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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar

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Balm of Gilead

Balm of Gilead was a rare perfume used medicinally, that was mentioned in the Bible, and named for the region of Gilead where it was produced. The expression stems from William Tyndale's language in the King James Bible of 1611, and has come to signify a universal cure in figurative speech.

Uses

Fever, Emaciation, Debility, Impaired digestion, Diarrhea, Urinary infections.[1]

Parts Used

Bark.

Chemical Composition

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada
Hindi
Malayalam
Tamil
Telugu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit
English Balsam Poplar, Balm of Gilead


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Alternate Leaves are ovate or broadly lanceolate, 2.25 to 4.5 inches long (6-11 cm) and 1.5 to 3 inches wide (4-7.5 cm).

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual Pistillate and staminate catkins Winter buds are 1 inch long (2.5 cm) with sticky resin and a pungent balsam odor in the spring.

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Capsules Ripe capsules split into 2 parts. Tiny seeds have a tuft of soft, white hairs at the tip and are often dispersed in large, fluffy masses Fruiting occurs in late May to early or mid-July and when rivers are most often in the flood stage {{{6}}}

[3]

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Seed - must be sown as soon as it is ripe in spring. Poplar seed has an extremely short period of viability and needs to be sown within a few days of ripening. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 20 - 40cm long, November/December in a sheltered outdoor bed or direct into their permanent positions.[4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Temperate area.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links