Baldwins Balm Of Gilead (Populus nigra)

Black Poplar (Populus nigra)

Commonly occurring in the Northern hemisphere, the Black Poplar tree (or cottonwood in the US) is native to the UK and can live for up to 200 years.

The wood is used to make clogs and artificial limbs as it is resistant to shock.

Poplar buds, the part presented here for medicinal use, are covered in sticky resin and contain volatile oils that can be infused in oil. They contain Salicin, like willow bark, and have an anti-imflammatory effect on the body.

Mostly these little buds are infused in oil to make a muscle rub and used for arthritic pain.

The name dates back to the bible and describes a rare resinous perfume and healing oil and also relates to another plant, commiphora opobalsamum, that grows in the middle east, producing a similar resinous balsam.

The general consensus is that the name represents a balm that provides some sort of healing properties.

Recommended for external use only.

Mainly harvested in Eastern Europe (Romania), but batch origin may vary.