measure the oil, then pour into a small saucepan or an ibrik. For every 2 cups of oil, add ⅔ cups of beeswax pellets. Feel free to add ½ ounce of shea butter and a teaspoon of vitamin E oil or essential oils.
- Melt the wax into the oil over very low heat. Stir to incorporate, then pour a small amount into the measuring cup or another container to determine consistency once it hardens.
- If you prefer a thicker texture, add more beeswax to the ibrik. If you want a softer texture add more oil. Once satisfied with the consistency, pour into canisters and allow to harden before screwing on the caps.
Notes
- If you lack patience, like me, you can use some of the oil as needed while allowing the rest to infuse longer.
- If you have extra oil, it can be stored in these little bottles and used in the same way you'd use the balm.
- 1 cup of infused oil mixed with ⅓ cup of beeswax makes approximately ten 1-ounce canisters of salve.
- I like to use these glossy labels with the 2" wide canisters.
- Store balm in a cool location to keep it from liquifying.
Hilda Sterner says
I hope you enjoy making this wonderful balm. If you do, I'd love to hear about it!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Kathy! I had fun doing this post. It's been on my mind for a long time!
Shala Carter says
I should remember to buy this from you.
We invented everything! 🙂 Shlama!
Hilda Sterner says
Didn't we though? 😉
Kelly Methey says
Oh I am making this! Now I just have to find cottonwood trees with buds!
I love that this recipe has Biblical references and ties. Thank you Hilda for another interesting recipe!
I really like that you make it so easy with the links for the equipment that I don’t have! You think of everything!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kelly! Cottonwoods grow along rivers (hint, think Teresa or Anita).